When to Obtain Veterinary Care 

Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR’s) overall responsibility is to ensure the health and well-being of all vertebrate animals used in research and teaching at Iowa State University.  This responsibility has been delegated to LAR by the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and is accordance with the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Guide), the GUIDE for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Ag Guide),  and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).  Any animal that appears to have an abnormality, is sick, or in distress needs to be reported to the LAR Veterinary Medical Staff (refer to SOP-V-01.01, How to Obtain Veterinary Care). 

When reporting an animal to the LAR Veterinary Medical Staff, please be prepared to report the following information:

ü      What is the problem?

ü      How long has the problem been noticed?

ü      What facility and room number is the animal in?

A few abnormalities you might encounter are listed below, but are not limited to this list:

§         Not eating and/or drinking

§         Lethargic

§         Hunched posture

§         Unthrifty/scruffy hair coat

§         Discharge from eyes

§         Loose stools

§         Ulcerations

§         Head tilt

§         Favoring a particular part of the body

If you need more information on what the normal behavior is of the species you are working with or would just like to ask a question, please contact the Veterinary Medical Staff at 294-8507.

      PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY ABNORMALITY NOTICED NEEDS TO BE REPORTED TO THE LAR VETERINARY MEDICAL STAFF EVEN IF THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR IS A VETERINARIAN.