Pre-operative care
Rats do not vomit, so there is no need to withhold food or water before surgery. Both analgesics and antibiotics work more effectively if given prophylactically before the start of surgery. Advice from your institution’s veterinarian should be sought about specific drugs (and doses), but examples include the antibiotic Baytril (enrofloxacin) and analgesics Temgesic (buprenorphine) or Rimadyl (carprofen). Subcutaneous or intramuscular injections at the time of induction of anesthesia are reported as a convenient method of administration. All animals should be kept warm during anesthesia and recovery. Using a heating pad that has been turned on and warmed in preparation for the start of surgery will help maintain the rat’s body temperature and aid recovery.
Post-operative care
A heating pad to maintain body temperature during surgery and recovery is recommended. If an infrared lamp is used, animals should be able to move to a covered area. A clean cage should be provided with fresh litter.
Post-operative animals may have difficulty reaching drinking tubes or feed. Thus, a small amount of food should be placed on the floor of the cage, and drinking bottles with long sipper tubes should be provided, or even a small water container within the cage. House animals separately for the post-operative recovery period to avoid wounds being chewed by other rats and to allow closer monitoring.
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