Contact Attending Veterinary or veterinary staff if you ever have a question about the health and well-being of any animal in your facility. Please follow the guidelines in the document “Program of Veterinary Care for Rodents” provided by the Attending Veterinarian, and use the Medical Record (MR) form to document the observation of any abnormality noted and to document any follow up observation, treatments and dispositions (such as euthanasia) of laboratory animals. Consultations with the Attending Veterinarian or veterinary staff can also be recorded in the MR. Facilities should maintain mortality logs for colonies on the Mortality Report. The Campus Veterinary Services (CVS) provides veterinary care for rodents at UC Davis.

CVS must be contacted regardless of how severe or significant the condition may be, and upon observation of the problem a MR initiated by the reporting party. Particularly if more than an occasional animal is affected, or animals show unexpected adverse signs from experimental manipulations.

The following list of signs are used by CVS to report a sick call. Following each sign, there is a suggested action. Contact CVS immediately, if any individual animal shows severe signs of any kind, or appears moribund and cannot be euthanized quickly.

1.  Conjunctivitis, weepy eyes, red tears.

Action: If it is mild and only an occasional animal is affected, this could be due to dusty bedding, powdered feed getting into the eye, or some other mild irritant. Examine the eye for the presence of a foreign body. The affected eye can be flushed with tepid sterile saline to try to remove any irritating foreign material. It may also be due to an infectious cause (such as Pasteurella pneumotropica), and you may be instructed to use an antibiotic ophthalmic ointment on an as needed basis. Contact CVS of the problem and document on a MR the date, the problem (assessment) and what treatment was performed following consultation with the veterinary staff.

2.  Evidence of diarrhea, loose stool.

Action: Variations in stool consistency can be seen as part of the reaction to various diets, particularly in nutritional studies. If the diarrhea is only mild, notify the PI. If it is not a result of the experimental protocol, then contact CVS and document on a MR the date, the problem, a description of the fecal consistency, and what treatment was performed following consultation with the veterinary staff.

3.  Lameness.

Action: Lamenesses are usually the result of trauma or tumor growth impairing normal locomotion. Contact CVS and document on a MR the date, the problem and what treatment was performed following consultation with the veterinary staff.

4.  Malocclusion.

Action: Malocclusions are a common genetic deformity in rodents. However, there may also be other causes such as drug toxicities. If it is an occasional rodent in the colony with malocclusion the teeth may be trimmed by properly trained personnel. In this instance generate a MR with the date, that malocclusion was observed, and that the teeth were trimmed. If a large number of animals are affected, it may be necessary to implement a program of regular tooth trimming, modify the diet such that animals can wear teeth more normally. In this instance contact CVS for consultation and initiate a MR. If animals are severely affected such that teeth cannot be trimmed, animals have oral sores, or they are unable to eat and maintain good body condition CVS should also be contacted for consultation and a MR initiated.

5.  Runny nose, sneezing.

Action: These signs can be associated with serious infectious diseases of rodents. Contact CVS and initiate a MR with the date, the problem, the severity, the consistency of the discharge and the treatment recommendations in consultation with the veterinarian.

6.  Distended abdomen.

Action: This can be the sign of pregnancy, ascites, or abdominal tumor. Contact CVS and document the date, problem, and treatment in a MR.

7.  Skin lesions including scabs and loss of hair.

Action: Skin lesions are common in rodent colonies and the cause is really unknown. If rodents with skin lesions are observed initiate a MR with the date, the problem, and the treatment. In most cases at minimum the toenails should be trimmed on the hind limbs to reduce the degree of self trauma. If it is persistent or combined with other signs, the lesions are severe (eroded or involving more than 10% of the body surface), or an unusually large number of animals show a similar problem contact CVS.

8.  Unthriftiness – animals that are too thin, too fat, or unhealthy looking.

Action: Unthrifty animal should be reported to CVS as this can be a non specific sign for a variety of problems.

9.  Signs of pain or distress due to a variety of causes include behavior changes, depression, decreased responsiveness, or vocalization.

Action: Contact CVS and initiate a MR with the date, the problem and follow up treatment in consultation with the veterinarian.

10.  Respiratory changes: increased rate, labored breathing, chattering (mice), sneezing/snuffling (rats).

Action: Contact CVS and initiate a MR with the date, the problem and follow up treatment in consultation with the veterinarian.

11.  External signs: Piloerection (rough haircoat), decreased grooming activity, coat soiling; a hunched posture; crouchin or recumbency with the head tucked into the abdomen; decrease exploratory behavior; isolation from cage mates.

Action: These are non specific signs of disease in rodents. Contact CVS and initiate a MR with the date, the problem, and follow up treatment in consultation with the veterinarian.

12.  Moribund state. The moribund condition is defined as "in the state of dying", "at the point of death", or "approaching death". Signs that can be used to identify a moribund rodent include one or more of the following:

• Impaired ability to ambulate such that the animal is unable to access food and water.
• Excessive weight loss and emaciation.
• Physical or mental depression (i.e., lack of responsiveness or alertness).
• Labored breathing or difficulty breathing.
• Inability to maintain an upright position.

Action: Contact CVS and initiate a MR with the date, the problem and the follow up treatment in consultation with the veterinarian. If it is not an expected results from an experimental procedure, then the cause should be determined by submitting the animal for diagnostic evaluation to the Comparative Pathology Laboratory.