Anesthesia and Analgesia of Laboratory Animals

Anesthesia and Analgesia of Mice:
Anesthesia and Analgesia of Rats:
Anesthesia and Analgesia of Rabbits:
Anesthesia and Analgesia of Guinea Pigs:
Anesthesia and Analgesia of Dogs:
Anesthesia and Analgesia of Cats:
Anesthesia and Analgesia of Macaques:

Suggestions for monitoring anesthetized veterinary patients

Anesthesia and Analgesia of Mice:

Parenteral Anesthesia of Mice:

Agent	Dose	Duration of surgical anesthesia
Pentobarbital	50 mg/kg IP	20-40 minutes
Tribromoethanol (avertin)	240 mg/kg IP³⁰	15-45 minutes
Metomidate/fentanyl	60 mg/kg + 0.06 mg/kg SQ²⁹	20-30 minutes
Ketamine/xylazine	80-100 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg IP ²⁹	20-30 minutes

Inhalational Anesthesia of Mice: Due to it's lower vapor pressure, methoxyflurane (Metafane^tm ) came be used without a vaporizer to anesthesize mice. Care should be taken to prevent the mouse from coming into direct contact with the metafane. Typically a gauze pledget is moistened with halothane and placed in the bottom of a drop jar (future picture). An elevated platform is placed in the bottom of the drop jar to prevent direct contact of the mouse with the anesthetic. After the mouse is anesthetized it can be removed and a nosecone utilized to maintain anesthesia. A nosecone can be fashioned by using an empty syringe case into which a metafane wetted cotton has been placed. Positioning the animals nose into the syringe case will maintain anesthesia. This method of anesthesia must be done in a fume hood to prevent inhalation of the anesthetic by the technician. Other gaseous anesthetics such as halothane or isoflurane require the use of a precision vaporizer to deliver the appropriate amount of anesthetic.

Analgesia of Mice:

Agent	Dose
Buprenorphine	0.05-0.1 mg/kg SQ BID³¹
Butorphanol	1-5 mg/kg SQ QID³¹

Anesthesia and Analgesia of Rats:

Parenteral Anesthesia of Rats:

Agent	Dose	Onset	Duration
Pentobarbital	30 mg/kg IP ¹⁹	5	90 minutes
Pentobarbital	40 mg/kg IP ¹⁹	5	120 minutes
Ketamine-xylazine	40 mg/kg; 5 mg/kg IP ¹⁹	5	80 minutes
Ketamine-xylazine	60 mg/kg; 7.5 mg/kg¹⁹	2	115 minutes
Ketamine-medetomidine	75 mg/kg; 0.5 mg/kg²⁹		20-30 minutes

Inhalational Anesthesia of Rats: Due to it's lower vapor pressure, methoxyflurane (Metafanetm) can be used without a vaporizer to anesthesize rats. Care should be taken to prevent the rat from coming into direct contact with the metafane. Typically a gauze pledget is moistened with halothane and placed in the bottom of a drop jar (future picture). An elevated platform is placed in the bottom of the drop jar to prevent direct contact of the rat with the anesthetic. After the rat is anesthetized it can be removed and a nosecone (future picture) utilized to maintain anesthesia. A nosecone can be fashioned by using an empty syringe case into which a metafane wetted cotton has been placed. Positioning the animals nose into the syringe case will maintain anesthesia. This method of anesthesia must be done in a fume hood to prevent inhalation of the anesthetic by the technician. Other gaseous anesthetics such as halothane or isoflurane require the use of a precision vaporizer to deliver the appropriate amount of anesthetic.

Analgesia of Rats:

Agent	Dose
Buprenorphine	0.01-0.05 mg/kg SQ or IV TID to BID²⁹
	0.1-0.25 mg/kg PO, BID to TID²⁹
Butorphanol	2 mg/kg SQ every 4 hours³¹

Anesthesia and Analgesia of Rabbits:

Parenteral Anesthesia of Rabbits:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)	Duration of surgical anesthesia
Ketamine xylazine¹³	35 mg/kg IM 5 mg/kg IM	25-40²⁹ minutes
Ketamine xylazine²⁹	10 mg/kg IV 3 mg/kg IV	20-30 minutes
Ketamine xylazine acepromazine¹³	35 mg/kg IM 5 mg/kg IM 0.75 mg/kg IM	100 minutes
Ketamine xylazine butorphanol²⁹	35 mg/kg IM 5 mg/kg IM 0.1 mg/kg IM	60-90 minutes
Pentobarbital:¹⁴	Induce with 10 mg/ml IV and administer increments of 2-10 mg until a satisfactory level of anesthesia is reached	20-30 minutes

Inhalational Anesthesia of Rabbits: Several gaseous anesthetics such as halothane or isoflurane have been used successfully in the rabbit. These anesthetics require the use of a precision vaporizer to deliver the appropriate amount of anesthetic and appropriate scavenging systems to prevent personnel exposure to the anesthetic. Since induction will require "masking the rabbit" or placement of an endotracheal tube it is standard practice to use a preanesthetic.

Analgesia of Rabbits:

Agent	Dose
Morphine sulphate¹⁵	2-4mg/kg SC every 2-4 hours
Buprenorphine¹⁶ ^, ²⁹	0.02-0.05 mg/kg SQ or IV TID or BID
Butorphanol²⁹	0.1 - 0.5 mg/kg IV every 4 hours

Anesthesia and Analgesia of Guinea pigs:

Parenteral Anesthesia of Guinea pigs:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)	Duration
Ketamine-xylazine* ¹	30; 5 IM	30-45 minutes
Ketamine-xylazine ³	44; 5 IM	74 minutes
Pentobarbital fentanyl-droperdiol^! ¹	15 mg/kg IP + 0.4ml/kg IM	60 minutes
Pentobarbital²⁹	37 mg/kg IP	60-90 minutes

* Note: Not suitable for procedures requiring deep anesthesia.

! Note: High doses of fentanyl-droperdiol (0.88 ml/kg has been associated with muscle and nerve damage)

Inhalational Anesthesia of Guinea pigs: Several gaseous anesthetics such as methoxyflurane or isoflurane have been used successfully in the guinea pig. Isoflurane requires the use of a precision vaporizer to deliver the appropriate amount of anesthetic and both require appropriate scavenging systems to prevent personnel exposure to the anesthetic. Induction will require "masking the guinea pig" or the use of an induction chamber. An endotracheal tube should be utilized to maintain anesthesia. Halothane in guinea pigs has been associated with hepatotoxicity ⁸ .

Analgesia of Guinea Pigs:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)
Morphine sulphate¹²	2-5 mg/kg SC every 4 hours
Buprenorphine ⁴	0.05 mg/kg SQ TID to BID
Indomethacin¹²	2.5-8.8 mg/kg PO

Anesthesia and Analgesia of Dogs:

Parenteral Anesthesia of Dogs:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)	Duration
Ketamine-xylazine²⁹	5; 1-2 IV or IM	30-65 minutes
Propofol²⁹	5-7.5 mg/kg IV; maintain with 0.2-0.4 mg/kg/min	5-10 minutes unless a continuous infusion
Thiopental^!* ¹⁶	10-18 mg/kg IV	5-15 minutes
Pentobarbital²⁹ ^* ^!	20-30 mg/kg IV	30-40 minutes

* Note: Use of Acepromazine (0.05-1 mg/kg IM) as a preanesthetic will reduce the amount of barbiturate required for anesthesia up to 50%. ¹⁶

! Note: Repeated doses of thiopental or pentobarbital will greatly prolong the recovery from anesthesia.

Inhalational Anesthesia Dogs: Several gaseous anesthetics such as methoxyflurane or isoflurane have been used successfully in the dog. Isoflurane requires the use of a precision vaporizer to deliver the appropriate amount of anesthetic and both require appropriate scavenging systems to prevent personnel exposure to the anesthetic. Induction usually requires to the use of a preanesthetic (i.e. thiopental) to allow intubation.

