Veterinary resources and animal health
In accordance with the Swedish Animal welfare act, each laboratory animal facility must appoint a designated veterinarian. The designated veterinarian provides advice and instructions on how activities within the facility should be conducted and assists with treatment of animals if needed.
The role of the veterinarians
At Comparative Medicine, four veterinarians support researchers and staff working with animals at KI. Support is mainly given in matters related to animal health and welfare, animal husbandry, biosecurity, and the planning of animal experiments, as well as decisions regarding the import of animals.
The veterinarians develop written plans for, among other things, preventive animal health care, pain management, surgery, postoperative care, and assessment of animal well-being. Based on these plans, guidance is provided to ensure good animal welfare.
The veterinarians monitor infection control and animal welfare, and may participate in experimental planning and assessment of animals in experiments. They assist in diagnosing sick or injured animals. They also monitor animal health status and issue health certificates connected to export.
The veterinarian at your animal facility, together with the NACWO (named animal care and welfare officer) and animal care staff, must participate in the review process before sending in the application for ethical approval of animal experiments.
Contact a veterinarian at your animal facility
If you have questions related to the health and wellbeing of the animals, please contact the KI veterinarians.
Contact the veterinarians in the event of:
- Uncertainty as to whether an animal has reached a humane endpoint
- Prior to experiments of considerable severity, experiments where required by the regional animal ethics committee, or when deemed appropriate by the veterinarian
- Import or export of animals
- Experimental planning
- Advice regarding the design of experiments and procedures
- Questions regarding analgesia, anesthesia, surgery, or other animal health matters
- Questions concerning applicable legislation
- Guidance when ordering of narcotic drugs
- Reuse of animals/change of laboratory animal ethical approval
- Suspected infection
- Disease outbreaks
Plan and carry out health inventory
Comparative Medicine follows the FELASA recommendations for the health monitoring of laboratory animals. Sampling and schedule for health inventory are determined by the veterinarians based on these recommendations.
Currently, health monitoring is performed every 3 to 12 months depending on species and barrier level. During health monitoring, samples are submitted for analysis from each animal room and/or from animals throughout the entire facility. This process is coordinated by the veterinarians.
Advice and support after office hours
Experiments requiring the presence or consultation of a veterinarian must be conducted during regular working hours, unless otherwise separately agreed.
The holder of the ethical approval must ensure adequate monitoring of laboratory animals, and that all unnecessary suffering in the context of animal research is prevented and, where appropriate, stopped.