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Background
Anesthetics
Analgesics
Best Practices
Controlled Substances
Suggested Formularies
References
Background
Federal regulations mandate that animals undergoing potentially painful procedures be
provided with adequate anesthesia and analgesia. The standard of care at UC Berkeley
is to prevent animal pain whenever possible and to treat animal pain whenever
diagnosed. Exceptions to these principles are permitted only if scientific justification is
provided in the Animal Use Protocol (AUP) and approved by the Animal Care and Use
Committee (ACUC).
Anesthetics
For the use of any anesthetic agent, the Office of Laboratory Animal Care (OLAC)
veterinarians should be consulted regarding the appropriate agent and dose for the
species being used and the procedure being performed.
See Table 1 for appropriate dosages and routes of administration by drug for
some common laboratory animals.
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Table 1.
Drug
Mouse
Rat
Guinea Pig
Rabbit
Pentobarbital1
40-85 mg/kg IP
40-50 mg/kg IP
28 mg/kg IP
28 mg/kg IV
Ketamine/
Xylazine2
90-120 mg/kg*
5-10 mg/kg*
SC or IP (not IM)
90 mg/kg
10 mg/kg
SC or IP (not IM)
40-50 mg/kg
5 mg/kg
SC (not IM)
35 mg/kg
5 mg/kg
SC or IM
300 mg/kg IP
N/A
N/A
A note regarding urethane: Urethane is a known carcinogen and may only be used for anesthesia in non-survival
surgeries. Scientific justification in the approved AUP is required for use.
Analgesics
For the use of any analgesic agent, OLAC veterinarians should be consulted regarding
the appropriate agent and dose for the species being used and the procedure being
performed.
See Table 2 for appropriate dosages and routes and frequency of administration
by drug for some common laboratory animals.
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Table 2.
Drug
Mouse
Buprenorphine
Meloxicam
Carprofen
Ketoprofen
0.05-0.1 mg/kg
SC
Every 8-12 hrs.
5-10 mg/kg
SC or PO
Once daily
5-10 mg/kg
SC
Every 12-24 hrs.
2-5 mg/kg
SC
Every 12-24 hrs.
Rat
0.05 mg/kg
SC
Every 8-12 hrs.
1-2 mg/kg
SC or PO
Once daily
4-5 mg/kg
SC
Every 12-24 hrs.
2-5 mg/kg
SC
Every 12-24 hrs.
Guinea Pig
0.05 mg/kg
SC
Every 8-12 hrs.
0.2 mg/kg
SC or PO
Once daily
1-2 mg/kg
PO or SC
Every 12-24 hrs.
1 mg/kg
SC
Every 12-24 hrs.
Rabbit
0.02-0.05 mg/kg
SC
Every 8-12 hrs.
0.3-0.6 mg/kg
SC or PO
Once daily
2 mg/kg
PO or SC
Every 12-24 hrs.
1-3 mg/kg
SC
Every 12-24 hrs.
Best Practices
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Dose ranges and titration All drugs, dose ranges and routes of administration
must be listed in the AUP. Dose ranges are starting points which must be titrated
up or down for the individual animal, or for the particular application (procedures
conducted, animal age and strain differences). When laboratory experience finds
that recommended dose ranges are consistently too high or too low for the
particular application, the veterinarian should be informed, and a protocol
amendment submitted to the ACUC. Anesthetics are always titrated to effect. It is
not acceptable to conduct surgical procedures unless the animal is fully
anesthetized.
Training The very best anesthetic plans are only as good as the skill and care
with which they are applied. Training is available from the OLAC veterinary staff.
Required procedure-specific training will be detailed on the AUP approval letter
from the ACUC Chair. The individual to contact for training will be included in the
letter.
Controlled Substances
Several commonly used anesthetics and analgesics (i.e., opioids, ketamine) are
controlled substances and require special procedures to be completed prior to
use in animal research.
More information can be found at the Office of Environment, Health & Safety
(EH&S) website (http://www.ehs.berkeley.edu/hs/84-controlled-substances-used-
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References
Carpenter, J.W. (2005). Exotic Animal Formulary. (3rd Ed.). Philadelphia, PA:
Elsevier Saunders.
Hawk, C.T., Leary, S., & Morris, T. (2005). Formulary for Laboratory Animals. (3rd
Ed.). Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing
(http://www3.research.usf.edu/cm/docs/Formulary_for_Lab_Animals_3rd_ed.pdf)
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