ANIMAL HEALTH AND OBSERVATION RATS This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded under the President’s Community-Based Job Training Grants as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
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ANIMAL HEALTH AND OBSERVATION
RATSThis workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded under the President’s Community-Based Job Training Grants as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
RATS
Scientific name – Rattus norvegicus Norwegian Fisher 344 (Inbred) Lewis (LW) Wistar (Outbred) Sprague-Dawley (SD) Long-Evans (LE)
Black and white coat Most commonly used Often called hooded rats
BREEDS
Wistar – Albino rat developed at Wistar Institute in Philedelphia.
Outbred stock Wide head and long ears. Tail usually shorter than body.
BREEDS
Sprague-Dawley – Originally produced by Sprague-Dawley farms in Madison, WI.
Outbred stock Albino rat which is faster growing than
Wistar. Longer, narrower head Tail is about same length as body
BREEDS
Long-Evans – Smaller than either Wistar or Sprague-Dawley.
Outbred stock White body fur usually intermingled with
patches of black. Head is usually black. Referred to as the “hooded” rat.
BREEDS
Inbred stocks used also Fisher 344 Lewis
One of the most common used animals in research
Experimental work with the rat in the field of nutrition began in the early part of the 20th century. Popular becasuse its response to various
nutrients is similar to the response of humans.
Rat is similar to other monogastric animals. Two chief differences:
Rat has no gallbladder The pancreas in the rat is a diffuse organ
rather than well-defined.
BEHAVIOR Normally stand on all 4
limbs on cage floor. Communal
Several males and females may be housed in a single cage with little fighting.
Nocturnal Often sleep on top of
each other
Burrowers
HANDLING AND RESTRAINT
Can be picked up by the base of the tail If tail is grasped near
the distal end, the skin might pull off.
Rat can also twist around to bite handler.
HANDLING AND RESTRAINT Rats in wire bottom cage should not be
grasped by tail as they can hold on and injure its feet.
Can also grasp rat by skin along back, starting at neck.
Rats often urinate and defecate when picked up.
Be firm but gentle. They can become rather tame.
HANDLING AND RESTRAINTHandler has control of the rat by maintaining the hold on the tail
HANDLING AND RESTRAINT
In the above pictures, you can see the handler has control of the head by grasping around the head with their thumb and index finger. Do not apply pressure to the trachea.
Handler also maintains control of the tail
SEX DETERMINATION
Ano-genital distance is about twice the distance in the male as the female.
Testicles evident in an early age
BREEDING
Sexual maturity – 65-110 days of age Gestation – 20-22 days Litter size – 7-11 Weaning – 21 days Female rat usually does not cannibalize
her young unless they are unhealthy
HOUSING
Metal, hanging cages with wire mesh floor Plastic or metal cages with solid bottom and
wire lid. Care should be taken to prevent escape
through wire lid. If rat can get its’ head through, the rest of
the body will follow. Neonates can be easily lost through a wire
mesh floor Shoe-box cage with solid floor and bedding
is caging type of choice for nursing females.
HOUSING
Cages should be cleaned and changed once or twice a week.
Shelving and cage racks should be sanitized at least once every two weeks
BEDDING
Wood chips Shavings Paper Ground corn cob Sawdust
Should be non- allergenic, dust free, absorptive, non-toxic and clean.
DIET Commonly fed ad
libitum Commercially
available diets are complete and usually do not require additional additives or supplements.
Available in hard pellets to promote gnawing. Incisors continuously grow.
Tears and saliva of rats contain porphyrin.
Porphyrin appears red or reddish-brown Can sometimes be seen around
the eyes and on the end of the nose
Excessive accumulation of porphyrin around eyes, nose or front legs can be a sign of illness and should be reported to your supervisor.
DISEASE
Rats may obtain a variety of bacterial infections.
Chronic Murine Pneumonia (CMP) Most significant and serious
