MSU IACUC Anesthesia and Analgesia Guidelines

Guidelines for Rats

Physiologic parameters
Body temperature

35.9-37.5 C

Heart rate

250-450/min

Respiratory rate

70-115/min

Tidal volume

0.6-2.0 ml

Anticholinergics

Atropine 0.05 mg/kg SC, IP

Glycopyrrolate 0.5 mg/kg IM

Tranquilizers

Acepromazine 1-2.5 mg/kg IM

Chlorpromazine 1-2 mg/kg IM
Diazepam 2-4 mg/kg IP, IV

Dissociative Anesthetics

Ketamine-xylazine 75-100 mg/kg + 5-10 mg/kg IP, duration 10-30 minutes

Ketamine-medetomidine 75 mg/kg + 0.5 mg/kg IP, duration 20-30 minutes
Tiletamine/zolezepam 40 mg/kg IP, 15-25 minutes light anesthesia

Barbiturates

Pentobarbital 40-50 mg/kg IP, 15-60 minutes light anesthesia

Thiopental 30 mg/kg IV, 10 minutes

Other

Propofol 10 mg/kg IV, 5 minutes

Analgesics/NSAIDs (used pre-operatively for preemptive analgesia)

Buprenorphine 0.01-0.05 mg/kg SQ or IV 8-12 hourly

To prepare a buprenorphine (Buprenex) dilution for smaller rodents, one 1 ml vial of Buprenex (0.3
mg) is drawn into a sterile syringe and added to 19 ml of sterile 5% dextrose in water or 0.9 % NaCl
and dispensed into a sterile vial (e.g. a sterile serum tube). Label the tube "Buprenorphine HCl, 0.015
mg/ml" and the date prepared. Expiration date is either that from the original package, or 6 months
from the date prepared. Protect from light. Administer 0.6-1.3 ml per average 200 g rat.

Butorphanol 2 mg/kg SQ, every 4 hours

Morphine 2.5 mg/kg SC, 2-4 hourly

The following NSAIDs may be used pre-operatively for preemptive analgesia and post-operatively
every 12-24 hour. Depending on the procedure may be used as sole analgesic, or as multi-modal
analgesia with buprenorphine.

Carprofen 4-5 mg/kg SC

Meloxicam ~ 0.2 mg/kg PO, IM or SC
Ketoprofen 2 5 mg/kg SC
Ketorolac 5 7.5 mg/kg oral or SC
Flunixin meglumine ~ 2 mg/kg SC

Inhalational Anesthesia of Rats: The use of diethyl ether as an inhalant is discouraged because of
distress to animals, high vapor pressure and flammability. Methoxyflurane (Metofane) is no longer
produced in the US making it expensive to use as an anesthetic. Halothane is also out of production in
the US. Isoflurane or sevoflurane are good substitutes but due to higher vapor pressures and lower
solubilities they are normally administered via a precision vaporizer. A description of the isoflurane
open-drop method from Yale University IACUC can be found at
http://iacuc.yale.edu/procedures/opendrop.html
Local Anesthetics

Local anesthetic/analgesics (lidocaine and bupivacaine) may be combined in one syringe for
rapid onset and long duration analgesia)

Lidocaine hydrochloride: Dilute to 0.5%, do not exceed 2 mg/kg total dose, SC or intraincisional; mix with bupivacaine 1 mg/kg. Use locally before making surgical incision. Mixture
has benefit of shorter onset and longer duration.

Bupivacaine: Dilute to 0.25%, do not exceed 1 mg/kg total dose, SC or intra-incisional; mix
with lidocaine 2 mg/kg. Use locally before making surgical incision. Mixture has benefit of
shorter onset and longer duration