1. RATS

2. RATS Usually very friendly and accept handling and gentle manipulation
Rarely bite

3. GENERAL RESTRAINT Grab over neck and shoulders
Place forefinger just below mandible on one side of head and thumb on opposite side either above or below forelimb
Provide additional support by holding tail and hind limbs with opposite hand

4. Scruffing Technique
Same as in gerbils and mice
Don not like it

5. Full Restraint Wrap in thin towel or stockinette
Syringe case with air hole
Cone shaped polyethylene bag with tip cut off

6. http://awic. nal. usda. gov/nal_display/index. php

7. Laboratory Animal Handling Technique - Rat
Intraperitoneal injection
Blood collection from tail vein
Blood collection from cardiac puncture
Oral feeding
Chemical Restraint

8. Intraperitoneal Injection in Rat
The most common method of administering drugs to rats

9. Tools for intraperitoneal injection in rat
75% alcohol cotton ball for surface disinfection
medium size towel for restraining the rat
25G 5/8” needle with 1cc syringe for injection

10. Let the rat relaxes on the top of the lid.

11. Stretch the body of the rat by pulling up it’s tail and then cover the rat with a towel by your left hand

12. Fold the skirts of towel under the rat from all directions

13. Grasp up the left hindlimb of the rat to expose the abdomen

14. The injection site should be in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen because vital organs are absent from this area

15. Only the tip of the needle should penetrate the abdominal wall to prevent injection into the intestines.

16. Collection of blood from tail vein in rat
small amount: ml

17. Tools for collection of blood from tail vein
75% alcohol cotton ball for surface disinfection
27G1/2” needle with 1 ml syringe for blood withdrawal
a vial for blood collection

18. 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

19. The rat's tail has a thermoregulatory function: it serves as a heat-loss organ. The tail is well suited for this purpose, because it has no fur, has a large surface to volume ratio, and is perfused with many blood vessels, especially at the tail tip and midlength (Yulong et al. 1995).

20. Temperature influence
Rats control their body temperature through their tails by dilating or constricting their tail blood vessels.

21. Disinfect the tail with 75% alcoholic cotton ball

22. 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

23. Pull back the plugger by the ring finger to withdraw blood from the tail vein

24. Using a scalpel to make a small wound on the tail is also an option for collecting blood from tail vein

25. Blood can be collected b using a pipetteman after then

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

27. 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

28. Disinfect the left thorax with 75% alcoholic cotton ball

29. Search for the point of maximum heart beat

30. Insert the needle straight on the selected point and withdraw blood by your left hand

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

33. Tools for oral feeding in rat
16 G ball-tipped feeding needle with syring
Leather glove

34. Restrain the shoulders of the rat by your thumb and index finger, then support the lower limbs with your right hand

35. Restrain the tail of the rat in between your ring finger and little finger

36. 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

37. SEDATION AND TRANQUILIZATION
CHEMICAL RESTRAINT
SEDATION AND TRANQUILIZATION

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

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

40. 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

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

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

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

44. 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

45. TILETAMINE-ZOLAZEPAM
For minor surgical procedures
Dose
20-40 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

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

47. 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