# Standard Operating Procedure: Animal Health Monitoring

| Document ID | SOP-VET-001 |
|-------------|-------------|
| Title | Daily and Weekly Animal Health Monitoring |
| Revision | 1.0 |
| Effective Date | [DATE] |
| Author | [AUTHOR] |
| Approved By | [APPROVER] |
| Department | Veterinary Services |

---

## 1. Purpose

To establish standardized procedures for monitoring the health and welfare of laboratory animals in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and IACUC requirements.

## 2. Scope

This procedure applies to all laboratory animals housed in the facility, including:
- Rodents (mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs)
- Rabbits
- Large animals (as applicable)
- All other species maintained under approved protocols

## 3. Responsibilities

### 3.1 Animal Care Staff
- Perform daily health observations
- Document abnormal findings
- Report concerns to veterinary staff immediately

### 3.2 Veterinary Technician
- Conduct weekly detailed health assessments
- Provide treatments as directed
- Maintain health records

### 3.3 Attending Veterinarian
- Review health reports
- Prescribe treatments
- Make euthanasia decisions when necessary
- Report to IACUC as required

## 4. Definitions

| Term | Definition |
|------|------------|
| BCS | Body Condition Score - assessment of nutritional status |
| Clinical Sign | Observable indication of disease or abnormality |
| Humane Endpoint | Predetermined point at which animal is euthanized to prevent suffering |

## 5. Equipment and Materials

- Health observation forms
- Weighing scale (appropriate for species)
- Flashlight for cage inspection
- PPE (gloves, gown, mask as required)
- Body condition score reference charts

## 6. Procedure

### 6.1 Daily Health Observations

Performed by animal care staff during routine husbandry:

1. **General Appearance**
   - [ ] Coat condition (smooth, groomed, no lesions)
   - [ ] Posture (normal stance, no hunching)
   - [ ] Activity level (appropriate for species/time of day)
   - [ ] Respiration (no labored breathing)

2. **Food and Water**
   - [ ] Food consumption (evidence of eating)
   - [ ] Water consumption (bottle/sipper functioning)
   - [ ] No evidence of dehydration

3. **Cage Environment**
   - [ ] Normal fecal output
   - [ ] No evidence of diarrhea
   - [ ] No blood in cage
   - [ ] Bedding condition adequate

4. **Documentation**
   - Record any abnormalities on Daily Health Check form
   - Notify veterinary staff of concerns immediately
   - Do not wait until end of shift for urgent findings

### 6.2 Weekly Health Assessments

Performed by veterinary technician:

1. **Individual Animal Examination**
   - Body weight (compare to baseline)
   - Body condition score (1-5 scale)
   - Eyes, ears, nose examination
   - Skin and coat assessment
   - Palpation as appropriate

2. **Colony Health Review**
   - Mortality/morbidity trends
   - Sentinel animal results (if applicable)
   - Environmental monitoring review
   - Protocol-specific assessments

### 6.3 Body Condition Scoring

| Score | Description | Action |
|-------|-------------|--------|
| 1 | Emaciated - Bones prominent | Immediate vet consult |
| 2 | Underconditioned | Increase monitoring, consider intervention |
| 3 | Well-conditioned (ideal) | Continue routine care |
| 4 | Overconditioned | Dietary review |
| 5 | Obese | Dietary intervention required |

### 6.4 Clinical Signs Requiring Immediate Veterinary Notification

- Respiratory distress
- Severe lethargy or non-responsiveness
- Bleeding or open wounds
- Seizures
- Prolapsed organs
- Severe weight loss (>20% of baseline)
- Tumor burden exceeding protocol limits
- Signs of pain not controlled by protocol analgesia

### 6.5 Humane Endpoint Assessment

When clinical signs indicate potential endpoint:

1. Assess against protocol-specific humane endpoints
2. Calculate combined clinical score if applicable
3. Consult veterinarian immediately
4. Document assessment and decision
5. Proceed with euthanasia if criteria met

## 7. Documentation

All health observations must be documented:
- **Daily observations**: FRM-VET-001 Daily Health Check
- **Weekly assessments**: FRM-VET-002 Weekly Health Assessment
- **Abnormal findings**: FRM-VET-003 Veterinary Treatment Record
- **Euthanasia**: FRM-VET-004 Euthanasia Record

## 8. References

- Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th Edition)
- AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals
- Institutional IACUC policies
- Species-specific husbandry guides

---

## Revision History

| Rev | Date | Description | Author |
|-----|------|-------------|--------|
| 1.0 | [DATE] | Initial release | [AUTHOR] |