STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES for QUARANTINE OF DOGS

COMPARATIVE MEDICINE LABORATORY ANIMAL FACILITIES

  1. Purpose: This procedure outlines all information required from the vendor supplying dogs and their handling upon arrival and throughout their quarantine period at the CM-LAF.
  2. Scope: This procedure applies to all CM-LAF personnel in receiving and husbandry of dogs.
  3. Procedure:
    1. The CM-LAF purchases only USDA licensed, purpose bred, conditioned dogs. The conditioning process , by the vendor, includes:
      1. vaccination for canine distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, parvovirus, bordetella and rabies.
      2. treatments with broad-spectrum anthelmintics at two to three week intervals.
      3. prophylactic treatments with anthelmintics for heartworm. Dogs are guaranteed to be heartworm negative or they will be replaced.
      4. the dog should be parasite and disease free, of stable health and acclimated to the kennel environment.
    2. All newly-arrived animals are given a complete physical examination by a veterinarian or designated veterinary technician.
    3. Dogs that do not meet the protocol criteria or have health problems will be rejected and returned to the vendor.
    4. All animals are weighed on arrival.
    5. All dogs are received with an ear tattoo number. Animals are assigned a Laboratory Animal Facilities identification number. This number is cross-referenced with their ear tattoo number. The animal record and cage card will include both ear tattoo number and CM-LAF identification number.
    6. All dogs are quarantined for seven days if involved in a chronic study or for 3 days if involved in an acute study.
    7. All dogs are observed daily, and any abnormalities brought to the attention of the veterinary staff who will evaluate and initiate any necessary treatment.
      1. Dogs purchased for a possible GLP study will have written daily health assessments, on individual records, in contrast to normal procedure of health assessment being all inclusive and documented on the room activity log.
        1. Daily room activity log documentation is evidence of health check. In the case of a health concern an animal report form will be generated.
    8. If the animal is involved in a GLP study, the attending veterinarian will examine the animal on the last day of quarantine and approve it for use in the study.
    9. If the animal is deemed unacceptable for the GLP study due to health reasons, those concerns will be addressed immediately.
    10. If the animal was unacceptable for the GLP study but the reason was not a health concern, then the animal will be assigned to a non GLP study.