Veterinary Services

Veterinarians can expedite the process by checking your protocols before you submit them to the IACUC for review. They also can advise you on drug dosages, anesthetic regimes, monitoring programs, supportive care, post-operative care and housing. We encourage researchers and technicians to take advantage of this free service. 

Veterinarians are available to advise researchers on:

• The IACUC protocol completion & review
• Anesthetic & analgesic regime selection
• Drug dosages
• Animal model selection
• Surgical methods & instrumentation
• Animal handling
• Zoonotic diseases
• Monitoring charts/programs

Veterinarians can be "hired" to perform surgery as part of a research protocol. They also can assist, consult, or provide training on surgical techniques and instrumentation. 

They can advise you, at no cost, on the following: 

• suture material;
• suture pattern; 
• anesthetic monitoring;
• equipment selection; and 
• post operative care.

Veterinarians are available to perform PMs (or necropsies). All animals that die unexpectedly are necropsied to ensure the disease-free integrity of the animal facilities. A Post Mortem Report will be sent to the principle investigator (owner of the animal), concluding the cause of death. There is no fee for this service.

We supplement the diagnosis with lab tests (serology, bacteriology) and a histopathology performed by board-certified, lab-animal pathologists. 

In addition, we can collect tissues or perform a PM as part of a research project.

To assist with your procedures, the LAF offers a chart indicating appropriate doses of anesthetics and analgesics for common lab animals.

The veterinary staff can perform intra-muscular (IM), subcutaneous (SQ), intravenous (IV), intraperitoneal (IP) and intradermal (ID) injections. They also can administer drugs–orally, topically and intragastrically–as required. Cost: Our minimum is 15 minutes or $7.50 for this service. 

The veterinary staff can perform blood collection from any of our lab species. Anesthesia may be required depending on the species and location of the collection. If required, we can find a location and choose an anesthesia that is approved on your protocol.

The veterinary technicians can anesthetize lab animals with either injectable or gas inhalant anesthesia. The technicians can provide sedation, pre-medication, induction, intubation and maintenance. They also can instruct you on using the equipment and monitoring animals. 

CM-LAF provides post operative care and monitoring free for all animals having received anesthesia and surgery.

1. Researchers must submit surgical records (FORMS) immediately to room 204 or the CM-LAF desk/office. If it's after hours, please place the forms in the box outside our door. Please include your after-hours phone numbers so the CM-LAF staff can contact you if the need arises.
2. Veterinary technicians will examine each animal daily after surgery/anesthesia daily for three days (two days for rodents).
3. They will report any complications immediately to the veterinarian. We will contact the researcher for permission to treat the animal before we begin therapy.

The veterinary technicians will anesthetize and collect tail (ear punch) samples for you to genotype your mice

Veterinary staff can prepare your animal for surgery (in addition to anesthesia) by:

• shaving the incision site
• disinfecting the skin of the patient
• placing an intravenous catheter and administering fluids 
• placing monitoring equipment (blood pressure cuffs, EKG etc)

In addition the staff can set up the surgical suite with equipment, provide clinical attire, assist with gowning, and provide sterilized instruments and supplies. Veterinary staff also can assist during surgery. 

Throughout surgery they can provide additional supplies, reposition the patient, collect samples and perform diagnostic tests. They also can monitor anesthesia, monitor physiological parameters and administer drugs.

Following surgery, veterinary staff can administer analgesics, recover the patient from anesthesia, prepare reports/forms and monitor the animal. 

CM-LAF staff can perform the following tests:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• White Blood Cell Count (WBC)
• Packed Cell Volume (PCV)
• Total Protein (TP)
• Biochemical Profile
• Urinalysis
• Serology
• Bacterial Culture and Sensitivity
• Cytology
• Fecal Exams

You can supply the sample or the veterinary staff can collect the sample for you. However, please contact veterinary services first. We will schedule your test and ensure that we have the correct supplies available.

All euthanasia is performed according to the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. Our veterinary technicians will follow your IACUC approved protocol when determining which procedures to use. 

We have facilities for taking radiographs, including dental X-rays. Veterinary technicians can anesthetize, position the animal, take X-rays at the correct exposure and develop the film. If you want to participate in the process, you need to register with Environmental Health & Safety Radiation Safety for permission.

The veterinary technicians can help you identify your animals using numbers, letters, dots or colors. No anesthesia is required. Identification may be used on any color/strain of rodent.

• Ear punching/notching
• Tattooing
• Ear tagging