Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Certification Exam Preparation: Guinea pigs, Rabbits, Cats, Dogs Matthew K. Hogan BVetMed, MRCVS ULAR Resident Veterinarian

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Agenda

• Guinea pigs -Ch.22 • Rabbits -Ch.23 • Cats -Ch.24 • Dogs -Ch.25

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Guinea Pigs

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

History, taxonomy, basics

• Cavia porcellus (Cavy) – Origin: S. America Inca food source – Very docile – Research uses:

• Historically: anatomy • Testing serums and antitoxins • Diabetes • Nutrition • Dermatology • Diagnosis of infectious diseases TB

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Stocks/Strains

• Outbred stocks – Duncan-Hartley & Hartley

– English guinea pig

Albino

Pigmented/multi-colored

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Stocks/Strains

• Inbred strains – Strain 2 & 13

• Tri-color varieties

– IAF

Hairless!!

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Anatomy & Physiology

• Round, tailless bodies • Large heads with short ears and blunt

noses • Similar dental formula as mouse and

rat = 2(I1/1 C0/0 PM1/1 M3/3) = 20 – Teeth continuously grow

• Cannot tolerate humidity extremes or warm weather

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Anatomy & Physiology

• Malocclusion – Incisors & molars may become

overgrown – Key: report to veterinary staff!!

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Anatomy & Physiology • Guinea Pigs do not vomit

– Not necessary to fast before anesthesia – However fasting does decrease the amount of feed in

oral cavity(helpful for endotracheal intubation)

• Fermentation takes place in the large intestine to provide nutrition – Gut flora is very sensitive to stress, diet change, and

antibiotic therapy

• Urine is creamy white to yellow, slightly cloudy, and thick

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Unique Characteristics

• Cannot jump: can be housed in open-topped cages with low (7 inch) walls

• Poor eye sight; great hearing and smell

• Highly vocal – Wheeking, purring, rumbling, squealing,

shrieking

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Reproduction

• Sexing – Male = – Female =

Boar Sow

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Reproduction

• Can breed year round – ~5 litters/year – Mate at night – Mucous plug on sow = successful mating

• Pregnant sow – Large abdomen & can double body weight

• Pelvic bone fusion – Don’t breed >7m age bones may be fused dystocia

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Question!

1. What is the normal gestation length for the guinea pig?

a) 80-96 days b) 19-21 days c) 31-38 days d) 59-72 days

59-72 days

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Parturition & Neonates

• Parturition takes about 30 minutes • Post partum estrus occurs within 2-15

hours • Young are precocial

– Fully furred – Open eyes – Able to run within hours – Eat solid food at 2-3 days but continue to nurse – Weaned at 14-28 days

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Reproductive Problems

• Pregnancy toxemia – Blood poisoning disruption in

carbohydrate metabolism • Decreased appetite/inappetance • Lack of energy • Excessive salivation

• Dystocia common in older sows • Stillbirths/abortions also reported

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

General Physiological Data

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Handling & Restraint

• Be gentle • 2 handed-method • Support backend

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Identification

• Cage level: cage cards • Individual animal

– Ear tag – Microchip – Tattoo – Fur coloring

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Behavior/Pain

• Behavior – Poor climbers, but ‘popcorn’ hop – Easily startled: may freeze, then run – Dominant animals will barber others

• Pain – Loud squeal (not wheeking!) – Licking biting affected area – Rough-coat, hunched, pacing

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Husbandry & Diet

• 12:12 LD cycle lots of activity, short sleep periods

• Minimize dust & humidity out-of-range respiratory disease

• Group house w/contact bedding – Avoid wire-bottom cages

• Produce significant feces & urine

– Urinate & defecate into feed bowls – +/- more change-outs

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Question!

