Veterinary Care

Every research animal at UIC is observed daily for illness, injuries or abnormal behavior by animal care staff, veterinary technicians, veterinarians or research staff experienced in the care of the species and/or the research protocol under which the animals are being used. Health concerns are directed to a member of the BRL veterinary staff for assessment and if appropriate the development of a treatment plan.  Research staff are notified by the BRL veterinary staff to discuss treatment plans and potential impact on research.

If an emergency arises during the work day (Monday – Friday) contact the BRL veterinarian, supervisor or laboratory animal health technician responsible for the animal facility in which your animals are housed or contact the BRL front office at (312) 996-7040). For after hour, weekend and holiday emergencies contact the on-call BRL veterinarian at (312) 413-0057.

In the case of an emergency, research staff may not be contacted to discuss the treatment plan and potential impact on research prior to initiation of the plan.

A preventative health program is imperative to maintaining the health and well-being of research animals maintained at UIC. The program varies depending upon species. For information on specific programs for non-rodent animals please contact the veterinarian responsible for the respective species. For rodent species, the program is based in large part upon obtaining animals from approved vendor sources and monitoring colony health status.

Approved sources are commercial vendors who conduct regular and comprehensive colony health monitoring, exclude specific murine pathogens as identified by the veterinary staff, practice high management standards, and ship animals directly via a dedicated ground transportation network. Sources that do not meet these criteria are considered non-approved vendors. The BRL veterinary staff review the colony health reports from all non-approved vendors to determine if the rodents will require quarantine or rederivation. For details related to rodent quarantine and rederivation please contact the appropriate member of the veterinary staff.

The BRL veterinary staff monitors the health status of the institution’s rodent colonies through a dirty bedding sentinel program. Sentinel animals within a room are exposed weekly to dirty bedding from a designated section of research animal cages.  Dirty bedding sentinels are most effective at detecting pathogens transmitted primarily by fecal-oral contamination. This method of health surveillance detects agents without the need to directly test research animals.  Sentinel animals are tested quarterly for murine pathogens including endo and ectoparasites. The information obtained from sentinel animal health assessments is used for the early detection of a disease outbreak, to generate health reports for animals being exported, and to maintain a high level of quality control within animal rooms and facilities.

The BRL veterinary staff is responsible for monitoring all non-rodent USDA covered species (including – rabbits, dogs, swine and nonhuman primates) following a survival surgical procedure, including rabbits, dogs, swine and nonhuman primates.  In this capacity, the veterinary staff oversees the administration of analgesics, and monitors and completes appropriate postoperative monitoring records until sutures are removed, incisions are healed, the animal is physiologically stable, and all postoperative treatments have been completed.

For rodents, birds and lower vertebrates, the research staff is responsible for providing postoperative care including administration of analgesics, monitoring health status, completion of Small Animal Surgical Record Form, and notifying the veterinary staff through an online small animal survival surgery notification form.