Collection of Blood from Cardiac puncture in Rat General anesthesia needed Large amount: up to 3% of body weight

Tools for collection of blood from cardiac puncture 75% alcohol cotton ball for surface disinfection 24G needle with 10cc syringe for blood withdraw 15 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

Oral Feeding in Rat Feeding amount limited to 1% of body weight

Tools for oral feeding in rat 16 G ball-tipped feeding needle with syring Leather 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 RESTRAINT SEDATION AND TRANQUILIZATION

ACEPROMAZINE Mild tranquilizer Dose: 0.5 – 2.5 mg/kg IM or SQ  Lower dose for IM  Higher dose for SQ

DIAZEPAM Mild sedation Dose: 3-5 mg/kg IM  IM injection may be irritating to muscle

FENTANYL/DROPERIDOL Excellent sedative Can see narcotic induced respiratory depression with higher doses Primarily used in rats and mice Doses  Rats 0.13 – 0.33 mg/kg IM Provides sedation and anesthesia for minor procedures

ANTICHOLINERGICS Used as a premed  Decrease salivation (Ketamine, inhalants)  Maintain heartrate Atropine  0.05 mg/kg SQ Glycopyrrolate  0.01 – 0.02 mg/kg SQ

CHEMICAL RESTRAINT INJECTABLE ANESTHESIA Clinical Laboratory Animal Medicine book Page-91

XYLAZINE/KETAMINE Short duration of action (30 minutes) Rats  Xylazine: 5-10 mg/kg + Ketamine: mg/kg IM or IP Mice  Xylazine: 5-10 mg/kg + Ketamine: mg/kg IM or IP

KETAMINE/ACEPROMAZINE Adequate restraint for minor surgical procedures General Rule: the smaller the species, the greater the dose needed for adequate effect Rats and Mice  Acepromazine: mg/kg + Ketamine mg/kg IM or IP

TILETAMINE-ZOLAZEPAM For minor surgical procedures Dose  mg/kg IM or IP Can have prolonged recovery Used in combination with xylazine  Decrease dose to 5-10 mg/kg  Better effect and faster recovery

INHALANT ANESTHESIA Use for any major surgical procedure Induce with gas alone or with injectable anesthetics Isoflurane is the agent of choice

REFERENCES Birchard, S.J., & Sherding, R.G. (2000). Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice, Second Edition. Phildephia, PA. WB Saunders Company. Fowler, M.E. (1995). Restraint and Handling of Wild and Domestic Animals, Second Edition. Ames, IA. Iowa State University Press. Frye, F.L. (1994) Reptile Clinician's Handbook: a compact clinical and surgical reference. Krieger Pub Co. Beynon, P.H. (1992) Manual of reptiles. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. Hillyer, E.V., & Quesenberry, K.E. (1997). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Philedephia, PA. WB Saunders Company