Report Animal Concerns

Veterinary Care & Consultation

In order to ensure the highest levels of excellence and care in research, a dedicated team of veterinary staff, including licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians who specialize in laboratory animal medicine, conduct daily observations of all animals in University facilities.

When an animal is reported ill to the veterinary staff, a veterinarian or veterinary technician examines the animal, usually the same day the call is received. Based on the results of the physical examination and any necessary laboratory tests, a clinical diagnosis is made.

Except in cases of emergency, the diagnosis, prognosis, possible impact of the condition, and possible treatment/management options will be reviewed with the Principal Investigator or designated laboratory contact prior to initiating treatment.

Veterinary Care Consultation

Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) veterinarians are available to consult on a variety of matters pertaining to animal care and use. Topics may include:

  • IACUC animal use protocol preparation
  • Animal models of human disease
  • Animal-related research techniques, including possible refinements
  • Anesthesia and analgesia
  • Environmental enrichment and social housing
  • Spontaneous and iatrogenic animal diseases
  • Species specific behaviors and characteristics
  • Health status of animals from various commercial sources
  • The policies of granting and regulatory agencies pertaining to animal care and use
  • Health certificates required for interstate and/or foreign shipment of animals

Research personnel can submit general questions to ULAM veterinarians at [email protected].** Email inquiries should include:

  • Name of person submitting inquiry
  • Name of Principal Investigator
  • Protocol Number
  • If necessary, building and room number where animals are housed**
  • Detailed information pertaining to the question

**This email should NOT be used to report ill or injured animals to veterinary staff. If you have an animal that requires immediate attention, please use the contact information located below to request veterinary care. Concerns about animal welfare that do NOT require immediate veterinary attention should be submitted via the Animal Concern Hotline.

Contact information for the veterinary faculty/residents assigned to your animal housing area is posted within the facility. During normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM), veterinary care may be obtained by contacting the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) Veterinary Technician Office at (734) 936-1037.

To obtain veterinary care after normal business hours on weekdays, please contact U-M’s Division of Public Safety & Security (DPSS) at (734) 763-1131. They will alert the appropriate veterinarian, who will respond to your request.

For more information, including a contact sheet that can be printed and posted in your work area, view the Obtaining Veterinary Care Standard Operating Procedure.

A team of highly skilled veterinary technicians often serves as the first point of contact for veterinary care in U-M’s animal care and use facilities. In addition to providing clinical support, technicians are also available to assist study teams with a variety of procedures on a fee-for-service basis.

Services include, but are not limited to:
  • Animal treatments for medical conditions
  • Anesthetic machine certification and rental
  • Surgical preparation
  • Large animal anesthesia
  • Large animal euthanasia
  • Post-surgical monitoring and support
  • Post-anesthetic monitoring
  • Drug/compound dosing (gavage, injection) of large animals
  • Large animal identification (tattooing, ear tagging, etc.)
  • Rabbit immunization/blood collection

Members of the veterinary technician team are available seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. Special support services can be arranged by contacting the ULAM Veterinary Technician Team at [email protected] or (734) 936-1037.

ULAM Veterinary Technician Labor Rates

DESCRIPTION

RATE

EFFECTIVE

Veterinary Technician Labor Rate/Hour

$ 59.13

01/01/2023

Veterinary Technician Labor Rate/Hour Overtime

$ 88.70

01/01/2023

Gas Anesthesia Machine Rental

$ 36.21

01/01/2023

Gas Anesthesia Machine Rental – Overnight

$ 18.11

01/01/2023

Surgical Pack

$ 10.00

01/01/2019

Film Sheet Xray – Large

$ 4.13

01/01/2019

Film Sheet Xray – Medium

$ 2.68

01/01/2019

Film Sheet Xray – Small

$ 1.37

01/01/2019

Digital Xray

$ 1.00

01/01/2023

*Rates subject to change.

Requesting Veterinary Care

Monday – Friday
6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Call ULAM at
(734) 936-1037

Monday – Friday
5:00 PM – 6:00 AM
Call DPSS at
(734) 763-1131

Weekends & Holidays
Contact the on-site
Veterinary Technician
at (734) 936-1037

Obtaining Veterinary Care

Related A-Z Documents

Policies

Policy on the Prolonged Restraint of Research Animals

This policy outlines the IACUCs expectations for the use of devices for physically restraining animals, defines “prolonged physical restraint”, and is intended to ensure that the use of devices for prolonged physical restraint is essential for achieving research objectives and that the period of restraint is the minimum required to accomplish the research objectives.

Guidelines

Guidelines on Administration of Substances to Laboratory Animals

This document is designed to provide general guidelines about administration of substances to laboratory animals. All procedures must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC). The route of administration, intervals between substance administration, dose range, and volume to be administered should be listed in the approved protocol specific to each study.

Guidelines

Guidelines on Blood Collection

This document is designed to provide general information on blood collection methods for common laboratory animals. All procedures must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The method of blood collection to be used, the intervals between blood collection procedures, and the volume of blood to be removed, must be listed in the approved protocol specific to each study. The ULAM veterinary staff provides the following criteria to determine the maximum safe amount…

Policies

Policy for Euthanasia by the Veterinary Staff

To establish a standard procedure for euthanasia of a laboratory animal by ULAM veterinary staff when it is determined that euthanasia is the most humane treatment. Information is also provided on the appropriate means to communicate with laboratories regarding specific animal cases.

Questions?

Last updated: