Animal Care Services

The following guidelines, which are based on the standards set forth in the USDA Animal Welfare Act Regulations and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide), apply to survival surgeries performed on USDA-covered species. The UF IACUC Policy on USDA Covered Species provides further guidance. 

In addition to dogs, cats, and non-human primates, USDA-covered species currently include guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and any other warm-blooded animal with the exception of mice of the genus Mus, rats of the genus Rattus, and birds.  Investigators are encouraged to read the guideline on Procedures Performed on USDA-Covered Species Involving the Use of General Anesthesia, which specifies the types of procedures that must be performed in a dedicated IACUC-approved surgical facility (e.g., Communicore CB-006). 

Investigators are responsible for ensuring all members of their laboratory adhere strictly to the IACUC-approved protocol and applicable IACUC policies and guidelines.

Pre-operative Management and Assessment
1.   Preparatory steps should be taken to ensure the following:
The surgical procedure(s) will be carried out efficiently, professionally, and with adequate record-keeping (including a record of all drugs administered and the dose, time, and route of administration). 
The animal's health has been appropriately evaluated prior to the surgery in order to minimize the risk of complications during and after surgery.

2.   The surgeon is responsible for:
Scheduling operating room time, determining the estimated procedure length, preparing necessary instruments and equipment, and arranging the anesthetic regimen to be used.
Informing the ACS Veterinarian (Dr. Harvey Ramirez , x24481) or Surgery Suite Technician, Ms. Whitney Hartz, (x29948) if the procedure will be performed in an area other than the Communicore Experimental Surgery.
Making appropriate logistical arrangements with the designated surgical assistant (within the investigator’s own group) or surgical technician as outlined in # 3 below.
Ensuring food is withheld from the animal for an appropriate period prior to the procedure.  For assistance, please make these arrangements in the Communicore CB.160 ACS office at least two-business day prior to the expected surgical date.
Assessing the overall status of the animal prior to the surgical procedure should include visual inspection of the animal and assessment of the animal’s behavioral status.  If there are previously undetected physical or behavioral abnormalities, these must be brought to the attention of the ACS veterinary staff.

3.   The surgical assistant or technician is responsible for:
Communicating with the surgeon to determine the nature of the procedure, the anticipated duration, the desired anesthetic technique, the necessary monitoring equipment and instruments, and the desired operating room configuration.
Preparing all of the necessary records and informing the surgeon of any other records he/she must complete. 

4.   Consideration should be given to having pre-operative hematology and serum chemistry tests.  The specific tests considered appropriate should be detailed in the protocol submitted to the IACUC; however, these may need to be included to address anticipated or historical veterinary care concerns.
Minor surgical procedures usually involve some anesthetic risk, and multiple minor procedures may further complicate this risk.  A hematologic assessment of packed-cell volume and total plasma protein may be appropriate in such cases.
Major surgical procedures involve some anesthetic risk, and the nature of the procedure may further complicate this risk.  It may be appropriate to carry out a complete blood cell count (red and white cell parameters, platelets, etc.) plus an assessment of plasma or serum protein and kidney and liver enzymes.  The need for these tests is heightened if there are induced or spontaneous medical or surgical abnormalities.

Intraoperative Procedures
1.   Acute (terminal) and chronic (recovery) surgical procedures causing more than momentary or slight pain or distress require the appropriate use of anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers (AATs) as addressed in the Animal Welfare Act and the Guide.  
2.   Most of the commonly used AATs can have both short-term and long-term effects on an animal’s ability to maintain homeostasis.  Monitoring of physiologic functions provides important indices of the animal’s homeostatic state.    

Intraoperative Monitoring
1.   Unconscious and/or intubated animals must not be left unattended.
2.   Monitoring is to be done by trained staff from ACS or the investigator’s laboratory.
3.   Cardiovascular
Heart rate must be monitored continuously.  This can be done viacontinuous ECG monitoring, blood pressure monitor, or pulse oximetry.  The heart rate must be recorded every 15 minutes.
Mucous membrane color and capillary refill time may be monitored periodically to help assess cardiac output and oxygen saturation.
Blood pressure monitoring (by direct or indirect methods) should be considered for major surgical procedures lasting more than 2 hours.
Hypotension may occur due to anesthetic agents, blood loss, and evaporative water loss of exposed tissues or expired gases.  Blood pressure should be maintained through the appropriate use of intravenous fluid therapy, generally 5-15 ml/kg/hr IV of crystalloids.

4.   Pulmonary  

If the animal is intubated, chest auscultation should be done to assess endotracheal tube placement.  Airflow should be audible in all lung fields.   
Pulmonary function must be monitored.  This can be done via continuous capnography and/or pulse oximetry, respiratory rate observation, or auscultation.  The pulmonary function should be recorded at least every 15 minutes.  
Pulse oximetry and capnography should be considered for all major surgical procedures.
Blood gas monitoring and recording should be considered for major surgical procedures lasting more than 3 hours.  
Mucous membrane color can be used to assess overall ability to oxygenate, but is not a very sensitive measure.

5.   Temperature  

Body temperatures should be monitored by digital or conventional rectal thermometers or by electronic temperature (esophageal or rectal) probes.  The temperature should be checked and recorded at least every 15 minutes.  
Core body temperature should be maintained at normal levels with circulating water blankets, heated surgical tables, warmed intravenous fluid therapy, or other appropriate methods.

