Table 7 Monitoring sheet for animals with tumors causing neurological signs
From: OBSERVE: guidelines for the refinement of rodent cancer models
Parameter | Outcome | Actions to be taken |
|---|---|---|
Neurological signs: visual assessment of animals in cage | ||
Circling and head tilt (note that these may worsen or only become apparent when animals are manipulated) | Present but still able to move around the cage and reach food and water | Increase general monitoring frequency to 1 time per day. Adding easy to reach food may prevent weight loss |
Circling and/or head tilt preventing animals to eat and/or drink | Humane killing | |
Paresis/paralysis and ataxia | Present but still able to move around the cage and reach food and water | Increase general monitoring frequency to 1 time per day. Adding easy to reach food may prevent weight loss |
Severe paresis/paralysis/ataxia preventing animals to eat and/or drink | Humane killing | |
Seizures | Present | Humane killing |
Neurological signs: neurological tests | ||
Grip, clasping and kyphosis test (Table 2) | Positive test | Increase general monitoring frequency to 1 time per day. Adding easy to reach food may prevent weight loss |
Severe paresis/paralysis/ataxia preventing animals to eat and/or drink | Humane killing | |
