Animal Health and Welfare Flashcards
7 cards from real ALAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Animal Health and Welfare flashcards as text
Which of the following best explains why social housing is preferred for gregarious laboratory animals such as mice and rabbits?
Answer: Social contact meets behavioral needs, reduces stress, and improves overall welfare
Gregarious species have evolved to live in social groups, and social housing fulfills behavioral needs, reduces stress hormones, and improves welfare outcomes.
A technician notes that a mouse has an ulcerative skin lesion on its neck region. Considering common laboratory mouse conditions, this is most suggestive of:
Answer: Fighting wounds or barbering-related ulcerative dermatitis
Ulcerative dermatitis on the neck and shoulders of mice frequently results from repeated scratching, often linked to barbering or fighting within the cage.
Which of the following statements about euthanasia of laboratory animals is CORRECT?
Answer: Euthanasia methods must be consistent with the AVMA Guidelines and approved by the IACUC
The AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals provide the scientific basis, and all methods must be IACUC-approved to ensure they are humane and appropriate.
An Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) is required by federal policy to include which of the following members?
Answer: At least one veterinarian, one scientist, one non-scientist, and one member unaffiliated with the institution
Federal regulations (PHS Policy and AWA) mandate that the IACUC include a veterinarian, a practicing scientist, a non-scientist, and a community member not affiliated with the institution.
Post-operative monitoring of a rodent after surgery should include all of the following EXCEPT:
Answer: Immediately returning the animal to a group cage with cage mates
Post-surgical animals must recover in a separate, warm environment with monitoring before being returned to group housing to prevent injury from cage mates.
Which of the following is a sign of acute pain in a non-human primate (NHP)?
Answer: Brow ridging, self-clasping, and reduced movement
NHPs in acute pain commonly exhibit facial grimacing including brow ridging, withdrawal behaviors such as self-clasping, and reduced locomotion.
What is the primary welfare concern associated with single housing of socially obligate species in a research setting?
Answer: Psychological distress, abnormal repetitive behaviors, and compromised immune function
Single housing of social animals can cause chronic stress, stereotypies, and immune suppression, all of which harm welfare and can confound research data.