Table 2.
Daily scoresheet for assessment of well-being. The maximum reachable score was 20. At a score of 7 or higher, or when certain conditions were met, the mouse concerned was euthanized. From a score of 5, the mouse concerned was observed more closely: twice daily.
| Parameter | Change | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Body weight | No change | 0 |
| Weight loss 5–10% within 3 consecutive days | 1 | |
| Weight loss > 10–20% within 3 consecutive days | 2 | |
| Weight loss > 20% within 3 consecutive days | 3 (immediate termination of experiment and euthanasia) | |
| Drinking | No change | 0 |
| Reduction of drinking by 5–10% within 3 consecutive days | 1 | |
| Reduction of drinking by > 10–20% within 3 consecutive days | 2 | |
| Reduction of drinking by > 20% within 3 consecutive days | 3 | |
| Food intake | No change | 0 |
| Reduction of food intake by 5–10% within 3 consecutive days | 1 | |
| Reduction of food intake by > 10–20% within 3 consecutive days | 2 | |
| Reduction of food intake by > 20% within 3 consecutive days | 3 | |
| Locomotion | Normal | 0 |
| Slowed | 1 | |
| Apathetic | 2 | |
| Moribund | 3 (immediate termination of experiment and euthanasia) | |
| Coat | Normal, glossy | 0 |
| Shaggy/piloerection | 1 | |
| Polluted with faeces, diarrhoea | 2 | |
| Breathing | Normal | 0 |
| Hypoventilation | 1 | |
| Abdominal breathing | 2 | |
| Posture | Normal | 0 |
| Slightly bent | 1 | |
| Markedly bent | 2 | |
| Mouse grimace scale (MGS) score, calculated as described by Langford et al.35 | MGS score = 0 | 0 |
| MGS score > 0 | 1 | |
| MGS score > 1 | 2 |