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 mouse is found with labored breathing, hunched posture, and ruffled fur. What is the most appropriate first action?
Answer: Remove the animal from the group and notify the veterinarian
Sick animals should be isolated to prevent disease spread and reported to the veterinarian for evaluation and treatment.
Which of the following best describes 'environmental enrichment' in laboratory animal care?
Answer: Providing stimuli that promote species-typical behaviors and reduce stress
Environmental enrichment includes structures, social housing, and materials that allow animals to express natural behaviors and improve psychological well-being.
When monitoring a rat colony for pain, which behavioral sign is LEAST reliable as a sole indicator?
Answer: Normal coat condition
Normal coat condition alone does not confirm absence of pain; animals in pain may maintain grooming early in a disease process.
Which principle of the 3Rs specifically focuses on reducing animal suffering and improving animal welfare during a study?
Answer: Refinement
Refinement involves modifying procedures to minimize pain, suffering, distress, and lasting harm to animals.
A technician notices a rabbit repeatedly pressing its abdomen against the cage floor. This behavior most likely indicates:
Answer: Abdominal discomfort or pain
Pressing the abdomen against a surface (belly pressing) is a recognized sign of gastrointestinal pain or abdominal discomfort in rabbits.
What is the primary purpose of a health surveillance program in a laboratory animal facility?
Answer: To detect and prevent the introduction or spread of pathogens
Health surveillance programs monitor the colony for infectious agents to protect animal health, research integrity, and personnel safety.
Which agency in the United States sets minimum standards for the humane handling, care, and treatment of laboratory animals under federal law?
Answer: USDA via the Animal Welfare Act
The USDA enforces the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which establishes minimum standards for care and treatment of regulated laboratory animals.