6.   Anesthetic depth
The animal’s anesthetic depth should be monitored throughout the surgical procedure.  Depending on the species, this can be done by observing responses to manipulation, jaw tone, palpebral reflexes and position of the eye.

Post-operative Care and Monitoring
1.   Adequate post-operative care enhances the animal’s recovery, minimizes pain and distress, and is a requirement of both professional and regulatory federal agencies.  Adequate post-operative care includes monitoring and documenting the animal’s recovery during the anesthetic recovery period, the acute post-operative period, and the long-term post-operative period.  
2.   The Principal Investigator must arrange for post-operative care.  In some cases, surgical staff may perform part of the post-operative care. The Attending Veterinarian has appropriate authority to ensure provision of adequate veterinary care during all phases of the post-operative period.  Communication between the Principal Investigator’s staff and the ACS veterinary staff is crucial.  

Anesthetic Recovery
1.   Unconscious or intubated animals must not be left unattended.
2.   Endotracheal tubes should not be removed until an animal has regained a swallow reflex.  Animals must be monitored continuously until they are conscious and sternal.
3.   All animals must be given analgesics unless scientific justification for withholding such agents is provided by the investigator and approved by the IACUC.  Analgesics must be given such that these agents become effective before the animal emerges from anesthesia.  Therefore, analgesia must be administered before or during surgery.
4.   The animal’s status must be recorded in the animal’s post-operative chart every 5 minutes.  The following parameters should be monitored and recorded at least every 15 minutes during the anesthetic recovery period:
Respiratory rate, as assessed by observation, auscultation, capnography or other appropriate method.  Any abnormal or deviant pattern or respiration should also be noted.
Heart rate, as assessed by auscultation, palpation, ECG, pulse oximetry or other appropriate method.
Temperature
5.   It is the responsibility of the investigator to arrange for appropriate monitoring during the anesthetic recovery phase, either by a member of the investigator’s laboratory or the surgery room staff.
6.   During the anesthetic recovery period, the animal’s core body temperature should be monitored and maintained in a normal range using circulating warm water blankets or warm water bottles.  The core body temperature of some animals is greater than a human being’s (>37 °C).  
7.   To avoid aspiration pneumonia, airway obstruction, pulmonary edema, tissue necrosis or edema at pressure points, a recumbent animal’s position should be adjusted every 15 minutes.  In addition, capillary refill time, mucous membrane color, condition of the wound, and the animal’s anesthetic plane should be monitored.

Acute Post-operative Period
1.   The acute post-operative period is that period when the animal regains stable physiologic functions, usually over 24-48 hours.  Monitoring during this time is usually done 2-3 times daily depending on the type of surgical procedure and the condition of the animal.  The Principal Investigator’s staff will monitor and record the post-operative condition of these animals at least once daily.  An ACS veterinarian or veterinary technician will also check these animals at least once daily.
2.   The acute post-operative period may require further treatments to stabilize the animal, such as fluid therapy, analgesics, antibiotics, and more intensive monitoring.  Analgesia is required in all animals, excluding those in Pain Category 3, as described in the ACS Guidelines on Post-operative Analgesia.
3.   Depending on the species, monitoring parameters may include: respiratory rate and character; mucous membrane color; capillary refill time; hydration status; appetite; condition of the surgical wound; state of arousal; indices of pain or discomfort.  If the animal is immobile, the heart rate and core body temperature should be monitored.
4.   Post-operative treatments (analgesics, antibiotics, fluid therapy, etc.) must be administered to the animal according to the Principal Investigator’s research protocol, or as determined by the ACS veterinary staff in consultation with the Principal Investigator.  This may be done by the ACS veterinary staff or by the Principal Investigator’s staff.  All medications, including name, dose, route, and time of administration, must be recorded in the animal’s post-operative record.

Long-term Post-operative Period
1.   The long-term post-operative period is from the time of physiologic stabilization to normalization.  This usually takes a minimum of 10 days for the animal to totally recover from most survival surgical procedures.  Daily monitoring should continue during this time.  Parameters that should be monitored/recorded during this time include: state of arousal; indices of pain or discomfort; condition of the surgical wound; appetite; hydration status; capillary refill time; mucous membrane color; fecal and urine production; and any medication administered.
2.   If at the end of the 10-day period non-absorbable sutures remain, the animal’s post-operative record must be continued at least until the non-absorbable sutures are removed.   
3.   Some surgical manipulations may require an extended period of post-operative monitoring.  The ACS veterinary staff in consultation with the Principal Investigator can determine the appropriate duration and extent of monitoring.  Some situations constituting prolonged monitoring periods are animals with chronic debilitating disease states (e.g., diabetes mellitus), animals having organ transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy, and animals with chronically implanted instruments or catheters.   

Record Keeping
The following records are to be kept and maintained in the animal’s record, as applicable, to assure compliance with the various regulatory agencies. 

• Anesthesia Record (Required for survival and non-survival surgeries)
• Procedure Record (Required for survival and non-survival surgeries)
• Post-Procedure Record

Principal Investigators may keep copies of the record(s) or keep notes in their laboratory notebooks, but maintain the original records with the animal’s record.