Animal Holding Rooms - General Information

Infection Control

• Do not enter animal holding rooms other than where your animals are housed.
• Do not handle other investigators animals.
• Do not eat or drink in any area other than offices or the lunch room.
• Remove gloves before exiting animal holding rooms
• Wash hands before leaving animal holding rooms.

Room Order

• Rabbits
• Mice
• Rats
• Guinea Pigs
• The order for other animals may vary.  Please check with the Manager or Lead-Hand.

Door / Wall Signs

Follow signs and instructions posted on doors of animal holding rooms (entry restrictions, procedures to follow etc.)

Green signs posted on the wall outside animal holding rooms indicate which Animal Care staff member is responsible for the room, acceptable temperature and humidity ranges for the particular species, cleaning schedule, and a researcher/animal/protocol listing per room.

Room Light / Temperature

Please DO NOT adjust temperature or light cycles. Animal rooms are on automatic timers.  The standard light cycle is 12 hours of light and 12 hours dark corresponding to the natural cycle.  Normal temperature ranges can be found on the CCAC website.

Light cycles and room temperature are set at the standard for the species unless the investigator requests otherwise.  If the request is outside of the normal range for the animal, the investigator will be asked to justify the choice based on scientific methodology and have this approved by the Animal Use Subcommittee.  Such requests usually require the use of a dedicated housing room.  If this is the case, there is an additional charge. 

Please see ACVS Manager if entering animal rooms before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m.  Also please notify the Manager or Lead Hand if you identify any problems.

Supplies and Storage in Rooms

• bucket, mop, broom, dust pan, disinfectant
• two garbage pails: one for bedding waste the other all other waste
• table top disinfectant, hand soap and paper towels
• record keeping supplies
• other supplies as required

Record Keeping

Rodent Weaning

Rodent Cage Density

Rodent Escapes

Before You Leave a Room

Feed and Bedding

Therapeutic diets or specially formulated research diets must be approved for use by the Animal Use Subcommittee.  ACVS can arrange to have drugs or other constituents incorporated into pelleted  or powdered feed.  There is a minimum amount that can be milled despite what is required for the project.  All related costs are charged to the investigator.

Sick Animal Reports

Seen by Technician

If an animal requires veterinary attention just complete a 'Sick Animal Report' that can be found in the animal holding room.  Please be sure that the cage or pen is easy to identify.  Place the form in the holder of the Veterinary Technicians office door.  A technician will check the animal and put an orange sticker on the cage card indicating that the animal has been checked.  A note will be put in the animal care binder or on the animals chart.  Depending on the condition a veterinarian may also check the animal.  In this case a purple sticker will also be put on the cage card.  You will contacted with the findings and suggestions for treatment.

If an animal care technician has submitted a 'Sick Animal Report' on one of your animals, the presence of the orange sticker will let you know that a problem has been identified and reported.

In case of emergency contact the technicians directly or call the
Veterinary Emergency Number  850-2456
 

Seen by Veterinarian

Transporting Animals

• Animals must always be in closed, covered units when being transported. 
• When carrying a cage always keep it level.
• When transporting rodent cages invert the water bottle so that water does not flood into the cage.  Once you reach your destination remember to turn the water bottle around so that the animals can access the water.

Housing Options

Conventional

The conventional facility does not have the same disease free status of the exclusion facilities.  Conditions found in the conventional facility do not cause overt disease in the animals, however, they may confound certain types of research data.  Contact a veterinarian or the facility manager for specific information on the most recent surveillance testing.

Only minor procedures may be performed in the animal room.  To reserve a procedure room you may phone ext. 86746 or email .

Conventional Housing is recommended where:

• there is no real or potential danger to humans or other animals
• the animals are immune competent
• the health status within the conventional facility will not compromise research results.

Exclusion

Exclusion Housing is recommended where

• animals are immune compromised and require extra protection
• strains are uncommon and valuable.

Inclusion

Animals may be housed in an inclusion facility.

• as a research or Occupational Health and Safety requirement
• as a requirement of bringing admitting animals purchased from a non-approved supplier.

Entry requirements for an inclusion facility include all of those mentioned for the conventional facility.  In addition you will be asked to read all applicable SOP's and attend a hands-on training session with the animal care worker responsible for the area.

Last updated on Wednesday, 30 March 2005