Introduction
Welcome to the resource page for the Assessing, Preventing and Alleviating Post-Operative Pain in Rodents and Rabbits hosted by FLAIRE Consultants. This workshop is split into two blocks as detailed below. All online content is available in advance of the course start date
- This workshop is aimed at animal technicians, veterinarians, research workers and others who want to improve their understanding of this topic.
- Course tutors are Professor Paul Flecknell and Dr Matt Leach.
- All pre-recorded content is available from the start of the workshop, but we provide a suggested timetable for completion below
- Participants will be able to access the pre-recorded worksop content (after its release date) for a period of three months. Access to the e-learning modules and the RAT website will be available for one year.
- E-learning modules are delivered via this website and the live sessions use Microsoft Teams.
- You will be sent invitations to the live sessions directly from Teams.
- We will also use Mentimeter (mentimeter.com) for the interactive sessions. This web based tool does not require you to have an account.
Live Session Schedule
Block One
Live Session 1
Cage-side methods of pain assessment (Part 1)
- Hosted by Matt Leach
Live Session 2
Cage-side methods of pain assessment (Part 2)
- Hosted by Matt Leach
Block Two
Live Session 3
Severity assessment, using scoresheets and refining procedures
- Hosted by Paul Flecknell
Live Session 4
Practical exercises in avoiding and minimising pain and distress
- Hosted by Paul Flecknell
Block One - Assessment
This block introduces the concepts of pain and distress in laboratory animals.
Pre-Recorded Seminars
Live Session Resources
Scoring Videos
- Rat behaviour videos (opens in new window)
- Mouse behaviour videos (opens in new window)
- Rabbit behaviour videos (opens in new window)
Grimace Scales
- RGS Manual – the rat grimace scale
- MGS Manual – the mouse grimace scale
- RbtGS Manual – the rabbit grimace scale
General supporting materials
- Boly, M., Seth, A.K., Wilke, M., Ingmundson, P., Baars, B., Laureys, S., Edelman, D. and Tsuchiya, N., 2013. Consciousness in humans and non-human animals: recent advances and future directions. Frontiers in psychology, 4, p.625.
- Flecknell, P., 2015. Laboratory animal anaesthesia. Academic press. – a chapter on a postoperative case which includes drug dose tables. Remember, only “suggested doses”.
- Fitzgerald, M. and Walker, S.M., 2009. Infant pain management: a developmental neurobiological approach. Nature Clinical Practice Neurology, 5 (1), pp.35-50.
- Lamme, V.A., 2018. Challenges for theories of consciousness: seeing or knowing, the missing ingredient and how to deal with panpsychism. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373 (1755), p.20170344. (one of Paul Flecknell’s favourite references on consciousness)
- Mouse handling research papers – from www.nc3rs.org.uk, the latest compilation of papers dealing with tunnel handling.
Block Two - Alleviation
This block introduces learners to the concepts of how the severity of procedures is classified, the nature and value of the severity assessment framework and applying the severity assessment framework in a series of eLearning modules. It also includes pre-recorded seminars on pain, nociception and using analgesics in a research environment as well as an elearning module covering minimising pain and distress during post-operative care.
Pre-Recorded Seminars
Recommended eLearning Courses
Assessing distress and clinical scoring (additional references and links are provided within the Severity Assessment e-learning modules)
- Ahloy-Dallaire, J., Klein, J.D., Davis, J.K. and Garner, J.P., 2019. Automated monitoring of mouse feeding and body weight for continuous health assessment. Laboratory animals, 53(4), pp.342-351.
- Cowley, P.M., Roberts, C.R. and Baker, A.J., 2019. Monitoring the Health Status of Mice with Bleomycin-induced Lung Injury by Using Body Condition Scoring. Comparative medicine, 69(2), pp.95-102.
- Gaskill, B.N., Karas, A.Z., Garner, J.P. and Pritchett-Corning, K.R., 2013. Nest building as an indicator of health and welfare in laboratory mice. JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments), (82), p.e51012.
- Gaskill, B.N. and Pritchett-Corning, K.R., 2016. Nest building as an indicator of illness in laboratory mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 180, pp.140-146.
- Hunter, J.E., Butterworth, J., Perkins, N.D., Bateson, M. and Richardson, C.A., 2014. Using body temperature, food and water consumption as biomarkers of disease progression in mice with E μ-myc lymphoma. British journal of cancer, 110(4), pp.928-934
- Kalliokoski, O., Jacobsen, K.R., Darusman, H.S., Henriksen, T., Weimann, A., Poulsen, H.E., Hau, J. and Abelson, K.S., 2013. Mice do not habituate to metabolism cage housing a three-week study of male BALB/c mice. PloS one, 8(3), p.e58460.
- Morton, D.A. and Griffiths, P.H., 1985. Guidelines on the recognition of pain, distress and discomfort in experimental animals and an hypothesis for assessment. Vet Rec, 116(16), pp.431-6.
- Talbot, S.R., Biernot, S., Bleich, A., van Dijk, R.M., Ernst, L., Häger, C., Helgers, S.O.A., Koegel, B., Koska, I., Kuhla, A. and Miljanovic, N., 2020. Defining body-weight reduction as a humane endpoint: a critical appraisal. Laboratory Animals, 54(1), pp.99-110.
- Warn, P.A., Brampton, M.W., Sharp, A., Morrissey, G., Steel, N., Denning, D.W. and Priest, T., 2003. Infrared body temperature measurement of mice as an early predictor of death in experimental fungal infections. Laboratory Animals, 37(2), pp.126-131.
