RATSRATS
RATSRATS
Usually very friendly Usually very friendly and accept handling and accept handling and gentle and gentle manipulationmanipulation
Rarely biteRarely bite
GENERAL RESTRAINTGENERAL RESTRAINT
Grab over neck and Grab over neck and shouldersshoulders
Place forefinger just Place forefinger just below mandible on one below mandible on one side of head and thumb side of head and thumb on opposite side either on opposite side either above or below forelimbabove or below forelimb
Provide additional Provide additional support by holding tail support by holding tail and hind limbs with and hind limbs with opposite handopposite hand
Scruffing Scruffing TechniqueTechnique Same as in Same as in
gerbils and gerbils and micemice
Don not like itDon not like it
Full RestraintFull Restraint
Wrap in thin towel or Wrap in thin towel or stockinettestockinette
Syringe case with air Syringe case with air holehole
Cone shaped Cone shaped polyethylene bag with polyethylene bag with tip cut offtip cut off
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http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/resources/tutorials/BVA02-Introduction.html
Laboratory Animal Laboratory Animal Handling Technique - RatHandling Technique - Rat
Intraperitoneal injectionIntraperitoneal injection
Blood collection from tail veinBlood collection from tail vein
Blood collection from cardiac punctureBlood collection from cardiac puncture
Oral feedingOral feeding
Chemical Restraint Chemical Restraint
Intraperitoneal Injection in Intraperitoneal Injection in RatRat
The most common method of The most common method of administering drugs to ratsadministering drugs to rats
Tools for intraperitoneal injection in ratTools for intraperitoneal injection in rat
75% 75% alcohol cotton ball for surface disinfectionalcohol cotton ball for surface disinfection
medium size towel for restraining the ratmedium size towel for restraining the rat
25G 5/8” needle with 1cc syringe for injection25G 5/8” needle with 1cc syringe for injection
Let the rat relaxes on the top of the lid.
Stretch the body of the rat by pulling up it’s tail and then cover the rat with a towel by your left hand
Fold the skirts of towel under the rat from all directions
Grasp up the left hindlimb of the rat to expose the abdomen
The injection site should be in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen because vital organs are absent from this area
Only the tip of the needle should penetrate the abdominal wall to prevent injection into the intestines.
Collection of blood from tail Collection of blood from tail vein in ratvein in rat
small amount: 0.1-1 mlsmall amount: 0.1-1 ml
Tools for collection of blood from tail Tools for collection of blood from tail veinvein
75% 75% alcohol cotton ball for surface disinfectionalcohol cotton ball for surface disinfection
27G1/2” needle with 1 ml syringe for blood 27G1/2” needle with 1 ml syringe for blood withdrawalwithdrawal
a vial for blood collectiona vial for blood collection
Optimal site of blood withdrawal is around the distal one-third of the tail since this part of tail gives better visualization of the veins
The rat's tail has a thermoregulatory function: it serves as a The rat's tail has a thermoregulatory function: it serves as a heat-loss organ. The tail is well suited for this purpose, heat-loss organ. The tail is well suited for this purpose,
because it has no fur, has a large surface to volume ratio, and because it has no fur, has a large surface to volume ratio, and is perfused with many blood vessels, especially at the tail tip is perfused with many blood vessels, especially at the tail tip
and midlength (Yulong and midlength (Yulong et al.et al. 1995). 1995).
Temperature influence Temperature influence
Rats control their body temperature through their tails by dilating or constricting their tail blood vessels.
Disinfect the tail with 75% alcoholic cotton ball
When the needle penetrates the epithelium of the tail, pull back the plugger a bit to create negative pressure inside the syringe, then push the needle in the vein slowly until blood get into the dead space of the needle head
Pull back the plugger by the ring finger to withdraw blood from the tail vein
Using a scalpel to make a small wound on the tail is also an option for collecting blood from tail vein
Blood can be collected b using a pipetteman after then
Collection of Blood from Collection of Blood from Cardiac puncture in RatCardiac puncture in Rat
General anesthesia neededGeneral anesthesia needed
Large amount: up to 3% of Large amount: up to 3% of body weightbody weight
Tools for collection of blood from Tools for collection of blood from cardiac puncturecardiac puncture
75% 75% alcohol cotton ball for surface disinfectionalcohol cotton ball for surface disinfection
24G needle with 10cc syringe for blood withdraw24G needle with 10cc syringe for blood withdraw
15 cc centrifuge tube for blood collection15 cc centrifuge tube for blood collection
