CCAC guidelines on: choosing an appropriate endpoint in experiments using animals for research, teaching and testing
APPENDIX A: SPECIES SPECIFIC SIGNS OF PAIN AND/OR DISTRESS
- UNDERSTANDING NORMAL ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
Becoming familiar with the appearance, behavior, and physiology of the normal animal is of primary importance in assessing its well-being. It is also important to be aware of the variation in appearance, behavior and physiology depending on the age, strain, sex and time of day. There may also be seasonal differences in some species.
In addition to the normal behavior patterns of the individual animal (posture, grooming, feeding, sleeping, urinating, defecating, etc.) its interactions with cage mates, and its awareness of the surrounding environment should be noted. Included in the animal's normal behavior is the normal response to being handled and examined.
Most normal, healthy laboratory animals have a smooth, clean, well-groomed hair coat. Lack of grooming is usually a reliable indicator of dysfunction. Body condition can be assessed from observing the shape and posture of the animals.
Normal animals eat and drink, and void waste products, on a daily basis. An understanding of the normal food and water consumption, and the nature and amount of urine and feces produced daily are an important aspect of the knowledge of the normal healthy animal. The behavior of animals when eating or drinking should also be noted.
In general, most healthy small laboratory mammals are active, alert and inquisitive when they are approached. Normally any disturbance of the animals should produce a response. When handled the animals should feel warm to the touch.
For a more detailed physical examination, small rodents and rabbits will have to be handled and restrained. The normal reaction of these animals to handling should be understood, so that unusual or abnormal reactions are noted.
- RECOGNIZING AND ASSESSING SIGNS OF PAIN AND/OR DISTRESS IN LABORATORY ANIMALS
One of the major problems in recognizing the signs of pain and/or distress in the laboratory rodents is the small size of the animals. Some of the clinical observations made in larger animals, to assess their health and well-being (e.g., temperature, pulse and respiration) are not easily accomplished in laboratory rodents. Thus it becomes even more important to assess the behavior of these animals for any deviations from normal behavior that may be signs of pain or discomfort. To do this both the individual animal, and its behavior in the group environment must be considered.
There is tremendous variation in the behavioral and physiological responses to pain and/or distress in animals, from species to species, and within a species there are individual, sex, and age differences. The signs suggestive of acute pain, and those of chronic pain, should be understood by all persons responsible for monitoring the animals during the research. Signs of chronic pain or distress are often more insidious, and careful observation is required to detect the changes in an animal's appearance and behavior which indicate a deterioration in the condition of the animal. Observation of the animals should be done frequently, since signs of pain and discomfort are not constantly present.
Depending on the organ system(s) affected, there are some specific behavioral and physiological signs that can be used to assess the condition of the animal. For example, if the respiratory system is affected, the rate and nature of the respiration will change. Change in the nature and amount of feces (e.g., diarrhea) may indicate an intestinal effect. For a detailed listing of the potential signs of disease, pain and/or distress in relation to body systems affected, the reader is referred to the references noted below. The presence or absence of these specific signs should be recorded.
- INFORMATION SOURCES ON SIGNS OF PAIN AND/OR DISTRESS IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals, Vol. 1, 2nd Edn., 1993 contains several sections that provide information on the normal behavior of animals used in biomedical research, teaching and testing, and on the signs of pain and/or distress in these species. The reader is referred to these sections; specifically to Chapter X - Control of Animal Pain in Research, Teaching and Testing, Part E, pages 117-121, and to portions of Chapter VI - Social and Behavioral Requirements of Experimental Animals.
Additional selected publications that present sections on the signs of pain and/or distress in a number of animal species used in biomedical research, teaching and testing include *:
BAUMANS, V., BRAIN, P.F., BRUGERE, H., et al. (1994). Pain and distress in laboratory rodents and lagomorphs. Report of the FELASA Working Group on Pain and Distress. Laboratory Animals 28(1):97-112.
FLECKNELL, P.A. (1994). Refinement of animal use - assessment and alleviation of pain and distress. Laboratory Animals 28(3):222-231.
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (1992). Recognition and assessment of pain, stress and distress. In: Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals. Chapter 4, pp. 32-53. ILAR, NRC. National Academy Press, Washington DC.
SANFORD, J., EWBANK, R., MOLONY, V., et al. (1986). Guidelines for the recognition and assessment of pain in animals. Veterinary Record 118(12):334-338.
WALLACE, J., SANFORD, J., SMITH, M.W., et al. (1990). The assessment and control of the severity of scientific procedures on laboratory animals. Laboratory Animals 24(2):97-130.
WOLFENSOHN, S. & LLOYD, M. (1994). Recognition of pain and stress in laboratory animals. In: Handbook of Laboratory Animal Management and Welfare. Chapter 11. pp. 174-180. Oxford UK: Oxford University Press.
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* This list will be updated on a regular basis.
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