1 Guidelines for Diet Control in Animal Studies

Behavioral research often requires that an animal perform a task for which it receives a food or fluid reinforcement.1, 2, 5 This situation resembles conditions in the wild, in which animals must forage, travel extended distances, solve problems, or otherwise work to obtain their food and water. In the professional judgment of many investigators, veterinarians, and animal behaviorists, performing a task for reinforcement is behaviorally enriching for laboratory animals. As noted in the Guide, “the least restriction that will achieve the scientific objective should be used”.8 In the development of protocols utilizing food or water regulation, investigators must address three fundamental issues: a) the necessary level of regulation; b) the potentially adverse consequences of regulation; and c) the methods for assessing the health and well-being of their animals. In addition, the species being used and the animal’s size, age, health status and concurrent treatments must also be considered. Consideration of these factors can facilitate the establishment of interventional endpoints to maintain the health and well-being of the animals under study.6 Each ACUC must evaluate the pain-distress categorization of animals that are on restricted diets in accordance with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Care Policy #1