Disinfect the left thorax with 75% alcoholic cotton ball
Search for the point of maximum heart beat
Insert the needle straight on the selected point and withdraw blood by your left hand
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Oral Feeding in RatOral Feeding in Rat
Feeding amount limited to 1% Feeding amount limited to 1% of body weightof body weight
Tools for oral feeding in ratTools for oral feeding in rat
16 G ball-tipped feeding needle with syring16 G ball-tipped feeding needle with syring
Leather gloveLeather glove
Restrain the shoulders of the rat by your thumb and index finger, then support the lower limbs with your right hand
Restrain the tail of the rat in between your ring finger and little finger
Let the rat lying on your left palm and introduce the ball-tipped feeding needle from the pharynx in to the esophagus when the rat is in the act of swallowing
CHEMICAL CHEMICAL RESTRAINTRESTRAINT
SEDATION AND SEDATION AND TRANQUILIZATIONTRANQUILIZATION
ACEPROMAZINEACEPROMAZINE
Mild tranquilizerMild tranquilizer
Dose: 0.5 – 2.5 mg/kg IM or SQDose: 0.5 – 2.5 mg/kg IM or SQ Lower dose for IMLower dose for IM Higher dose for SQHigher dose for SQ
DIAZEPAMDIAZEPAM
Mild sedationMild sedation
Dose: 3-5 mg/kg IMDose: 3-5 mg/kg IM IM injection may be irritating to muscleIM injection may be irritating to muscle
FENTANYL/DROPERIDOLFENTANYL/DROPERIDOL
Excellent sedativeExcellent sedative
Can see narcotic induced respiratory Can see narcotic induced respiratory depression with higher dosesdepression with higher doses
Primarily used in rats and micePrimarily used in rats and mice
DosesDoses RatsRats
0.13 – 0.33 ml/kg IM0.13 – 0.33 ml/kg IM
Provides sedation and anesthesia for minor proceduresProvides sedation and anesthesia for minor procedures
ANTICHOLINERGICSANTICHOLINERGICS
Used as a premedUsed as a premed Decrease salivation (Ketamine, inhalants)Decrease salivation (Ketamine, inhalants) Maintain heartrateMaintain heartrate
AtropineAtropine 0.05 mg/kg SQ0.05 mg/kg SQ
GlycopyrrolateGlycopyrrolate 0.01 – 0.02 mg/kg SQ0.01 – 0.02 mg/kg SQ
CHEMICAL CHEMICAL RESTRAINTRESTRAINT
INJECTABLE ANESTHESIAINJECTABLE ANESTHESIA
Clinical Laboratory Animal Clinical Laboratory Animal Medicine bookMedicine book
Page-91Page-91
XYLAZINE/KETAMINEXYLAZINE/KETAMINE
Short duration of action (30 minutes)Short duration of action (30 minutes)
RatsRats Xylazine: 5-10 mg/kg + Ketamine: 40-80 Xylazine: 5-10 mg/kg + Ketamine: 40-80
mg/kg IM or IPmg/kg IM or IP
Mice Mice Xylazine: 5-10 mg/kg + Ketamine: 50-200 Xylazine: 5-10 mg/kg + Ketamine: 50-200
mg/kg IM or IPmg/kg IM or IP
KETAMINE/ACEPROMAZINEKETAMINE/ACEPROMAZINE
Adequate restraint for minor surgical Adequate restraint for minor surgical proceduresproceduresGeneral Rule: the smaller the species, General Rule: the smaller the species, the greater the dose needed for the greater the dose needed for adequate effectadequate effectRats and Mice Rats and Mice Acepromazine: 2.5-5 mg/kg + Ketamine Acepromazine: 2.5-5 mg/kg + Ketamine
75-80 mg/kg IM or IP75-80 mg/kg IM or IP
TILETAMINE-ZOLAZEPAMTILETAMINE-ZOLAZEPAM
For minor surgical proceduresFor minor surgical procedures
DoseDose 20-40 mg/kg IM or IP20-40 mg/kg IM or IP
Can have prolonged recoveryCan have prolonged recovery
Used in combination with xylazineUsed in combination with xylazine Decrease dose to 5-10 mg/kgDecrease dose to 5-10 mg/kg Better effect and faster recoveryBetter effect and faster recovery
INHALANT ANESTHESIAINHALANT ANESTHESIA
Use for any major surgical procedureUse for any major surgical procedure
Induce with gas alone or with injectable Induce with gas alone or with injectable anestheticsanesthetics
Isoflurane is the agent of choiceIsoflurane is the agent of choice
REFERENCESREFERENCES
Birchard, S.J., & Sherding, R.G. (2000). Saunders Manual of Birchard, S.J., & Sherding, R.G. (2000). Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice, Second Edition. Phildephia, PA. WB Small Animal Practice, Second Edition. Phildephia, PA. WB Saunders Company.Saunders Company.Fowler, M.E. (1995). Restraint and Handling of Wild and Fowler, M.E. (1995). Restraint and Handling of Wild and Domestic Animals, Second Edition. Ames, IA. Iowa State Domestic Animals, Second Edition. Ames, IA. Iowa State University Press.University Press.Frye, F.L. (1994) Reptile Clinician's Handbook: a compact Frye, F.L. (1994) Reptile Clinician's Handbook: a compact clinical and surgical reference. Krieger Pub Co.clinical and surgical reference. Krieger Pub Co.Beynon, P.H. (1992) Manual of reptiles. Cheltenham, Beynon, P.H. (1992) Manual of reptiles. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. Gloucestershire. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. Hillyer, E.V., & Quesenberry, K.E. (1997). Ferrets, Rabbits Hillyer, E.V., & Quesenberry, K.E. (1997). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Philedephia, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Philedephia, PA. WB Saunders CompanyPA. WB Saunders Company