Policy On Analgesia in Animals Undergoing Surgery

The USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations require procedures to “be performed with appropriate sedatives, analgesics or anesthetics, unless withholding such agents is justified for scientific reasons, in writing, by the principal investigator and will continue only for the necessary period of time”¹, but the assessment of pain and distress in animals is difficult and can be subjective.

As such, and according to the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training, “unless the contrary is established, investigators should consider that procedures that cause pain or distress in human beings may cause pain or distress in other animals.”²

This policy is applicable to all animal activities conducted under the auspices of the University and applies to all locations under the purview of the U-M IACUC.

Surgical procedures that require withholding analgesics must be justified for scientific reasons in the IACUC approved animal use protocol.

The table below, developed by veterinarians as an assessment tool, standardizes pain relief requirements for surgical procedures based on the procedure’s level of invasiveness. Any surgical analgesic regimen described in the IACUC approved animal use protocol must follow, at a minimum, the expectations outlined in the table.

Additionally, depending on the nature and invasiveness of a surgical procedure, the ULAM veterinarians may require additional analgesics to be added to the protocol. If pain persists after the required analgesia is provided, or other complications arise, a ULAM veterinarian must be consulted.

The provisions of this policy are under the direction and oversight of the U-M’s IACUC. The IACUC will, if necessary, suspend research or implement sanctions if policy infractions should occur.