Chapter Twenty-Nine

1. Chapter Twenty-Nine Miscellaneous Laboratory Animals Part 1

2. ALAT Presentations Study Tips • If viewing this in PowerPoint, use the icon to run the show (bottom left of screen). • Mac users go to “Slide Show > View Show” in menu bar • Click on the Audio icon: when it appears on the left of the slide to hear the narration. • From “File > Print” in the menu bar, choose “notes pages”, “slides 3 per page” or “outline view” for taking notes as you listen and watch the presentation. • Start your own notebook with a 3 ring binder, for later study!

3. Miscellaneous Laboratory Animals • This chapter is devoted to a brief outline of some of the less commonly seen animals in a research facility. • Horses and cattle, for example, are most often found in agricultural research programs, rather than a typical laboratory. • The remainder of the species listed each have specific research uses, and therefore the type of research being conducted at a facility will determine whether or not these species are used.

4. Horses • Categorized as ponies, light horses, draft horses • Most often source of blood for production of specific serums, antiserums & antitoxins • Handling and Restraint: • cannot be restrained by force alone • taught to submit to handling and voice control • approach & handle in a confident, calm manner, while speaking softly • unable to see objects directly in front of them • approach from a 45 degree angle off either shoulder • Physical contact to gain animal’s confidence & give handler warning of sudden movements

5. (Image) Blood Sampling

6. Horses II • Led near a wall, keep safely to horse’s shoulder w/ a short lead & elbow against side of neck • Backing into a corner can prevent backing away • Handler on same side as person doing manipulation, prevents horse turning & kicking • Tie rope long & high enough to prevent horse from getting leg over rope or head under it • Use quick release snaps or knots • 1 person never does manipulations on tied horse • Picking up 1 front leg discourages it from moving • horse is reluctant or unable to simultaneously lift another foot

7. Horse Behavior • Establish social hierarchy, w/ an older mare dominating the group, except in breeding season • “Mood” can be detected by head carriage, ear position & look in eyes • Pawing, continuous body movement, head tossing, a wild or frightened look in the eyes, ears laid back against the head or attempts to bite - signals of danger • Nonaggressive but frighten easily • will flee perceived danger before being aggressive • In home environment they appear relaxed, often resting one hind leg • Horses usually doze or sleep standing up

8. Horse Husbandry & Diet • Install watering devices & feed containers at a comfortably high level to prevent fouling • Avoid sharp corners & protrusions on containers • Rail or woven wire fences should be 4.5 ft high • In stalls, provide contact bedding of straw • Frequent removal of soiled bedding essential • Non-ruminant grazing animals - digestive system is adapted to frequent small feedings • Amount of food depends on horse’s size, age, exercise level, & laboratory use • Concentrated feed necessary in severe weather

9. Cattle • Cud-chewing animals • Beef & dairy cattle are primary types in U.S. • Beef cattle for rapid growth and meat production • Dairy cattle for high milk production • Purebred beef breeds = Angus, Brahman, Charolais, Hereford, Shorthorn • Dairy breeds = Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn • Used in bovine health, toxicology & cardiovascular studies, development of artificial hearts & cardiac assist devices • Dairy cows used in milk radioactivity uptake studies

10. (Image) Feeding Calf

11. Cattle Handling & Restraint • Flanking - grasp from side w/ 1 hand under neck • W/ other hand reach over back, grasp flank fold • or 1 rear & 1 front leg grasped • or 1 front leg & flank fold • Lift & pull calf up off feet, let slide down legs • then restrain on ground w/ knee on neck & upper front leg bent back • Squeeze chute w/ head & tail gate - Individual restraint requiring nearly complete immobilization • Side panels & bars movable, allows side access • For larger animals, squeeze chutes, must be available & properly used

12. Cattle Behavior • Quiet & tend to follow a leader • Separation from group can be stressful • When handled frequently & gently most cattle become tractable & trustful of handlers • Strong & excitable, capable of inflicting injuries • Handle w/ quiet patience & confidence, but w/ respect for their size & power • Cattle spend much of their time ruminating

13. Cattle Husbandry & Diet • Housing similar to sheep and goats • Adapt to automatic watering • dispenses water when lever pressed with muzzle • Pastures - shade in summer & shelter in winter • Not housed on pasture - held in stalls bedded w/ straw or shavings • Can thrive on pasture & roughage • Silage = fermented mix of corn & roughage • Nutritional needs of cattle similar to sheep & goats • Drink 10 - 15 gal water / day; large quantities of fresh water must always be available • Provided w/ mineral block

14. (Image) Feeding Calves

15. Reptiles • Reptiles are ectothermic vertebrates • Distinguished by dry, scaly skin & turtle shell • Class Reptilia = tortoises & turtles, crocodiles & alligators, snakes & lizards • Breathe air by means of lungs at all stages of life • not through gill-breathing tadpole stage as amphibians • All major groups of reptiles contain some endangered species • Used for anatomical & comparative physiological studies • Investigators who order them have some expertise & are valuable info. resource

16. (Images) Reptiles

17. Reptile Handling & Restraint • Move gently, confidently & quickly • A hesitant or jerky approach provokes a bite • If gently handled, most become less aggressive, placid • Can be scooped up by body & moved quickly, no real restraint needed • Head restraint necessary, support reptile’s body & legs • Hook effective tool for lifting a snake to a holding container or clean cage • slid under snake 1/3 - 1/2 down body • Snake is lifted quickly to a meter above surface • Label venomous snakes or lizards “Poisonous” or “Dangerous” in a noticeable color

