The Laboratory Hamster and Gerbil [PDF Download]

Features:

• Assists in the humane care and use of hamsters and gerbils in the laboratory
• Provides quick, easy-to-use information for investigators, technicians, and animal caretakers
• Includes references to alternative procedures and methods
• Offers possible sources and suppliers of animals, feed, sanitation supplies, cages, and research and veterinary supplies

Table of Contents:

1. Important Biological Features

• Hamsters

  • Origin of the Hamster

  • Hamster Breeds

  • Hamster Behavior

  • Anatomic and Physiologic Features of Hamsters

• Gerbils

  • Origin of the Gerbil

  • Gerbil Breeds

  • Gerbil Behavior

  • Anatomic and Physiologic Features of Gerbils

• Normative Values of the Hamster and Gerbil

2. Husbandry

• Housing

  • Macroenvironment Considerations

  • Room Construction Features

  • Microenvironment/Caging Considerations

  • Cage Size Standards

  • Cage Materials and Design

• Environmental Conditions

• Environmental Enrichment

• Nutrition

• Cage Sanitation Practices

  • Cage Cleaning Frequency

  • Special Circumstances

  • Methods of Cage Sanitation

• Animal Room Sanitation

• Sanitation Quality Control

• Transportation

• Animal Receipt

• Record Keeping

  • Health Records

  • Census

  • Work Records

• Breeding

  • Hamsters

  • Gerbils

3. Management

• Regulatory Agencies and Compliance

• Occupational Health and Zoonotic Diseases

  • Bacteria

  • Other Occupational Health Issues

  • Parasites

  • Viruses

• Experimental Biohazards

4. Veterinary Care

• Veterinary Supplies

• The Physical Examination

• Quarantine, Stabilization, and Acclimation

• Common Clinical Problems

  • Diseases of Hamsters

    • Bacterial Diseases

    • Viral Diseases

    • Parasitic Diseases

    • Ectoparasitic Arthropods

    • Miscellaneous Diseases

  • Common Diseases of Gerbils

    • Bacterial Diseases

    • Viral Diseases

    • Parasitic Diseases

    • Miscellaneous Diseases and Conditions

• Drug Dosages for Hamsters and Gerbils

• Disease Prevention Through Sanitation

• Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Sedation

  • Principles of General Anesthesia

  • Administering Anesthesia

  • Stages of Anesthesia

  • Assessment of Anesthetic Depth

  • Postanesthetic Monitoring

  • Characteristics of Commonly Used Injectable Anesthetics

  • Principles of Gas Anesthesia

  • Preanesthetic Management

  • Premedication, Sedation, Tranquilization, and Chemical Restraint

• Aseptic Surgery

  • Asepsis

  • Operating Room Procedures

  • Patient Preparation

  • Surgical Site Preparation

  • Surgeon Preparation

  • Basic Surgical Techniques

  • Surgical Principles to Promote Wound Healing

  • Wound Closure

  • Complications of Wound Healing

  • Guidelines for Selecting Sutures

  • Sutures for Closure of Incisions

  • Organ and Tissue Sutures

  • Suture Needles

  • Suturing

  • Surgical Knot Tying

  • Suture Removal

  • Postoperative Management of Pain

  • Analgesia

  • Postoperative Care of Animals

• Euthanasia

  • When to Euthanize an Animal

  • Guidelines for Recognizing Morbid and Moribund Animals

  • Signs of Morbidity (Disease or Illness) in Animals

  • Selected Criteria for Euthanasia of Moribund Animals

  • Common Methods of Euthanasia

    • Barbiturate Overdose

    • Inhalant Anesthesia

    • Physical Methods

5. Experimental Methodology

• Hamster Handling and Restraint

  • Methods for Picking a Hamster Up

  • Hamster Restraint

• Gerbil Handling and Restraint

• Sample Collection

  • Blood Collection Sites

  • Blood Volume

  • Blood Collection Vials

  • Blood Collection

  • Urine and Feces Collection

• Test Article/Compound Administration

  • Parenteral Route

  • Oral Route

  • Water and Food

  • Implantable Osmotic Pumps

• Necropsy

  • Equipment

  • Technique

6. Resources

• Organizations

• Publications

• Electronic

• Purchasing Hamsters and Gerbils

• Feed

• Cages, Research, and Veterinary Supplies

Bibliography

Index