University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
DIVISION OF ANIMAL RESOURCES and
AGRICULTURAL ANIMAL CARE AND USE PROGRAM

Section 12

Evaluating Pain and Distress in Research and Teaching Animals

Animals must be observed at least daily by animal care personnel or, in certain approved cases, by research personnel. In all cases, observations should include checking for signs of pain or distress. Unanticipated pain or distress (e.g., due to illness or injury not described in an approved animal use protocol) must be reported to the DAR veterinary staff.

According to federal regulations, the researcher is responsible for consulting with the attending veterinarian or designee in the planning of procedures that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress in animals. At UIUC, this is built into the protocol review process in that each protocol is reviewed by one of the DAR veterinarians. Pain and distress, which is anticipated in the course of an experimental manipulation, surgical procedure, teaching or testing exercise, must be described in an animal use protocol. Drugs for alleviating pain must be provided unless approval for withholding such agents has been granted via an animal use protocol. The University's policy on use of such drugs may be reviewed by clicking: Policy on Use of Sedatives, Analgesics, and Anesthetics in Animals Used inResearch and Teaching.

Animals may exhibit pain and distress in ways not obvious to the casual observer. Research personnel should report immediately any unusual behavior in research animals to animal care personnel or the DAR.

last updated: October 18, 2005