MONITORING SHEETS STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS This is a 3 step guide to designing a practical and relevant welfare monitoring package for an AEC application. The AEC endorsed monitoring package includes: Cover sheet This document provides all the essential information ie project and personnel details, welfare monitoring criteria and intervention actions. A copy of the Cover Sheet should be placed in the front of the Monitoring File. Recording Sheet This document is where the monitoring findings are recorded. The monitoring criteria listed should match those described in the Cover Sheet. Anaesthetic Monitoring Sheet For projects where a separate anaesthetic monitoring sheet is required. Monitoring criteria: Examples of types of monitoring criteria are available for different species. STEP 1: COVER SHEET 1) CONTACT DETAILS: Add project and personnel details. 2) SPECIES/PHENOTYPE/MODEL ISSUES: In this section describe any issues or peculiarities of the model that are relevant to welfare monitoring. For example. An animal inoculated with an infective agent may become unwell for a day or two then recover. 3) MONITORING CRITERIA: a. Select general, specific monitoring criteria that are reliable, achievable and relevant to the species, phenotype, disease process and experiment. b. Then fully describe the behaviour or clinical signs associated with the scores of 1 and 2. More severe criteria will only be considered if part of the model or experiment and fully described in the application. c. Always include an Other section. 4) MONITORING FREQUENCY: a. Describe monitoring regime - how welfare will be monitored and recorded throughout the project, including frequency of observations. Note that in some projects different recording sheets will be required because the relevant welfare monitoring criteria change over the course of the project, for example, Include a description of the monitoring schedule from the beginning to the end of the project. For example, Mice will be monitored as a group (up to 6 per box) as per GROUP recording sheet. If a mouse scores 1, it will be identified by marking the tail with a permanent marker and monitored using an INDIVIDUAL recording sheet. When mice are anaesthetised for scanning an individual ANAESTHESIA monitoring sheet will be used for each animal for the day of the scan. Other short anaesthetics/procedures will be marked on the GROUP recording sheets. b. Select type of monitoring sheets and describe how they are used in this project, for example: 1 Monitoring Sheets Step By Step update October 13
Type of recording sheet Group or individual recording Description General Individual This is the most common recording sheet where each animal is identified and individually assessed and the recording sheet completed for each animal. This sheet may include a section to note minor anaesthesia for restraint or non-surgical procedures that does not require an anaesthesia monitoring sheet (Example: gaseous anaesthesia for 5 minutes for a tail vein injection) General Group In some circumstances (especially where individuals are not identified) the animals will be assessed and scored as a group. If one animal demonstrates a score then this animal is individually identified, assessed and scored either on the group recording sheet or on an individual recording sheet Anaesthesia Individual For anaesthesia for minor and major surgical or nonsurgical procedures. Include monitoring modality s relevant to the species, procedure and the equipment available. Post Procedure Individual For circumstances where the monitoring requirements for the non-surgical or surgical procedure are significantly different from the general day to day monitoring. This sheet may be used for the first 3-10 days following a major surgical procedure. Frequency of assessments Relevant to the model Relevant to the model Continual until sternal recumbency and a swallow reflex apparent. Monitor again at the end of the day and the following morning. Twice daily then daily. Relevant to the model 2 Monitoring Sheets Step By Step update October 13
5) ACTIONS AND INTERVENTIONS Include the relevant and specific actions that maintain animal welfare while ensuring experimental outcomes are met and that are relevant to the model and the experiment. For example, you can provide one or more of the following actions. Wellness Assessment Actions/Interventions Score 0 Animal within normal limits No interventions required and may depend on species. 1 Animal demonstrates slight or intermittently deviation from normal 2-3 Animal demonstrates moderate deviation from normal >3 Animal demonstrates significant deviation from normal or is obviously unwell and/or distressed *This list provides examples of the types of interventions that may occur but is not exclusive o Increase frequency of monitoring o Closer and more careful monitoring o More frequent weight measurements o Change from cage to individual monitoring o Rescue analgesia o Seek expert advice o Take and record observations eg body temp, heart rate and respiratory rate o Assess hydration status Assess for euthanasia Seek expert advice Check conditions in section 17D of approved AEC application Contact the AWO if required. Immediate euthanasia Check section 17D of approved AEC application Contact the AWO if required. Prescribed AEC Interventions (Refer to Guidelines on the Induction of Tumours and Monitoring of Animal Welfare and Guidelines on body weight deficit and monitoring of animal welfare documents). Tumour size Weight loss % (Note: In growing, pregnant or tumour bearing animals, weight loss will need to account for these conditions.) Threshold 1: When this threshold is reached, the animal enters a regime of more intensive monitoring and provision of palliative care. Threshold 2: This is a limit of tumour size that is applied as an absolute criterion for euthanasia. Threshold 1: When this threshold is reached, the animal enters a regime of more intensive monitoring and provision of additional care. Threshold 2: This is a limit of body weight deficit that is applied as a sole criterion for euthanasia. eg..mm 3..