Move From Water Bottles to In-Cage Automatic Water Problems & Solutions Julie Watson MA VetMB Dipl ACLAM

Advantages Cage change every 2 weeks –Less disturbance –Breed better –Less labor Dedicated air supply –Disease control –Reduced allergens

Whats the Problem? Water drop usually present Touch only required Water drop absent New skill required - Grasp lever in teeth and push Size & strength needed Water Bottle Auto Water Valve

Weanling Adult Strength required to work the valve: Weanlings have difficulty in working the valve: 5g pressure required to operate the valve

Mice Need to Learn New Skills: Old mice Singly-housed mice Neurological mutants Often dont explore or learn new skills well!

High Airflow Exacerbates Dehydration 50 Air Changes Per Hour

Overnight Consequences of Water Deprivation Balled-up Hunchback seen prior to death

Which Animals need to Transition to Automatic Water? All animals previously on water bottles (May include vendor animals) All weanlings From microisolators From auto water

SOP for Transition Period ADULTS Water bottle 2 weeks Remove bottle if full Monitor twice daily 2 days Monitor once daily 12 days Transport gel plus bottle if mice dehydrate WEANLINGS Water bottle 2 weeks if less than 4 weeks old or new to auto-water Remove bottle

TwoWeeks: Water Bottle Water Bottle Largely Full:Water Bottle Largely Empty Repeat Once Remove water bottle: 48-hour close observation 2 week daily observation Fail twice, permanent water bottle

Use the Auto Water Transition Cage Cards Weanling card Adult card

Appearance of Auto Water Transition Card with Cage Card Designed to project above cage card

Monitor closely twice daily for 2 days Then daily until next cage change (2 weeks)

For Signs of Dehydration: Put transit gel in cage Replace water bottle Veterinary help if severely dehydrated 2 attempts to remove water bottle If fail twice, then permanent bottle & use water bottle sticker to flag cage

Animals that do not Transition- Check Food Supply NOTE: the water bottle takes up space normally used for food. With large # of mice in the cage, food and water may need to be topped off before the 2 week cage change

Offspring Usually Transition to Auto-Water Even if Parents Dont

Additional Procedures to Prevent Problems Wean at 4 weeks –bigger and more able to work the water valve ALWAYS use nest material - mitigates the effect of high air flow

Summary: Mice New to Auto Water Use water bottle first 2 weeks. Remove water bottle ONLY if largely full Monitor VERY closely (twice) for dehydration signs first 2 days, then daily until first cage change. Toggle lickers each time. Use Auto Water Transition cage cards Label cages with water bottle stickers and keep on water bottles if fail to transition twice

Summary: Weanlings If new to automatic water or under 4 weeks old, follow same protocol as adults new to automatic water: ie water bottle first 2 weeks after weaning followed by close monitoring for 2 weeks. If already on auto water and at least 4 weeks old, use close-monitoring SOP only. Remember weanlings may have problems with STRENGTH and can dehydrate even after one week on automatic water.

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