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Accreditation Policies and Procedures of the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)

May 2008

Appendix B

Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Veterinary Technology Teaching Programs

The use of animals in veterinary technology teaching programs is discussed under Standards 4 (Physical Facilities and Equipment), 5 (Resources for Clinical Instruction), and 10 (Curriculum). The following guidelines are provided for clarification of accreditation requirements:

1. CVTEA endorses the principles of humane care and use of animals as stated in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and requires programs to apply AWA guidelines to all animal use.
2. The transportation, care, and use of animals in veterinary technology teaching programs must be in accordance with the regulations of the USDA and applicable state and local requirements.
3. Alternative teaching methods should be used for initial training of students in procedures which may cause pain or distress to the animal, ie, parenteral injections, lavage dosing, bladder catheterization, etc.
4. All animal activities conducted by a program must be reviewed and approved by an institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC).
   1. A written program of veterinary care for animals used in the program must be on file.
   2. Repeated use of individual animals for teaching laboratories must be specifically reviewed by the IACUC to ensure appropriate conditioning procedures and frequency of use.
   3. Teaching procedures, which may cause more than momentary pain or distress to the animal, must be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia.
   4. Euthanasia methods must be in accordance with AVMA guidelines.
   5. Prolonged restraint, multiple major surgical procedures, and food or fluid restriction from animals for teaching purposes must be prohibited. Exceptions must be specifically reviewed by the IACUC.
5. Off campus providers of instructional support must meet objective requirements set by the program regarding the care and use of animals, physical facilities and available equipment.

Animal Care and Use Committees, Special Reference Briefs: 92-16, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, September 1992.

AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). 2000 Report of the AVMA panel on euthanasia. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 218 (5): 669-696.

AVMA Position on Animal Welfare. Use of Animals in Research and Teaching and Pain in Animals.

CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), 1985. Title 9 (Animals and Animal Products), Subchapter A (Animal Welfare). Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register.

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, Commission on Life Sciences, National Research Council. National Research Council. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. 1996.

Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching, Federation of Animal Science Societies, www.fass.org.

The IACUC Handbook (2nd Edition) by Jerald Silverman, Mark A. Suckow & Sreekant Murthy. CRC Press, 2000 NW Corporate Blvd, Boca Raton, FL 33431 ISBN 978-0-8493-4010-9. 2007