What does this mean in practice?
Post-operative care and pain relief should be planned in advance to ensure animals experience as little pain and distress as possible following surgery.
This includes:
- Providing peri-operative analgesia before and during the procedure
- Administering additional analgesia during surgery where required
- Providing post-operative analgesia for an appropriate length of time
- Delivering post-operative care appropriate for the species and procedure
Animals should be monitored closely during recovery to ensure pain is managed effectively and any complications are identified early.
How do I comply with PIL Standard Condition 12?
Fulfilling this condition requires you to take a proactive approach to managing pain, suffering, and distress throughout the entire duration of the procedure, not just during or immediately after surgery.
This begins with planning appropriate peri-operative analgesia in advance. This should include pre-emptive analgesia, intra-operative top-up doses where required, and a clearly defined post-operative analgesia regime for an appropriate duration based on the species and procedure being performed.
Pain management should not be treated as a single intervention, but as an ongoing process that is regularly reviewed and adjusted according to the condition of the animal.
In addition to analgesia, you should provide appropriate supportive care and refinements to minimise discomfort and aid recovery. Depending on the species and procedure, this may include:
- Additional bedding or nesting material
- Easily accessible food and water
- Softened food or dietary supplements
- Supplemental heat support
- Fluid therapy or hydration support
This is particularly important for small animals such as rodents, which can deteriorate quickly following procedures.
You should be familiar with the expected adverse effects described within the Project Licence and ensure your approach aligns with both the licence requirements and any protocol-specific instructions.
Ongoing monitoring is essential. You must be able to recognise signs of pain, distress, or post-operative complications in the species you work with and respond appropriately. This may involve:
- Administering additional analgesia within the authority of the licence
- Adjusting husbandry or supportive care
- Seeking advice from the Veterinary team or NACWO
Your approach should always focus on minimising suffering and supporting recovery. Decisions should be based on the welfare needs of the animal rather than routine practice or convenience.
What resources are available to support me?
A range of support is available within the establishment to help you meet this Standard Condition effectively.
- The Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) plays a central role in advising on appropriate analgesic protocols, including drug selection, dosing schedules, duration of treatment, post-operative care, and potential refinements to improve animal welfare.
- The Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) supports the day-to-day monitoring of animals, helping to identify signs of pain, distress, or complications. They can also advise on practical welfare refinements such as housing, nutrition, environmental enrichment, and supportive care.
- The Named Training and Competency Officer (NTCO) ensures that you are appropriately trained and competent in recognising pain, administering analgesia, and monitoring recovery. They can also arrange additional support or refresher training where required.
- The Project Licence Holder (PPLh) can provide guidance on protocol-specific expectations, including any additional requirements or restrictions relating to pain management and post-operative care.
Local Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Experimental Plans provide structured guidance on approved analgesic regimens, monitoring requirements, intervention points, and post-operative care expectations. These documents help ensure consistency, animal welfare, and regulatory compliance across the establishment.
If at any stage you are unsure whether an animal requires additional analgesia, supportive care, or veterinary attention, you should seek advice rather than continue with uncertainty.
What happens if I don’t comply with PIL Standard Condition 12?
Failure to adequately manage pain, suffering, or distress is a serious animal welfare and compliance issue. Animals may experience unnecessary or prolonged pain, which would represent a breach of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) and the principles of refinement.
Such failures may result in incidents being reported to the Home Office Inspectorate (ASRU), suspension of procedures, and investigation into both individual and establishment practices.
Potential consequences include:
- Retraining in pain management and post-operative care
- Reassessment of competency
- Increased supervision
- Amendment, suspension, or revocation of a Personal Licence in serious cases
Common failures include:
- Inadequate post-operative analgesia
- Poor monitoring of animals following procedures
- Failure to recognise or act on signs of pain or distress
- Failure to provide appropriate supportive care
- Incorrect administration of prescribed analgesia
Even where analgesia has been prescribed appropriately, failure to administer it correctly or respond to the animal’s condition would still be considered non-compliance under ASPA.
How does ASRU assess compliance with PIL Standard Condition 12?
ASRU assesses compliance with PIL Standard Condition 12 by reviewing how Personal Licence holders minimise pain, suffering, and distress through the use of analgesia and other appropriate welfare measures.
During an inspection, ASRU may review Standard Operating Procedures, training materials, anaesthetic and analgesic protocols, and records relating to peri-operative care, welfare monitoring, and pain management. Inspectors may also examine evidence that staff have received appropriate training and competency assessment in anaesthesia, analgesia, and the recognition of pain and distress.
Compliance may also be assessed through discussions with the Establishment Licence Holder (PELh), Project Licence Holder (PPLh), Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO), animal care staff, and Personal Licence holders to confirm that welfare controls, pain management strategies, and monitoring procedures are being followed appropriately.
ASRU may additionally assess compliance through direct observation of anaesthesia, recovery, post-procedural monitoring, and general animal care practices to ensure appropriate steps are being taken to minimise pain, suffering, and distress throughout the procedure and recovery period.
How do I know if I am complying with PIL Standard Condition 12?
You can be confident that you are fulfilling this Standard Condition if you are actively managing and reviewing animal welfare throughout both the procedure and recovery period, rather than relying solely on a predefined plan.
This means that an appropriate pain management and post-operative care plan has been developed in advance, with input from the Veterinary team, and that it reflects the expected level of pain, recovery needs, and welfare considerations for the species and procedure involved.
You are administering analgesia at the correct times, including pre-emptive, intra-operative where required, and post-operative dosing. You are also ensuring that appropriate supportive care measures are in place to minimise discomfort and support recovery.
You should be closely monitoring animals after the procedure, using your understanding of species-specific behaviours to recognise signs of pain, distress, or complications, and responding appropriately when these signs are observed. This may include:
- Administering additional analgesia
- Adjusting husbandry or supportive care
- Escalating concerns to the Veterinary team or NACWO
Your decisions should be based on the condition and behaviour of the individual animal, rather than assumption, habit, or routine practice. You should remain actively involved in the animal’s care until recovery is complete or the defined humane endpoint has been reached.
You should also be able to clearly explain:
- What measures are in place to minimise pain and distress
- Why those measures were chosen
- How animals are being monitored
- What actions you would take if the animal’s condition changed
If you are following an appropriate care plan, monitoring animals effectively, responding to their welfare needs, and seeking advice when required, you are likely fulfilling this Standard Condition.