The purpose of this document is to outline procedures for aseptic surgery and post-operative care of rodents. The U.S. Public Health Service Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states that survival surgery on rodents should be performed in facilities intended for that purpose, using sterile instruments, surgical gloves, and aseptic procedures to prevent clinical infections.
Aseptic technique is used to reduce microbial contamination to the lowest possible practical level.
Judicious use of anesthetic and analgesic agents to minimize any pain associated with the experimental procedure is scientifically and ethically imperative. All animals should be sufficiently anesthetized prior to surgery such that they are completely unconscious and show no reaction to pain eliciting procedures. For most rodents, a lack of response to toe pinching is indicative of surgical anesthesia. Refer to the Center for Comparative Medicine guidelines for anesthesia for appropriate anesthetic agents and dosages. All animals are euthanized before recovery from anesthesia.