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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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