Reduction of pain, distress and suffering is a key component to using animals in research. Not only does this demonstrate a certain level of "humanity" toward the animals we work with but it is sound science.
One of the 3R's - refinement - is a key component. The IACUC expects you to use the most refined techniques available in your research. Obviously this is to ensure that your research is conducted with sufficient quality assurance and quality control but the most refined techniques often equate with minimizing pain and distress.
Another important consideration is the issue of alternatives. This is a very specific section within the UAF Assurance of Animal Care form that is vital for you to properly address. Many consider the alternatives issue in the context of using animal models in biomedical research. In essence, is there a non animal alternative to your proposed animal model or, if not, is there a vertebrate or non-vertebrate model lower on the phylogenetic scale? Can you replace a study using cats with a study using fish or insects? However, there is another aspect to alternatives! Can you replace a procedure that is liable to cause pain or distress with a less invasive protocol?
If your work is anticipated to cause even momentary pain or distress, you will be expected to provide pain relief, likely through administering an analgesic. If you do not wish to administer analgesics to your animals you must give scientific justification as to why you cannot provide analgesia.
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Analgesia |
Absence of sensibility to pain, particularly the relief of pain without loss of consciousness. |
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Analgesic |
An agent that relieves pain without causing loss of consciousness. |
The most potent analgesics are the opioids with morphine and demerol being the "type" drugs.
Some other agents discussed in this module offer a certain amount of analgesia. For example, xylazine provides short term analgesia.
For agents that can cause pain relief you need to consider the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Keep in mind that this class of drugs is quite variable in their effects and some provide differing degrees of analgesia and/or anti-inflammatory activity. The method of administration is also a key feature. For laboratory based animal research, rarely is oral medication sufficient unless you are willing to administer pills or drops directly to each individual animal.This is important to consider since administration of children's Tylenol or Motrin via water drinking bottles was (and still is) in use; however, recent studies have shown this to be an ineffective method of adminsitering these compounds. NSAIDS are available in injectable formats and can be quite effective in providing analgesia.
Readings:
Mathews, K.A. 2000. Management of Pain. The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small Animal Practice. W.B Saunders Company, Philadelphia. Volume 30(4):1-970.
Kohn, D.F., S.K. Wixson. W.J. White and G.J. Benson. 1997. Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals. Academic Press, San Diego. 426pp.