The laboratory hamster & gerbil

The Laboratory Hamster and Gerbil details basic information and common procedures for individuals performing research with hamsters and gerbils. It includes duties of animal facility management, animal husbandry, regulatory compliance, and technical procedures and assists in the humane care and use of hamsters and gerbils in the laboratory. It provides quick, easy-to-use information for investigators, technicians, and animal caretakers and includes references to alternative procedures and methods. The book also offers possible sources and suppliers of animals, feed, sanitation supplies, cages, and research and veterinary supplies.

Author Notes

Karl J. Field, DVM., MS., is Director of Veterinary Sciences at Bristol-Meyers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute in Princeton, NJ
Amber L. Sibold is Assistant Director of Laboratory Animal Services at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, East Hanover, NJ

1 Important Biological Features	p. 1
Hamsters	p. 1
Origin of the Hamster	p. 1
Hamster Breeds	p. 1
Hamster Behavior	p. 1
Anatomic and Physiologic Features of Hamsters	p. 3
Gerbils	p. 6
Origin of the Gerbil	p. 6
Gerbil Breeds	p. 7
Gerbil Behavior	p. 7
Anatomic and Physiologic Features of Gerbils	p. 8
Normative Values of the Hamster and Gerbil	p. 9
2 Husbandry	p. 13
Housing	p. 13
Macroenviornment Considerations	p. 14
Room Construction Features	p. 14
Microenvironment/Caging Considerations	p. 15
Cage Size Standards	p. 16
Cage Materials and Design	p. 18
Environmental Conditions	p. 21
Environmental Enrichment	p. 22
Nutrition	p. 24
Cage Sanitation Practices	p. 27
Cage Cleaning Frequency	p. 28
Special Circumstances	p. 30
Methods of Cage Sanitation	p. 30
Animal Room Sanitation	p. 33
Sanitation Quality Control	p. 35
Transportation	p. 36
Animal Receipt	p. 39
Record Keeping	p. 40
Health Records	p. 41
Census	p. 41
Work Records	p. 42
Breeding	p. 43
Hamsters	p. 43
Gerbils	p. 46
3 Management	p. 49
Regulatory Agencies and Compliance	p. 49
Occupational Health and Zoonotic Diseases	p. 55
Bacteria	p. 55
Other Occupational Health Issues	p. 57
Parasites	p. 57
Viruses	p. 58
Experimental Biohazards	p. 58
4 Veterinary Care	p. 59
Veterinary Supplies	p. 59
The Physical Examination	p. 60
Quarantine, Stabilization, and Acclimation	p. 62
Common Clinical Problems	p. 62
Diseases of Hamsters	p. 63
Bacterial Diseases	p. 63
Viral Diseases	p. 64
Parasitic Diseases	p. 65
Ectoparasitic Arthropods	p. 68
Miscellaneous Diseases	p. 69
Common Diseases of Gerbils	p. 69
Bacterial Diseases	p. 69
Viral Diseases	p. 70
Parasitic Diseases	p. 70
Miscellaneous Diseases and Conditions	p. 71
Drug Dosages for Hamsters and Gerbils	p. 72
Disease Prevention Through Sanitation	p. 75
Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Sedation	p. 75
Principles of General Anesthesia	p. 78
Administering Anesthesia	p. 78
Stages of Anesthesia	p. 79
Assessment of Anesthetic Depth	p. 80
Postanesthetic Monitoring	p. 81
Characteristics of Commonly Used Injectable Anesthetics	p. 83
Principles of Gas Anesthesia	p. 84
Preanesthetic Management	p. 85
Premedication, Sedation, Tranquilization, and Chemical Restraint	p. 85
Aseptic Surgery	p. 86
Asepsis	p. 86
Operating Room Procedures	p. 86
Patient Preparation	p. 87
Surgical Site Preparation	p. 88
Surgeon Preparation	p. 89
Basic Surgical Techniques	p. 90
Surgical Principles to Promote Wound Healing	p. 90
Wound Closure	p. 91
Complications of Wound Healing	p. 91
Guidelines for Selecting Sutures	p. 92
Sutures for Closure of Incisions	p. 92
Organ and Tissue Sutures	p. 93
Suture Needles	p. 94
Suturing	p. 94
Surgical Knot Tying	p. 95
Suture Removal	p. 95
Postoperative Management of Pain	p. 96
Analgesia	p. 96
Postoperative Care of Animals	p. 97
Euthanasia	p. 98
When to Euthanize an Animal	p. 98
Guidelines for Recognizing Morbid and Moribund Animals	p. 98
Signs of Morbidity (Disease or Illness) in Animals	p. 99
Selected Criteria for Euthanasia of Moribund (Dying) Animals	p. 99
Common Methods of Euthanasia	p. 101
Barbiturate Overdose	p. 101
Inhalant Anesthesia	p. 101
Physical Methods	p. 101
5 Experimental Methodology	p. 103
Hamster Handling and Restraint	p. 103
Methods for Picking a Hamster Up	p. 103
Hamster Restraint	p. 105
Gerbil Handling and Restraint	p. 106
Sample Collection	p. 107
Blood Collection Sites	p. 107
Blood Volume	p. 108
Blood Collection Vials	p. 109
Blood Collection	p. 109
Urine and Feces Collection	p. 113
Test Article/Compound Administration	p. 113
Parenteral Route	p. 113
Oral Route	p. 117
Water and Food	p. 120
Implantable Osmotic Pumps	p. 120
Necropsy	p. 120
Equipment	p. 120
Technique	p. 122
6 Resources	p. 125
Organizations	p. 125
Publications	p. 127
Electronic	p. 130
Purchasing Hamsters and Gerbils	p. 131
Feed	p. 130
Cages, Research, and Veterinary Supplies	p. 132
Bibliography	p. 135
Index	p. 141

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Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Table of Contents