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

May 2009

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. Animal use protocols must contain all information required by AWA guidelines.
   3. Repeated use of individual animals for teaching laboratories must be specifically reviewed by the IACUC to ensure appropriate conditioning procedures and frequency of use.
   4. Teaching procedures, which may cause more than momentary pain or distress to the animal, must be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia.
   5. Euthanasia methods must be in accordance with AVMA guidelines.
   6. 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.
   7. Membership of the IACUC must meet AWA guidelines. It is highly recommended that programs consider having more than the minimum number of members, to allow for quorum requirements and conflict of interest on votes.
   8. Meeting frequency, quorum requirements, as well as IACUC minutes and reports must conform to AWA guidelines.
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 Welfare Regulations, CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), 2005. Title 9 (Animals and Animal Products), Chapter 1 (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture), Part 2 (Regulations) http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/awr.shtml.

Animal Welfare Act, United States Code, Title 7 (Agriculture), Chapter 54 (Transportation, Sale and Handling of Certain Animals), http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/awa.shtml.

AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). Guidelines on Euthanasia, June 2007, http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf

AVMA Position on Animal Welfare. Use of Animals in Research, Testing and Education. Revised November 2007.

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

Animal Care Resource Guide: Research Facility Inspection Guide, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/rig.shtml.