The policy of the Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM) is to safeguard and promote the health and well-being of all animals used in teaching and research activities. LMU-CVM abides by the published standards of care in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, NRC 2011, 8th Edition; the Animal Welfare Act as implemented by Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) of the US; and the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (2020). The care and welfare of all animals used in the veterinary education curriculum, whether for the education of students or for conducting research or testing, is overseen by the LMU Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Protocols for any use of animals at CVM must be reviewed and approved by IACUC prior to implementation.
The veterinary education curricula are designed to provide students opportunities to master the technical skills they will need to function as skilled health care professionals, while doing so in a manner that does not harm animals. In the case of surgical techniques, instrument handling, knot tying, gowning and gloving, draping and maintaining sterile surgical fields, are taught in a serial fashion using a combination of inanimate and dynamic models and computer simulations over several semesters in our Clinical & Professional Skills laboratory. The rationale for this preemptive approach is to build student confidence and expertise before they enter a surgical suite for the first time. The capstone surgical exercise for the pre-clinical curriculum is the canine ovariohysterectomy (spay) procedure. Following spay procedures, patients are returned to their owners, whether the owner is a private individual or a shelter facility.
Small animals
In order to reduce risks related to aggressive animals or animals suspected of having an infectious disease, these animals need to be handled with specific precautions. Animals with known or suspected aggressive behavior will be handled is separate examination rooms under faculty or technician supervision and as appropriate using different means of restraint (i.e. muzzle, snare etc.).
Animals with respiratory or gastrointestinal signs or with a history of or exposure to a known infectious agent will either not be admitted (depending on LMU policy) or will immediately be placed in one of the isolation rooms or in a dedicated examination room.
Large animals
Horses
Students must work in pairs to collect horses from the paddocks.
The LMU-CVM maintains a herd of horses used for instruction at the DeBusk Veterinary teaching center. These horses were adopted into the herd following specific guidelines and are maintained on a current vaccination and deworming schedule and tested annually for EIA, as reflected in the medical records system. Physical examinations are performed on a regular basis by LMU-CVM personnel and any horse suspicious of having an infectious disease will be isolated following LMU-CVM isolation protocols.
Horses will be examined either in the equine teaching building in one of the 16 stocks that are available or in the equine teaching barn. Horses known or suspected of having an infectious disease (i.e. respiratory, gastro-intestinal, neurologic) will not be examined as part of student instruction, with the exception of students completing the fourth year Large Animal Clinical Rotation.
Horses known to be difficult to handle will only be handled under direct supervision and using appropriate physical or chemical restraint.
Cattle
The LMU-CVM maintains a herd of cattle used for instruction at the DVTC. These cattle were adopted into the herd following specific guidelines and are maintained on a current vaccination and deworming schedule, reflected in the medical records system. Physical examinations are performed on a regular basis by LMU-CVM personnel and any cattle suspicious of having an infectious disease will be isolated following LMU-CVM isolation protocols.
Cattle will be examined in the bovine teaching building. Cattle known or suspected of having an infectious disease (i.e. respiratory, gastro-intestinal, neurologic) will not be examined as part of regular student instruction, with the exception of students completing the fourth year Large Animal Clinical Rotation.
Examination of animals
Healthy animals
All veterinary personnel and veterinary students need to wash their hands between examinations of individual animals (i.e. dogs, cats, horses, groups of cattle…). Veterinary personnel and veterinary students must wear appropriate clothing during animal examinations.
Animals with potential infectious diseases
These animals will be examined in a dedicated examination room or isolation room. Animals will remain isolated until initial diagnostic procedures and treatments have been performed. The isolation or examination room will remain out of service until proper cleaning and disinfection of the room and all the equipment and material in the room has been performed. Contact with these animals will need to be limited to essential personnel. Personnel will need to follow appropriate personal protective equipment and hygiene protocols to enter and exit isolation rooms.