UT Southwestern Guidelines on
Quantitative Assessment of Pain or Distress in Rodents
Independent Variable Score
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BODY WEIGHT
0 Normal
1 < 10% weight loss
2 10 - 15 % weight loss, eating
3 > 20% weight loss, not eating
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APPEARANCE
0 Normal
1 Lack of grooming
2 Coat rough, possible nasal or ocular discharge
3 Coat very rough, abnormal posture, eyes sunken and glazed
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CLINICAL SIGNS
0 Normal
1 Diarrhea, constipation
2 Respiratory rate altered, respiratory depth altered, skin tents
3 Cyanotic extremities, labored breathing
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UNPROVOKED BEHAVIOR
0 Normal
1 Minor changes
2 Abnormal behavior, less mobile, less alert, inactive when activity expected
3 Paralysis, inability to remain upright, shivering, convulsion
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Total Score
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The overall score should be tabulated and used to help assess the status of each animal. A total score of 3 or less will be considered normal, 4-6 will indicate some evidence of pain or discomfort, 7-9 will suggest ample evidence of suffering with some type of amelioration indicated, and 10-12 will be evidence of severe pain and appropriate action must be taken after consultation and recommendation from the ARC. Any single score of 3 (severe) for an independent variable will automatically place the animal in the 7-9 category.
OTHER GUIDELINES
1. Tumor burdens should not exceed 10 % of the host rodent's normal body weight.
2. In experiments involving treatment with potentially toxic agents, weight loss of adult rodents should not exceed 20 % of the host body weight at the commencement of the experiments. For young animals, weights should be compared with those of untreated control animals. If the weight loss is by 20 %, treated animals should be euthanatized.
3. Recommendations for tumor burdens in species other than rodents will be developed by ARC and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, as needed.