1. Guinea pigs must have a diet that is enriched with what vitamin?

a) A b) C c) B12 d) D3

b) Vitamin C

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Rabbits

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Taxonomy/Breeds/Uses

• Oryctolagus cuniculus – NOT rodents, but lagomorphs – Breeds:

• New Zealand White (NZW) • Dutch-belted • Flemish giant

– Research uses: • Atherosclerosis • Ophthalmology • Serum Ab-production • Drug testing, screening

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Anatomy

• Ears – Long, highly vascularized

• Thermoregulation

• Teeth

– Second set of upper incsiors = peg teeth • Teeth continuously grow; pre-disposed to

malocclusion treat via trimming

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Anatomy

• Light skeletons – 8% of body weight – Large, strong musculature in hindlimbs spinal fractures

• Rapid toe nail growth – Lab animal caging overgrowth

• Observe, trim

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Physiology

• Feces – Night feces: protein,

water, B vitamins • Coprophagy – early

morning

• Urine – Yellow-red-brown – Cloudy, milky

• Crystal build-up

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Sexing

• Males: • Females: • Young:

Bucks Does

Kits

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Sexing

• Dewlap = does • Broad-head = bucks

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Female Reproduction

• Induced ovulators (12 hrs post-mating)

• Doe taken to Buck’s cage – Avoids fighting

• Nesting box – Give days before birth – Doe pulls fur (from dewlap) – Without it, newborns die

• Trampling, hypothermia

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Kits

• Hairless, eyes close • Nursed once/day • Weaned 5-8 weeks

– Very active, run/dart around

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Handling & Restraint

• Tuck/football method – Carrying long distances

• Scruff/support method – Carrying short distances

• Scruff/stretch method – Minor technical procedures

• Plastic restrainer or bunny burrito

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Restrainers

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Behavior • General:

– Active, curious, calm – Non-aggressive – High fear-flight response

• Aggression – Hind foot stop; rearing – Vocalize – Fling urine

• Pain/distress – Anorexia, lethargy, teeth grinding – Vocalizing scream! – Pale mucus membranes

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Identification

• Tattoos, tags – Pinna – Avoid central artery &

vasculature

• Microchips – SQ at nape of neck – Can also record body

temperature

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Husbandry

• Room temperature – 61o-72oF (16o-22oC) – Decreases shedding less cleaning

out of room & filters – GIT blockage by ?????

• Cages – Stainless steel/plastic, but plastic

flooring preferred – Group has juvy males and females

Hair/fur-balls

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Husbandry

• Pans – Liners: Collect urine, feces – Cleaning: Acid wash for scale

• Diet – High fiber pellet in J-feeder – No ad lib – Check for normal feces, monitor

BW/BCS • Always check leftover food, water

supply – If unable to drink, won’t eat

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Question!

1. What is the suggested amount of feed (g/kg of BW) to be fed to one rabbit once daily?

a) 25 b) 50 c) 75 d) 100

50g/kg

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Environmental Enrichment

• Food – Carrots, kale, broccoli – Have schedule, can pellet rejection

• Toys – Balls, chew blocks, suspended metal

pendants

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Euthanasia

• Barbiturates – Overdose recommended – Followed by 2o method

bilateral pneumothorax • CO2 not recommended due to

breath holding

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Cats

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Taxonomy & Uses

• Felis catus – Strict carnivores w/highly

developed hearing, sight & smell

– Research uses: • Experimental neurology • Ophthalmology • Retrovirus research • Inherited diseases • Immunodeficiency diseases • Behavior

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Anatomy & Physiology

• Nictitating membrane 3rd eylid • Retractable claws • Purr • Male urine can be musky & spray

– Fix via castration

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Sexing

• Male: • Female:

Tom Queen

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Reproduction

• Queens – Seasonal polyestrous (heat every 6-7

months) – Estrus

• Lordosis • Vocal • Length

– Mating: 1-4 days – No mating: 10 days

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Question!