%.% Increase welfare monitoring frequency to Measure tumours at a frequency of. Immediate euthanasia. Check section 17D for specific details of approved AEC application and contact the AWO if required. Increase welfare monitoring frequency to Measure weight at a frequency of.. Notify the AWO or other approved reviewer. If the body weight deficit in any animal reaches this approved second threshold euthanasia must be performed. (Exception: If CI believes that too many animals with otherwise acceptable Wellness Scores or good prospects for timely recovery are being wasted upon reaching this second threshold, the CI should request review by the AWO.) Check section 17D for specific conditions of approved AEC application and contact the AWO if required. 3 Monitoring Sheets Step By Step update October 13
6) INSTRUCTIONS a. Each animal is examined and observed for abnormalities at each monitoring point. b. Each criterion is scored and the score marked on the monitoring sheet. Training may be required to ensure all personnel are consistent in terms of scoring. c. Scores are then added together and a total Wellness Score marked on the monitoring sheet. d. Appropriate to the total Wellness Score, specific actions or interventions are undertaken. e. Comments concerning abnormalities are recorded in the Comments section. f. Any other abnormalities are recorded in the Other section.7. Any abnormality that is observed to be of greater severity that the descriptions provided above will require immediate euthanasia. g. All unexpected deaths or adverse events (other than described in section 17D) will be reported immediately to the AWO. 4 Monitoring Sheets Step By Step update October 13
7) SECTION 17D OF AEC APPLICATION Cut and paste Section 17D here. For example: < 1% expected to die or require intervention euthanasia because nude mice are immune compromised and have a mortality rate higher than would be expected in immune competent strains. Any intervention will report them the AEC. <% may die unexpectedly from anaesthesia. Mortality rate higher than would be expected in immune competent strains Unexpected anaesthetic death Death Death Good planning and monitoring Procedure training and supervision until deemed competent by ACs vets <1% <1% NOTE: REMOVE WATERMARK ENSURE that watermark is removed when the Cover Sheet is completed. a. Go to Page Layout Tab b. Go to Waternark Tab c. Go to Remove Watermark Tab and click 5 Monitoring Sheets Step By Step update October 13
STEP 2: RECORDING SHEET This sheet can be formatted as portrait or landscape. 1) ANIMAL DETAILS Add animal and project details. 2) MONITORING Add the criteria from the Cover Sheet document. For example, Day -2 0 1am 1pm 2am 2pm 3am 3pm 4am 4pm Date Procedure Criteria Activity Body Posture Coat quality Respiration Eyes & nose Injection site Other Total Prescribed AEC Intervention Criteria Weight Tumour size Signature NA Injection under gaseous anaesthesia gaseous (<5mins) NOTE: REMOVE WATERMARK ENSURE that watermark is removed when the Cover Sheet is completed. i. Go to Page Layout Tab ii. Go to Waternark Tab iii. Go to Remove Watermark Tab and click 6 Monitoring Sheets Step By Step update October 13
STEP 3: ANAESTHETIC AND POST-PROCEDURALSHEETS Anaesthesia: When general anaesthesia is used for minor and major surgical or non-surgical procedures, an anaesthetic monitoring and recording sheet should be used. This sheet should include monitoring modalities relevant to the species, procedure and the equipment available. Some examples of anaesthetic monitoring sheets are available on the website. Post-procedural: There are circumstances where the monitoring requirements following the non-surgical or surgical procedure in an experiment are significantly different from the general day-to-day monitoring. In these circumstances a stand-alone or combined (usually with Anaesthesia OR General recording) should be included. This sheet may be used for the first 3-10 days following a surgical procedure and be relevant to the expected clinical signs that may occur during that period. These sheets are usually project specific. For example, 7 Monitoring Sheets Step By Step update October 13
COMBINED GENERAL AND POST-PROCEDURAL RECORDING SHEET Animal Details AEC Protocol RA/ Date (Day 0) Strain Cage No. Weighing Age/DOB frequency Animal No. Starting weight Sex Weight with 10% weight loss General Monitoring Prior to commencement (Date) Activity Body Posture Resp Eyes & Nose Social behaviour Other Total Score Sign Comments Experiment Commencing (Date/time) 0hr 6hr 12hr 18hr 24hr Anaesthetic/Procedural Monitoring Complete at 15 minute time intervals during anaesthesia and at 30 minute time intervals for recovery periods (until sternal recumbancy) Time Points (Min/Hour) Time of induction Isoflura nce Conc. 0 PRE Tail Vein procedure Injection 15 30 1 HR POST Tail Vein Injection 2HR POST 4 HR POST Procedure Resp Movement Sternal recumbancy Time of recovery Sign Comments 8 Monitoring Sheets Step By Step update October 13