18. Reptile Handling & Restraint II • Large lizards hand held by grasping behind head w/ 1 hand, pinning front legs against body, pinning hind legs against tail w/ other hand • Small lizards not enclosed by hand for > than a few seconds, since this may injure or kill them • Never handle lizard by tail - potential tail damage • Turtles can be picked up by shell • Snapping turtles & soft-shell turtles have long flexible necks & can inflict severe bite wounds • carry by tail & hold well away from body • Wear heavy protective gloves when carrying them

19. (Images) Alligators

20. Reptile Behavior • Most reptiles used in laboratories are wild-caught • limited capacity to adapt, & success in captivity depends on ability of keeper to create a natural habitat • Best to maintain species separately & keep no. within enclosure to a minimum • Active during day bask in sunlight • Position sunlamp at 1 end of enclosure, 1 meter from water bath • Check cage temp. carefully & frequently

21. (Image) Snake

22. Reptile Behavior II • All reptiles periodically shed their skin • How completely, intact & often is health indicator • Frequent sheds indicate healthy eating & growing • Lizards, turtles & crocodilians shed many pieces • Snakes normally shed in one piece, from nose to tail, which is peeled off like a sock • Sickness or inadequate humidity may cause a reptile to shed in pieces or to be unable to shed • In the latter case, placing a snake in a bowl of warm water aids shedding

23. (Image) Lizards

24. Reptile Husbandry • Deviation from natural environment = stress • Reptile that eats in captivity is not unduly stressed & has successfully adapted • Adaptation may require a few days for some species or several weeks for others • Stressed animals refuse to eat & die of starvation • Goal to establish & maintain feeding behavior • Wide-spectrum fluorescent light recommended

25. Thermal Gradient • Ectothermic = unable to generate heat internally • body temp = surroundings • Turtles & lizards - daily fluctuation in body temp critical aspect of animals’ feeding mechanism • Establish conditions that allow reptiles thermoregulation • thermal gradient = a range of temp within cage • light bulb at one end of cage & an escape from radiation in a shade or hide box at other end • Establish the light system & monitor temps before placing animal in cage

26. (Image) Turtle

27. Reptile Husbandry II • Access to hiding places important for reptiles • Tree limbs, rocks, logs, artificial plants & water bath vessels simulate natural environment, encourages normal hiding behavior • can contribute to diseases associated w/ poor hygiene • wash & autoclave to destroy accumulating organisms • Glass aquariums house reptiles • Securely fasten wire or screen cover • Thermoregulation most important consideration for cage size • Standard for snakes is one square meter per meter of animal length

28. Reptile Husbandry III • Burrowing reptiles require sand or soil • gravel can be substituted or mixed with soil or sand • Floor covering should be 5 to 10 cm deep • Most defecate 2 - 3 days after food intake • Clean cage after defecation but > 2 days after feeding • Disturbances close to feeding (before or after) may cause food refusal or regurgitate recently eaten food • Place water at ground level • Do not assume reptiles drink until observed • Many soak in containers if large enough • Lizards lap water from wetted surfaces • Daily misting is beneficial

29. (Image) Lizard

30. Reptile Diet • Snakes are strictly carnivorous • Prey swallowed whole • Jaw & skull pliable for swallowing large prey • Many, especially snakes, eat only live foods • Some, adapt to feeding on dead or parts of animals • Such foods should be frozen before feeding • Environment & food must be warm enough to stimulate feeding & to ensure proper digestion • When feeding live food, observe, remain motionless until strike occurs, then leave • Do not leave live rodents unattended w/ snakes, they could attack snakes

31. Reptile Diet II • Lizards prone to ailments from inadequate diet & vitamin deficiencies • Prevention - offer a wide variety of food • Supplement 1 - 2x / wk w/ vitamin & mineral powder • powder can be in food or drinking water • Most lizards are principally insectivorous • Optimal high body temp to achieve activity level to capture live prey • Vary type of insects, feed as much as will eat 2 - 3x / wk maintains body weight & normal growth • Smaller, active species require more food, & larger species become obese on a heavier diet

32. (Image) Snake

33. Reptile Diet III • Large lizards usually carnivorous • diet of lean meat, raw eggs, & rodents, chicks & sometimes fish • A few species are herbivorous • Turtles are aquatic, amphibious or terrestrial • Fresh water turtles: • both aquatic & amphibious • carnivorous, not necessarily living food • feed on meat, fish, & small animals • green leafy vegetation, supplemental nutrition • must feed in water deep enough to submerge while swallowing

34. Reptile Diet IV • Calcium essential for species fed boneless meat • Allow turtles >2 hrs to eat before tank cleaned • Some terrestrial turtles herbivorous & some omnivorous • Low fat dog food a substitute for red meat • More nutritionally complete & has better calcium to phosphorus ratio • Force-feeding reptiles only as last measure • mouth is opened w/ a finger or a soft utensil, food is pushed to back of mouth • difficult to sustain a reptile by force-feeding • discourages natural feeding behavior

35. End of Part 1 • Please proceed to ALAT Chapter 29, part 2