Ten Top Tips for Animal Ethics Application Success
9. Getting surgery and pain management right
Aseptic technique
Where a project involves surgery on animals, the application must provide precise details of the surgical procedures including description of incision sites and wound closure techniques/materials. When non-terminal surgical procedures are to be performed the application must also describe the aseptic technique to be used during surgery, including the preparation of the animals, instruments and surgeon. Typically, surgical instruments must be autoclaved or prepacked sterilised instruments rather than alcohol cleaned. For full recommended procedures refer to ANZCCART Factsheet Practical Guidelines for Aseptic Surgery in Rodents and the Management of Surgical Facilities in a Laboratory (see link below).
Pain management
Researchers must realistically indicate the expected level of pain or distress experienced by animals during the project, and explain what specific signs, exhibited by the animals, will characterise this at various levels. This assessment must be based on the assumption that animals experience pain in a manner similar to humans, unless there is evidence to the contrary. Researchers should not intentionally understate the level of pain experienced. However, the AEC will be alert to unreasonable exposure of animals to pain, and will expect researchers to include measures to reduce such exposure, both in terms of time and level.
Pain management regimes may be drug-based (analgesia/anaesthesia), or involve simple pain minimisation strategies, such as the rotation of injection sites for frequent drug administration. Where anaesthesia is used during procedures some indication of how the depth of it is measured will be expected. Where post-operative analgesia is required the researcher should explain how it will be monitored and topped-up as required. The Animal Welfare Officer is available for advice on issues such as which anaesthetic, analgesic or tranquillising agent is appropriate for a particular species and procedure.
Environmental enrichment
Applications are also enhanced when researchers are seen to have considered and acknowledged the animals' potential for positive experience. The Department of Primary Industry's Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Laboratory Mice, Rats, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits (see link below), as well as stipulating minimum requirements for housing and care, describes how the experience of laboratory animals can be enriched by various physical and environmental enhancements. Animal Facility Managers are also a very good source of information on these enrichment strategies, and on any acclimatisation issues animals may face following transportation from a different location.
Further resources:
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See our A-Z of animal welfare for guidance on:
- Pain management
- Surgery
- Behavioural modification
- Environmental enrichment