1. T/F, cats are induced ovulators True! Coitus must occur in order for ovulation to take place

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Handling & Restraint

• “Less is more” – Consider cat’s emotional state

• Postpone procedure if necessary

• Acclimation/socialization helps

• Avoid cat bites – Needle-like canines – Deep infection – Immediate medical attention

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Handling & Restraint

• Scruff + restrain hindlimbs • Aggressive:

– Heavy-duty gloves – Burrito – ‘cat bag’ – +/- catchpole, chemical

restraint

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Procedures

• Scruff + leg grasp on firm surface • Easily examine thorax/abdomen • Administer treatments • +/- injections, IV access

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Identification

• USDA: – Durable, legible tag – Tattoo

• Microchips • Dyes

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Behavior

• Familiarity & socialization with handlers – Routine, comfort

• Normal – Alert, curious – Ears erect, eyes bright, purrs

• Fear – Back of cage – Twitching tail – Folded ears – Eyes partially closed

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Pain & Distress

• Quiet • Stiff posture • Anorexia • Growl, hiss • Isolation • Crouched or hunched • Limping • Licking one area • Lack of grooming

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Husbandry

• Resting board and litter pan – Required by Animal Welfare

Regulations (AWA) • Group housing

– Depends on room size, personalities, intact males

– Resting areas, different heights • Individual housing

– Offer interaction as possible

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Husbandry

• Clean cages at least every 2 weeks • Litter pans

– Clean daily – No urine in pan, urine outside of pain =

potential health problem • Diet

– Food: semi-soft, moist for hydration • Can be finicky, so variety key • Eat small meals throughout day & night

– H2O: ad lib

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Question!

1. What are the three types of commercially formulated cat diets available?

Dry-feed: 10-12% moisture Semi-moist: 20-25% moisture Canned feed: 70-78% moisture

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Environmental Enrichment

• Platforms, shelves/perches • Scratch pads, ropes • Escape areas

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Dogs

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Taxonomy & Uses

• Canis familiaris – Friendly w/well-developed sense of

hearing and smell – Beagle

• Most common • Pharmacological & Toxicological testing • Dental, physiology, imaging, cardiovascular

– Convenient size (small-medium) – Labradors, hounds

• Surgical, orthopedic models

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Anatomy

• Nictitating membrane • Can see well in low-light conditions • Teeth

– Shearing-cut

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Sexing & Reproduction

• Male: • Female: • Anatomically distinct • Breed year-round spontaneous

ovulation • Female permits breeding during

estrus only – 7-10 days every 7-8 months – Swollen vulva, blood-tinged discharge

Dog Bitch

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Handling

• Consider dog’s personality – Mild, even temperament? – Timid, easily frightened? – Aggressive, difficult to

handle? • Keys to success: patience,

kindness, socialization • Never force into corner • Use minimum force

necessary

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Handling

• Unfamiliar dogs – Make presence known – Avoid eye contact – Approach slowly – Dog’s height – Quiet, soothing voice – Extend arm, palm down,

fingers folded

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Restraint

• Picking up – NEVER scruff!

• Routine manipulation

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Restraint

• Muzzle – Basket, cloth

• Catchpole – Aggressive dog

• Gauze muzzle • Chemical restraint

– Diagnostic imaging, intensive procedures

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Identification

• USDA: – Durable, legible tag – Tattoo hairless portion of pinna

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Behavior

• Submissive – Head low, ears flattened, tail wagging

between legs • Exuberant

– Head high, ears extended, eyes bright, tail gently wagging and erect

• Aggressive (uncommon) – Erect stiff tail, growling, raised fur – Growl, teeth showing

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Behavior

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Pain & Distress

• Severe – Stiff movement, unwilling to move

• Less severe – Shivering, heavy panting, whimpering,

howling • Pain

– More apprehensive or aggressive • Sick

– Voluntary isolation

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Husbandry

• Runs – Outdoor

• Concrete, heating, cooling, shade, cover

– Sealed cement: ease of sanitation

– Indoor • Solid, slatted, coated

metal floors – Slats: small to avoid

pinched toes

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Husbandry

• Housing requirements – Normal postural adjustments – Opportunity for voluntary exercise, or

large cage – Daily: cages cleaned, bedding changed – 2 weeks: cages sanitized – Regularly: runs cleaned, sanitized

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Diet & Environmental Enrichment

• Feeding, watering – Commercial diet – Once/day, remove leftovers – Social hierarchy in groups

• Ensure submissive gets food

• Enrichment – Socialization (human & other canines) – Exercise – Toys (nylon bones, kongs)

Laboratory Animal Care and Use Program and Facilities

Questions