What is meant by Minor Surgery?
A minor surgical procedure is one that neither penetrates or exposes a body cavity, nor induces permanent impairment of physical or physiologic function. Examples are laparoscopy, superficial vascular cutdown, and percutaneous biopsy. A dedicated surgical facility is not required for such procedures, however, the surgical area should be clean and aseptic techniques must be observed. There is no prohibition against multiple minor survival procedures. Good professional judgment should be used to limit the number of minor surgical procedures performed on a single animal. Are multiple major survival surgeries permitted by animal welfare laws? Use of one animal in multiple major survival surgeries is allowed only when such procedures are related components of a protocol; they must be scientifically justified in the protocol and approved by the UAWC. Cost savings is not an acceptable justification for multiple major survival surgeries on any animal. Determination that a procedure constitutes
