Rats/Mice Flashcards
What is the suborder of rats and mice?
Myomorpha
How many toes are on the hindfoot of a rat or mice? How about the front foot?
5 hind, 4 front
(T/F) The external characteristisc of rats/mice is that they have short hair, long naked tails, erect rounded ears, protruding eyes, and pointed snouts.
True
(T/F) Rats and mice have one set of incisors which they are born with.
False, incisors grow continuously throught their life
What is the name of the gland that is used to generate heat during exposure to cold environment in rats/mice?
Hibernating gland or brown fat deposits
What is unique of the brain in rats/mice from the general mammals?
They lack gyri and sulci
What do the eyes of rats/mice secrete when they are stressed?
Porphyrin – iron containing reddish pigment
How many lung lobes are on the right and how many are on the left?
1 left, 3 right
(T/F) Rats have a large gallbladder while the mice lack a gallbladder.
False, rats lack a gallbladder and mouse do have gallbladders
(T/F) Rats are like horses because they cannot vomit.
True
In rats/mice, the resident microbes in the cecum will aid in the digestion of …
Cellulose and other plant materials
What will open in the genital papilla in females in rats/mice? What about the males?
Female – Urethra, Male - Penis
Why can the testicles be withdrawn into the abdomen in rats?
They have an open inguinal ring
Who has a shorter anogenital distance in rats/mice?
Female
How many pairs of nipples do rats have? How about mice?
Rats- 6, Mice - 5
(T/F) Males rats/mice are more aggressive than females and that is why you can house multiple females together.
True
How can you tell social dominance between rats/mice?
By barbering (excessive grooming/nibbling)
How should food be given to rats/mice?
Ad libitum
What are the two types of food you can give rats/mice, which one is the better one and why?
Pelleted and Powederd. Prefer pelleted so they can grind down their incisor teeth
What are the 4 problems that come with an obese rat/mouse?
Cardiovascular, diabetes, joint problems, shortened lifespan
When does estrus happen in rats/mice?
Occurs at night on day 3 of the estrous cycle
Which is the prefered type of breeding in a research setting for rats/mice?
Harem mating
How can you tell if mating has occurred in rats/mice?
Check for the presence of a sperm/vaginal plug
What is the gestation time for rats and mouse?
Rats – 21 days avg, mouse 19 days avg
What are the first signs of parturition in rast/mice?
Periodic stretching and extnesion of the hindlegs
Why do we not want to handle the pups in mice?
Increases the interval to 20 min between pups, can cause delay of 4 hours for delivery of entire litter, increases the incidence of stillbirths
When can we start measuring anogenital distance in rats/mice pups?
10-12 days
What time to rats/mice pups do they open their eyes and when are they weaned?
Open eyes – 12-13 days, weaned 21-28 days
Correctly connect the description to the term.
a) Lee Boot Effect
b) Whitten Effect
c) Bruce effect
- If female is exposed to a strange male before ova implants, the pregnancy will spontaneously terminate
- Absence of male in the room will lead to estrus suppression and increased psuodopregnancies
- Exposure to a strange male will result in induction of estrus
a-2
b-3
c-1
What can result of handling rats/mice on the tip of the tail?
Degloving injury
What is the ideal method to restraint a rat?
Thoracic encirclement
(T/F) In an intraperitoneal injection on a rat/mouse, the needle has to go perpendicular to the body wall.
False the intestines could be penetrated
Which medication should not be given IM since it can cause muscle necrosis and damage to the nerve in rats/mice?
Ketamine
Where are the three veins that blood can be collected from in rats/mice?
Facial vein, saphenous vein, and lateral tail vein
What location site would you poke if you wanted to get blood fromt he facial vein on a rat/mice?
Submandibular venipuncture
What is the safe amout of blood to collect from a mouse?
<0.2mL
What are the landmarks for gavage dosing in rats/mice?
Corner of the mouth to last rib on left side
What are the paramenters to assess anesthetic depth on a rat/mouse?
Check reflexes, assess muscle tone, depth and rate of breathing, heart rate, blood pressure
What type of bedding should you not use for rats/mice because it masks the ammonia from urine?
Cedar chip bedding
What big main topics should you ask during a vet visit for rats/mice?
General signalment and a lot of questions about environment
What are some clinical signs you can see with respiratory problems in rats/mice?
Head tilt - infection middle ear
Nasal discharge
Sneezing - do not do it normally
Coughing
Malocclusion
What are some clinical signs you can see with eye problems in rats/mice?
Discharge
Conjunctivitis
Excess tears
Corneal opacity
Cataracts
What kind of signs can you see if rats/mice are sick?
Dehydration
Emaciation
Hair loss
Trauma
Not grooming
Scratching
Masses
Joint swelling
What are some viral causes for digestive problems in rats/mice?
Mouse parvovirus type 1
Mouse rotavirus
Reovirus type 3
What are some viral causes for respiratory problems in rats/mice?
Pneumonia virus of mice (PVM)
Sendai virus*
What does clostridium piliforme cause in rats/mice and what would you see in necropsy?
Tyzzer’s disease - see white spots in liver
What is the most common mammary tumor in rats/mice?
Fibroadenoma
