Lab Animal Vet

Why is it important?

  • Belle the rabbit

    • due for her spay

    • few meds labeled for rabbits

    • study of Meloxicam with rabbits found

      • can know that they have a vet, follow regulations, every 6mos area checked, etc

      • animal models for animals are important

Job Description

  • vet care

  • animal resource management

  • advise other scientists

    • esp with minor use species

  • regulatory compliance

  • research

  • teaching and training

ACLAM Certification Requirements

  1. Earn DVM

  2. Post-Doctorate Education: Training Program or Experience (min 6 yrs) Routes

  3. First-Author, Hypothesis-based Publication in a Peer-Reviewed Journal

  4. Examination

Laws, Regulations, and Policies

  • 5 freedoms for animals

    • 1. freedom from hunger and thirst

    • 2. freedom from discomfort

    • 3. freedom from pain, injury, and disease

    • 4. freedom to express normal behavior

    • 5. freedom from fear and distress

  • Animal Welfare Act

    • addresses the humane treatment of animals intended for research, bred for commercial sale, exhibited to the public, or commercially transported

    • a few specific requirements

      • USDA vet visits at least annually and publishes findings online

      • attending vet and program of vet care

      • institutional animal care and use committee

  • Animal (according to the USDA)

    • included

      • any live bird (not bred for research)

      • dog

      • cat

      • monkey (nonhuman primate mammal)

      • guinea pig

      • hamster

      • rabbit

      • other such warm blooded animal being used for research or education

    • excluded - not covered by animal welfare act

      • mice (of the genus Mus)

      • rats (of the genus Rattus)

      • fish

      • invertebrates

      • reptiles

      • amphibians

      • birds bred for research

  • IACUC - Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee

    • review and investigate animal care and use concerns

    • must consist of at least 3 members

      • chair

      • lab animal vet

      • non affiliated member - no ties to institution

    • review and inspect, at least once every six months, the research facility’s program for humane care and use of animals

    • approve, requre modifications (to secure approval) or withold approval of protocols

    • authorized to suspend activities

    • reach out with concerns on the IACUC website

“The Guide”

  • applies to all live vertebrae animals

Rabbits

  • oryctolagus cuniculus

  • eyes on the side of head to view predators

    • blind spot beneath their nose

    • let the rabbit know you’re there before touching mouth

  • ears are large and important

    • temperature regulation

    • teeth grow continuously

  • no foot pads

    • dense fur, no paw pad

    • so need soft, dry bedding

    • ulcerative pododermatitis

  • delicate back and bones

    • put them down rear end first or sideways

  • cecotrope: cecum periodically contracts and fermented ingesta is propelled into colon, then out the anus (night feces)

  • rabbit ingests them and they are essential for growth and weight maintenance

Hamsters - mesocricetus auratus

  • have bilateral invaginations of oral mucosa (cheek pouches)

  • used for temporary storage

  • lack lymphatic drainage = immune-privleged

    • researcher can transplant cells into the cheek pouches and don’t worry that it affects other parts of the body

  • flank glands

    • coarse hair over darkly pigmented skin, easily seen in males

    • sebaceous glands that product secretions in response to androgens

    • skin scrape for parasites, tape test for bacterial/fungal infections

Rats - rattus norvegicus

  • olfactory signals are strong determinates for behavior

  • incisors grow continuously

  • exophthalmic eyes

    • prop head up a little bit so eyes don’t get injured

  • what compound (red tears) does the Harderian gland produce in response to stress (chromodachyria)?

    • porphyrin

      • not blood

Mouse - mus musculus

  • anatomy very similar to rat

  • incisors grow continuously

  • unable to vomit

  • open inguinal canal in male

    • testes may not be in scrotum

    • can do an abdominal neuter

  • copulatory plug visible in females after mating for about 24 hours

  • males vs female - anogenital distance

    • anogenital distance in male is much further than female

Common Rodent Cases

  • Malocclusion

    • overgrowth of incisors

    • treatment

      • acute: trim teeth

      • long term: offer more chewing opportunities (ex. manzanita wood stick, blocks, rodent chow)

      • check mouth weekly

    • causes

      • genetic

      • trauma

  • Barbering

    • overgrooming by cagemate

    • treatment: add more enrichment

    • one cause is overpopulation

    • do skin scrape and tape test too

  • Hydrocephalus

    • often congenital

    • fluid buildup in the cavities of the brain

    • dome shaped head

    • treatment: often benefit from humane euthanasia

    • become lethargic and not as thrifty

  • Dystocia

    • difficult or abnormal birth

    • medical emergency

    • blood in cage

    • lethargy

    • pregnant female and pups, often without milk spots

      • white area on skin from where nursing because they are pink and skin is translucent

    • treatment: fluid therapy, diet gel, sometimes a little bit of time, human euthanasia

    • hardest part is knowing when it is dystocia

  • Dermatitis

    • murine ulcerative dermatitis

    • idiopathic (unknown cause)

    • hair loss, redness, itching

    • more common in some strains than others

    • treatment: supportive care, trim nails, topical antiseptics

    • skin scratch and tape test

    • treat primary cause