Appendix 6: Example monitoring sheet for animals after surgery or invasive procedures
This is Appendix 6 of the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Laboratory Mice, Rats, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits.
This is a general assessment for all animals, which may be altered for each individual animal or research project.
AEC Project number: | Investigator name and contact: |
Animal — number: | Start date and surgery/procedure date: |
Procedure: | Comments: |
OBSERVATIONS (Day in relation to surgery) | -3 | -2 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DAY / DATE / TIME | |||||||||
Eating | |||||||||
Drinking | |||||||||
Normal Walking | |||||||||
Vocalisation | |||||||||
Grooming | |||||||||
Staggering | |||||||||
Shivering/trembling/twitching | |||||||||
Hunched-up Appearance | |||||||||
Discharge from the surgical site | |||||||||
These daily observations should start 3 days before surgery.
On the day of surgery/procedure and for 2 days after surgery/procedure, observations should be made each morning and afternoon.
From day 2 post-surgery/procedure observations should then revert to a daily basis.
Please note:
- Analgesia should be administered for the first 12 and/or 24 hours and thereafter as determined by daily observation, any evidence of pain and speed of return to normal behaviour.
- If any abnormal behaviour is observed or if there is discharge from the wound, please contact your Animal Welfare Officer or your Animal House Manager.