Regulatory requirements for adequate veterinary care to research animals

Provision of adequate veterinary care is a required component of animal care and use programs in the US. Veterinary care may be provided by many program participants other than veterinarians. Understanding the legal basis and conditions of a program of veterinary care will help program participants such as researchers and technicians to meet the requirements advanced in the laws and policies. Here I offer a discussion of the US regulatory requirements for the provision of veterinary care to research animals as a training primer for non-medically trained research personnel, technicians, and administrators.