Tips for Skill 48

This skill will require you to perform technical procedures on rodents including; administration of drugs or medications, collecting blood samples, and performing oral dosing. Upon completion of this skill, you will be able to properly restrain, handle, medicate, and collect blood samples from rodent and rabbit patients.

Tips for materials that need to be submitted:

• Video of student performing each of the following procedures:

  • Blood collection from a rabbit and a rat

    • You must collect the blood from the tail vein of the rat

      • Slightly warming the tail will help increase blood flow

      • Make sure you prep the site

    • Blood collection from the marginal ear vein or the saphenous vein of a rabbit

      • The blood should be collected from the lateral side of the pinna (the back side of the pinna) if using the marginal ear vein

        • There are excellent images of this procedure in your Lab Animal textbook

      • Make sure you prep the site

      • Make sure you review your study materials so you know where these veins are located to ensure that you draw from the correct location

    • Subcutaneous injection on a rat or mouse

      • You do not need to inject a drug you can use sterile saline

      • Make sure you show aspiration to make sure you are not in a blood vessel

      • It is easiest to give this in the back of the neck where there is an adequate amount of loose skin

    • Oral dosing of a rat

      • YOU MUST USE THE ORAL GAVAGE TECHNIQUE. You cannot just administer the medication by oral syringe. A feeding needle was one of the required items on the equipment list

      • Make sure your feeding needle is the appropriate size for your patient, it should not be too large or small

      • The rat must be properly and firmly restrained. Remember the feeding needle is being inserted into the esophagus of your patient, if your patient is not properly restrained it can result in injury

      • You need to verify proper placement before administering the medication. Often times the rat will swallow as the needle passes down the esophagus

      • Do not rotate the needle once it is placed, or else you may rupture the esophagus (especially if you are using an non-flexible feeding needle)

      • You cannot use a flexible rubber catheter you must use a feeding needle

  • Helpful resources in addition to your textbooks and study materials:

    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO3i_q74ftM

Accepted Levels of Sedation:

• Oral dosing:

  • Patients can be awake or lightly sedated, but they must have a swallow reflex.

• Patients can be awake or lightly sedated for all other parts of skill.