A source of pain generally is easy to identify if it is a physical abnormality, but stress or distress might not be due to pain and is not immediately recognizable. IACUCs generally consider procedures that cause pain or distress in humans likely also will cause pain or distress in other animals. Characteristics of an animal in pain include, but are not limited to, diarrhea or vomiting; poor coat; inflammation or bleeding; hair loss; abnormal posture; incessant scratching; self-aggression; lameness; whining; weight loss (20–25% of baseline); decreased food or water consumption (dehydration); decreased activity; or changes in body temperature, pulse, or respiratory rate (NRC 1992). Behaviors that might signal pain or distress include listlessness or lethargy, lying on the side for extended periods, inability to reach food or water, or unusual or prolonged vocalizations (NRC 1992).