Table 1.
Observation from a distance (for 5 min) |
(1) Inactive |
(2) Isolated |
(3) Hunched posture |
(4) Huddled |
(5) Restless |
(6) Reluctance to move |
(7) Laboured gait/tip‐toe walking |
(8) Abnormal interaction with congeners (other than isolation; specify) |
(9) Excessive attention to surgical site |
Observation following cage lid opening |
Reaction at cage opening: |
(10) Little, no response (not inquisitive, nor alert) |
(11) Hyperactive |
(12) Starey coat/piloerection |
(13) Not grooming |
(14) Twitching/tremors |
(15) Type of breathing: normal (N), laboured (L; slow, involving the diaphragm but with closed mouth), open‐mouth breathing (O), noisy breathing (crackles; C). |
Observation following handling |
Reaction to handling: |
(16) Reacts violently (attempt to bite, irritation) |
(17) Vocalization |
(18) Fear (faeces, urine) |
(19) Dehydration (skin pinch test/saggy skin) |
(20) Discharge from nares/eyes |
(21) Wound abnormalities (specify: e.g. inflammation, opened…) |
(22) Skin/mucosa colour: normal (N), pale (P), cyanosis (C) |
(23) Exploring on top of the platform? |
Marking scale |
* for all criteria but breathing and skin/mucous membrane colour: |
• Absent criterion: 0 |
• Doubtful or mildly present: 1 |
• Present: 2 |
* for type of breathing |
• Normal (N): 0 |
• Moderately laboured: 1 |
• Laboured (L): 2 |
• Open‐mouth breathing/noisy breathing: 4 |
* for skin/mucosa colour |
• Normal (N): 0 |
• Pale (P): 2 |
• Cyanosis (C): 4 |
Total mark out of 50 |
Mice were assessed first from a distance, then following opening of the cage, before finally being handled.