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Analgesia Standards for Laboratory Mice
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Analgesia Recommendations for Laboratory Mice

Related Information

Pain Levels and Examples

1. Momentary Pain

Description: Brief, transient pain that typically does not require analgesia.

Examples:

2. Mild Pain

Description: Minor discomfort that minimally interferes with normal physiology and requires short-term analgesia).

Examples:

3. Moderate Pain

Description: Quantifiable pain that frequently interferes with normal physiology and requires effective analgesia to ensure animal welfare.

Examples:

4. Severe Pain

Description: Quantifiable intense pain that continually interferes with normal physiology and necessitates significant analgesic protocols.

Examples:


Analgesia Standards

Multimodal Analgesia:

1. Momentary Pain

2. Mild Pain

3. Moderate Pain

4. Severe Pain

Additional Considerations

Any administration of substances must be documented. In addition, all monitoring (intra and post operatively) must be documented.

If a lab performs research with quantifiable outcomes that would be adversely affected by the standard pain protocols, robust justification (including references) for NOT following these requirements must be included in the animal use protocol.


Pain Scoring Using the Grimace Scale

The grimace scale is a method of assessing pain in laboratory rodents by observing changes in their facial expressions.

This website: https://nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resources/grimace-scales, has posters of grimace scales in mice.

Key Facial Action Units for Mice:

  1. Orbital Tightening: Squinting or closing of the eyes.
  2. Nose Bulge: Bulging of the nose.
  3. Cheek Bulge: Bulging of the cheeks.
  4. Ear Position: Ears pulled back or flattened.
  5. Whisker Change: Whiskers pulled back or forward.

Scoring:

Application:

Example:

If a lab wants to use a different method of evaluating pain, they need to provide scientific justification with references in the “Alternatives” section of the protocol.

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