1. Peri and Post Operative Care of Mice

2. Surgical Prep in Mice • Mice are susceptible to infections and therefore aseptic technique should be followed. • Pick your anesthesia. • Weigh your mouse. • Sterilize your instruments. • Prepare the incision site. • Wear gloves.

3. Surgical Prep in Mice • Mice have large surface area to body volume and high metabolic rate • They are susceptible to dehydration, hypothermia, and hypoglycemia. • They do not vomit.

4. Surgical Prep in Mice • To reduce hypothermia, can do surgery on heating pad or under a heat lamp. • Also, inject mouse with warmed lactated Ringer’s which also helps with dehydration. • Do not withhold food due to inability to vomit and hypoglycemic tendencies.

5. Surgery in Mice • Check depth of anesthesia. • Toe pinch. • Watch respiratory rate. • Watch color in ears, paws tail and nose. • Chest compressions or doxapram. • Watch cardiovascular function. • Cauterization or just holding off of cut vessels. • Body temp. • Fluids. • Close incision.

6. Post Op in Mice • Do not leave until mouse is ambulatory. • Keep on heating pad and/or wrapped up for warmth. • Give analgesia for at least 24 hours. • Supplement food and give more fluids as necessary. • Soft bedding recommended.

7. More info: • Free course on ALL: Working with the Laboratory Mouse. • Free CD from NIH: Training in Basic Biomethodology for Laboratory Mice.