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| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Department of Comparative Medicine |
Food and water restriction of laboratory animals has considerable potential for stress and animal abuse. If a study requires food and/or water deprivation, it must be carefully controlled by frequent observation of the animal's condition and behavior. Daily recording of body weight should be used to evaluate progress. Body weight should not be allowed to drop below 80% of normal. Control animals of identical age and sex on free choice feed should be used to establish the normal body weight index. This is particularly important for animals in a growth phase of life. Reduction of body weight should take place over a long period of time with a gradual decrease in caloric intake. It is not acceptable to deprive food completely until target weight is reached.
Water should not be totally deprived for a period exceeding 24 hours. Water restriction should not be prolonged to the point that clinical sign dehydration occur (inelasticity of skin, rough hair coat, sinking of eyes into the orbit).
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