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
A guinea pig is observed with slobbering, wet fur around the mouth, and weight loss. These signs are most consistent with:
Answer: Dental malocclusion (slobbers)
Malocclusion, commonly called 'slobbers,' causes drooling and difficulty eating, leading to weight loss in guinea pigs.
In laboratory animal facilities, the term 'clinical endpoint' refers to:
Answer: A defined humane point at which an animal is removed from a study to prevent unnecessary suffering
Humane endpoints are predetermined criteria that trigger early removal or euthanasia to minimize animal suffering during a study.
Which of the following is the correct approach when a technician discovers an animal that appears to be in severe distress outside of normal working hours?
Answer: Contact the on-call veterinarian immediately
Facilities are required to have 24-hour veterinary coverage; severe distress requires immediate veterinary notification regardless of the hour.
What does the term 'zoonosis' mean in the context of laboratory animal medicine?
Answer: A disease that can be transmitted between animals and humans
Zoonoses are diseases or infections that can be transmitted from vertebrate animals to humans, posing occupational health risks in animal facilities.
A technician notices that newly received mice have nasal discharge and sneezing. The best immediate action is to:
Answer: Quarantine the mice and notify the facility veterinarian
New animals showing respiratory signs must be quarantined and evaluated by a veterinarian before entering the main colony to prevent disease spread.
Which of the following best describes the concept of 'animal distress' compared to 'animal pain'?
Answer: Pain is a physical sensation while distress encompasses broader psychological and physiological suffering
Pain is a specific noxious sensory experience, while distress is a broader state encompassing psychological suffering, fear, and inability to adapt.
What is the recommended approach when a research protocol requires a procedure that may cause more than momentary pain?
Answer: Appropriate analgesia or anesthesia must be used unless scientifically justified and IACUC-approved
Federal regulations and IACUC policy require that procedures causing more than momentary pain include appropriate pain management unless there is documented scientific justification for withholding it.