Analgesia of Dogs:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)
Butorphanol³²	0.2-0.4 mg/kg SQ every 2-5 hours
Buprenorphine²⁹	0.005-02 mg/kg IM, IV or SQ QID to BID
Morphine sulphate²⁹	0.5-5 mg/kg SC every 4 hours
Carprofen ²⁹	4 mg/kg IV, SC SID or 1-2 mg/kg PO BID for seven days
Ketoprofen²⁹	2 mg/kg SC, IM, IV SID for maximum 3 days or 1 mg/kg PO SID for five days

Anesthesia and Analgesia of Cats:

Parenteral Anesthesia of Cats:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)	Duration
Ketamine Xylazine²⁹	22 mg/kg IM 1.1 mg/kg IM	20-30 minutes
Ketamine Acepromazine²⁹	20 mg/kg IM 0.11 mg/kg IM	20-30 minutes
Thiopental^!* ¹⁶	10-18 mg/kg IV	5-15 minutes
Pentobarbital²⁹ ^* ^!	20-30 mg/kg IV	60-90 minutes

* Note: Use of Acepromazine (0.05-1 mg/kg IM) as a preanesthetic will reduce the amount of barbiturate required for anesthesia up to 50%. ¹⁶

! Note: Repeated doses of thiopental or pentobarbital will greatly prolong the recovery from anesthesia.

Inhalational Anesthesia Cats: Several gaseous anesthetics such as methoxyflurane or isoflurane have been used successfully in the cat. Isoflurane requires the use of a precision vaporizer to deliver the appropriate amount of anesthetic and both require appropriate scavenging systems to prevent personnel exposure to the anesthetic. Induction usually requires to the use of a preanesthetic (i.e. Ketamine5-20 mg/kg IM²⁹ ) to allow intubation.

Analgesia of Cats:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)
Butorphanol²⁹	0.4 mg/kg SQ every 3-4 hours
Buprenorphine³²	0.005-0.01 mg/kg IV or SQ TID to BID
Morphine sulphate²⁹	0.1 mg/kg SC every 4 hours
Carprofen²⁹	4 mg/kg SC or IV
Ketoprofen²⁹	1 mg/kg SQ SID for up to three days or 1 mg/kg PO SID for up to five days

Anesthesia and Analgesia of Macaques:

Parenteral Anesthesia of Macaques:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)	Duration
Ketamine Xylazine²⁹	10 mg/kg IM 0.5 mg/kg IM	30-40 minutes
Thiopental²⁹ ^*	15-20 mg/kg IV	5-10 minutes
Pentobarbital²⁹ ^*	25-35 mg/kg IV	30-60 minutes

* Note: Repeated doses of thiopental or pentobarbital will greatly prolong the recovery from anesthesia.

Inhalational Anesthesia Macaques: Several gaseous anesthetics such as methoxyflurane or isoflurane have been used successfully in the macaques. Isoflurane requires the use of a precision vaporizer to deliver the appropriate amount of anesthetic and both require appropriate scavenging systems to prevent personnel exposure to the anesthetic. Induction usually requires to the use of a preanesthetic (i.e. Ketamine 10 mg/kg IM) to allow intubation.

Analgesia of Macaques:

Agent	Dose (mg/kg)
Butorphanol²⁹	0.01 mg/kg IV every 3-4 hours
Buprenorphine²⁹	0.005-01 mg/kg IV or IM QID to BID
Morphine sulphate²⁹	1-2 mg/kg SC or IM every 4 hours
Flunixin²⁹	2-4 mg/kg SC SID

References

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4-Flecknell PA. 1987, Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; An Introduction for research workers and technicians. Academic Press , New York, New York.

12-Svendsen P, Hau J 1994 , Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science. CRC Press.

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15-The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit. Manning, P. J., Ringer D. H., Newcomer, C. E., (1994) The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit. Academic Press, New York, New York.

16-Principles and Practice of Veterinary Anesthesia. Short CE, 1987.

19-Wixson SK, White WJ et. al., A comparison of Pentobarbital, Fentanyl-Droperdiol, Ketamine-Xylazine and Ketamine-Diazepam Anesthesia in Adult Male Rats. LAS 37;6:726-30, 1987.

29-Flecknell PA. 1996, Laboratory Animal Anaesthesia; An Introduction for research workers and technicians. Academic Press; 2nd edition , New York, New York.

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31-Flecknell PA, Post-operative analgesia in rabbits and rodents. Lab. Anim. 20(9):34-37, 1991.

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