Minor Procedures Without Anesthesia

Question 1

What records need to be kept of techniques?

Answer 1

• Those authorized by individual authorisation
  -Passport of what you’ve been trained on for HPRA
• Includes basic skills, specific techniques

Question 2

How do you sex mice?

Answer 2

Anogenital distance, done around 20 days (weaning) but double check w/i a week

Question 3

How do you handle rats?

Answer 3

Approach from above. Palm over back, fingers beneath front limbs, thumb under chin = control head. Support back and lower abdomen w/ free hand

Question 4

How do you handle rabbits?

Answer 4

Grab by scruff, using other hand to restrain/support hindquarters. Support to prevent kicking. Tuck head under arm while supporting w/ forearm. Restrain on table for injections and inspections. IV injections = marginal ear vein. If they struggle, press down lightly w/ forearm along spine. Can injure you and themselves => restrain properly and wear sleeves.

Question 5

How do you prepare for animal procedures?

Answer 5

• Wear PPE
• Need clean uncluttered space for the experiment
• Move cages, avoiding sudden movements
• Ventilated workstation = minimal allergens
• New clean cage needed for transfer, and all equipment for procedure
• Make sure no air bubbles in syringe

Question 6

How do you do oral gavage on rats?

Answer 6

• Use flexible tubes
• Measure tube length on outside body 1st
• Firmly restrain rat by scruff
• Hold in upright position
• Pass down oesophagus w/ no resistance (if resistance = trachea = reinsert)
• Inject slowly, preventing reflux
• Observe for adverse events
• Respiratory distress = kill immediately
• Alternative = consume voluntarily in palatable mixtures (drink from syringe = effective and accurate dosing)

Question 7

What are the methods of withdrawing blood?

Answer 7

Retro-orbital = vein/artery together, painful, damage optic nerve
Tail vein = small and difficult but doable
Cheek bleed = larger volumes but painful
Facial vein = no anaesthesia needed. Good once off but can do a lot of damage/pain if repeated
Saphenous vein = similar to facial but can see it => better

Question 8

How do you take blood from the facial vein?

Answer 8

1. Prepare vial, laying it on tissue
2. Hold mouse by scruff
3. Aim for vein draining eye/jaw or junction
4. Bleeding starts quickly = collect
5. Stop flow w/ compress

Question 9

How do you collect blood from saphenous vein?

Answer 9

1. Take animals leg, puncture/shave and collect drops = more controlled