Analgesic drugs, dose rates and related information – mammals
- Christou, C., Oliver, R.A., Rawlinson, J. and Walsh, W.R., 2015. Transdermal fentanyl and its use in ovine surgery. Research in veterinary science, 100, pp.252-256.
- Flecknell, P., 2018. Analgesics in small mammals. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice, 21(1), pp.83-103.
- Flecknell, P., 2018. Rodent analgesia: Assessment and therapeutics. The Veterinary Journal, 232, pp.70-77. (includes a brief review of nociceptive and other pain assessment).
- Foley, P.L., Kendall, L.V. and Turner, P.V., 2019. Clinical management of pain in rodents. Comparative Medicine, 69(6), pp.468-489.
- Ingrao, J.C., Johnson, R., Tor, E., Gu, Y., Litman, M. and Turner, P.V., 2013. Aqueous stability and oral pharmacokinetics of meloxicam and carprofen in male C57BL/6 mice. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 52(5), pp.553-559.
- KuKanich, B., 2011. Clinical interpretation of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data in zoologic companion animal species. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice, 14(1), pp.1-20. (useful reference on practical applications of scaling of drug doses)
- Lizarraga, I. and Chambers, J.P., 2012. Use of analgesic drugs for pain management in sheep. New Zealand veterinary journal, 60(2), pp.87-94.
- Schnellbacher, R.W., Divers, S.J., Comolli, J.R., Beaufrère, H., Maglaras, C.H., Andrade, N., Barbur, L.A., Rosselli, D.D., Stejskal, M., Barletta, M. and Mayer, J., 2017. Effects of intravenous administration of lidocaine and buprenorphine on gastrointestinal tract motility and signs of pain in New Zealand White rabbits after ovariohysterectomy. American journal of veterinary research, 78(12), pp.1359-1371.
- Smith, B.J., Wegenast, D.J., Hansen, R.J., Hess, A.M. and Kendall, L.V., 2016. Pharmacokinetics and paw withdrawal pressure in female guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) treated with sustained-release buprenorphine and buprenorphine hydrochloride. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 55(6), pp.789-793.
- Vaz, R.E., Draganov, D.I., Rapp, C., Avenel, F., Steiner, G., Arras, M. and Bergadano, A., 2018. Preliminary pharmacokinetics of tramadol hydrochloride after administration via different routes in male and female B6 mice. Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia, 45(1), pp.111-122.
Analgesics and research protocols
- Carbone, L., 2019. Ethical and IACUC Considerations Regarding Analgesia and Pain Management in Laboratory Rodents. Comparative Medicine, 69(6), pp.443-450.
- DeMarco, G.J. and Nunamaker, E.A., 2019. A Review of the Effects of Pain and Analgesia on Immune System Function and Inflammation: Relevance for Preclinical Studies. Comparative Medicine, 69(6), pp.520-534.
- Huss, M.K., Felt, S.A. and Pacharinsak, C., 2019. Influence of Pain and Analgesia on Orthopedic and Wound-healing Models in Rats and Mice. Comparative Medicine, 69(6), pp.535-545.
- Peterson, N.C., Nunamaker, E.A. and Turner, P.V., 2017. To treat or not to treat: the effects of pain on experimental parameters. Comparative medicine, 67(6), pp.469-482.
- Suckow, M.A. and Turner, P.V., 2019. Pain as a Clinical Factor and Experimental Variable in Research Rodents. Comparative Medicine, 69(6), pp.441-442.
- Walker, S.M., 2017. Translational studies identify long-term impact of prior neonatal pain experience. Pain, 158, pp.S29-S42.
Analgesic drugs and pain in non-mammals
- Caplen, G., Colborne, G.R., Hothersall, B., Nicol, C.J., Waterman-Pearson, A.E., Weeks, C.A. and Murrell, J.C., 2013. Lame broiler chickens respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with objective changes in gait function: a controlled clinical trial. The Veterinary Journal, 196(3), pp.477-482.
- Chatigny, F., Kamunde, C., Creighton, C.M. and Stevens, E.D., 2017. Uses and doses of local anesthetics in fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 56(3), pp.244-253. Excellent review article.
- Dhondt, L., Devreese, M., Croubels, S., De Baere, S., Haesendonck, R., Goessens, T., Gehring, R., De Backer, P. and Antonissen, G., 2017. Comparative population pharmacokinetics and absolute oral bioavailability of COX-2 selective inhibitors celecoxib, mavacoxib and meloxicam in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). Scientific reports, 7(1), pp.1-12. (included as its one of the few detailed publications on analgesics in birds)
- Gentle, M.J., 2011. Pain issues in poultry. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 135(3), pp.252-258.
- Lewbart, G.A. and Mosley, C., 2012. Clinical anesthesia and analgesia in invertebrates. Journal of exotic pet medicine, 21(1), pp.59-70.
- Machin, Karen L. “Controlling avian pain.” Compendium April(2005): 299-307.
- Mosley, C.A., 2005, October. Anesthesia and analgesia in reptiles. In Seminars in avian and exotic pet medicine (Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 243-262). WB Saunders.
- Vila Pouca, C. and Brown, C., 2017. Contemporary topics in fish cognition and behaviour. Current opinion in behavioural sciences.
- Sladky, K.K., Miletic, V., Paul-Murphy, J., Kinney, M.E., Dallwig, R.K. and Johnson, S.M., 2007. Analgesic efficacy and respiratory effects of butorphanol and morphine in turtles. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 230(9), pp.1356-1362.
- Sneddon, L.U., 2015. Pain in aquatic animals. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218(7), pp.967-976.
- Stevens, C.W., MacIver, D.N. and Newman, L.C., 2001. Testing and comparison of non-opioid analgesics in amphibians. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 40(4), pp.23-27.