Veterinary Care Program

Veterinary care is an essential part of an animal care and use Program. The primary focus of the veterinarian is to oversee the well-being and clinical care of animals used in research, testing, teaching and production.

This responsibility extends to monitoring and promoting animal well-being at all times during animal use and during all phases of the animal’s life. The veterinary care program is the responsibility of the attending veterinarian (AV). (Guide for the care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th ed.) The Attending Veterinarian is a regulatory function defined in the Animal Welfare Regulations (CFR Title 9), which also delineates the authority of the AV.

FAU’s veterinary program is striving for excellence in animal husbandry and care as well as high ethical standards. Any animal involved in research and teaching at FAU is observed daily either by animal care technicians in the centralized animal facilities or research personnel in PI managed satellite facilities. Health concerns in the CM managed centralized facilities are reported to the relevant PI and the veterinarian in a timely fashion. CM will work with the investigator to develop a treatment plan that is in the best interest of the animal(s), does not compromise the outcome of the study or project and ensures regulatory compliance.

It is the responsibility of the investigator at a PI managed satellite facility or any investigator when performing experimental procedures or IACUC protocol specific monitoring of animals to inform Comparative Medicine in an appropriate time frame to:

Reporting medical cases and/or situations

  • It is the responsibility of the investigator at a PI managed satellite facility or any investigator when performing experimental procedures or IACUC protocol specific monitoring of animals to inform Comparative Medicine in an appropriate time frame regarding sick, injured or otherwise compromised animals requiring veterinary care
  • Diagnostic examinations (necropsies) for animals that die unexpectedly

When reporting one of the above listed medical cases and/or situations to the CM, the Facility Manager or any CM staff member please include as a minimum this information:

  1. Investigator's name
  2. IACUC protocol number
  3. Phone number(s) of the contact person including after hours
  4. Animal species including strain, breed or genotype
  5. Animal identification if applicable
  6. Animal housing site including cage number/location
  7. Date of Births/Receipt
  8. Health concern identified and clinical history