TITLE: UC Davis - Husbandry Care for Mice
AUTHORS: K.C. Kent Lloyd

[DESCRIPTION]
<div class = "text-blocks"><div class = "text-block"><span style = "font-weight:bold;">Summary: </span></div><div class = "text-block">The purpose of this policy is to outline the minimum standards of care for rodents based on the Animal Welfare Act, the Public Health Service Policy, and the ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Specific procedures for this program can also be located in MBPVIV-20-105 Daily Obervations/Action and MBPVIV-31-101 Changing Mouse Cages. These procedures are to be followed by trained staff responsible for providing husbandry care for the mouse colony at MBP.</div></div>

[STEPS]
?. [Daily Tasks]
Daily Tasks – Refer to MBPVIV-20-105 Daily Observations/Action for further details Note: daily tasks must be performed every day 365 days a year 7 days a week including weekends and holidays and should be completed with appropriate PPE in place (minimum of laboratory coat and gloves)1.1 Provide nutritionally adequate ad libitum feed, unless approved otherwise in animal care and use Protocol. Food must be uncontaminated, fresh and topped off as needed. 1.2 Rodent chow must be used within 6 months of the milling date (Guide, pg. 39) unless manufacturer guidelines document a shorter or longer expiration date. 1.3 Feed with Vitamin C added must be used within 3 months of milling date unless food is microencapsulated for Vitamin C which may extend the shelf life to 6 months. 1.4 Provide sufficient potable water (AWA section 3.55). 1.5 Observe each animal and check for health concerns. 1.6 Record sick or dead animals in accordance with the Vivarium Procedure for reporting sick or dead animals, using the Veterinary Health Check Request. Refer to MBPVIV-40- 102 Sick, Injured or Dead Mice. 1.7 Change heavily soiled or flooded cages when discovered. 1.8 Keep room clean and organized as needed. 1.9 Record minimum and maximum temperatures, (ideal room temperature range for rodents= 64‐79⁰ F Guide, pg. 32). 1.10 Check the cage card for pertinent information daily; update as needed. 1.11Record completion of daily room tasks, initial and date on the Animal Room Monitoring  Sheet. Record room temperature (see 4.9), number of animals, sick animals, dead animals, and animal care tasks completed.
?. [Weekly Procedure]
Weekly Tasks (see MBPVIV-31-101 for cage changing procedures)2.1 Top off food. 2.2 Provide clean water/bottles at least with every cage change. 2.3 Wipe down racks. 2.4 Check cages.
?. [BiweeklyProcedure]
Biweekly Tasks Note: not to exceed 14 days 3.1 Change cages. 3.2 Clean and/or change environmental enrichment.
?. [Monthly Procedure]
Monthly TasksNote: At least once every 30 days4.1 Hood filters cleaned/changed as needed.
?. 1 Provide nutritionally adequate ad libitum feed, unless approved otherwise in animal care and use Protocol. Food must be uncontaminated, fresh and topped off as needed.
?. [As Needed Procedure:]
5.1 Disinfect waste barrels and lids. 5.2 Change lids, feeders and duplex dividers.
?. [Quarterly Procedure:]
Quarterly TasksNote: At least once every 180 days 6.1 Disinfect the animal room (includes walls, floors and ceilings).  6.2 Disinfect feed barrels and lids, replaced feed liner. 6.3 Submit sentinels.
?. [General Procedure:]
7.1 Facilities       7.1.1 Refer to Physical Plant and Facilities Maintenance policy and MBPVIV-20-108 Facility Management 2nd Street Vivarium.       7.1.2 Temperature alarms must be installed in animal rooms housing USDA covered species.      7.1.3 Exceptions to this policy must be on file with the IACUC.       7.1.4 Minimum of 10‐15 fresh room air exchanges (Guide, pg. 32).       7.1.5 “Floors should be moisture‐resistant, nonabsorbent, impact‐resistant, and relatively smooth…”(Guide, pg. 74).7.2 Caging        7.2.1 Recommended floor space per rodent (see chart below Guide, pg. 27).        7.2.2 All animals at MBP are to be housed no more than 5 adult mice per cage.                   7.2.2.1 As approved in our protocol, superovulated mice may be housed 8-10 per cage.        7.2.3 Cages must be in good condition and escape‐proof.        7.2.4 Cages with cracks which may cause injury to the animals must be discarded.        7.2.5 For duplex housed mice, a maximum of 2 animals per side is allowed.7.3 Identification       7.3.1 Rodents can be individually identified in addition to having an appropriately labeled cage card (Refer to Identification of Animals policy).       7.3.2 Appropriate identification for mice includes ear tag, ear notch, tail/toe tattoo, microchip, toe clipping. 7.4 Environmental Enrichment        7.4.1 Refer to Environmental Enrichment policy.        7.4.2 Examples of rodent enrichments that promote species‐typical behaviors include pair or group housing,  shelters (tubes, tunnels, igloos, and houses), nesting materials, gnawing and foraging materials, and running wheels or other structures to increase locomotion.        7.4.3 Rodents that are singly housed must be provided with another form of enrichment.        7.4.4 Devices used for environmental enrichment must be easily sanitized or disposed of when cages are changed.       7.4.5 Devices must be checked regularly for wear and discarded if they pose a safety hazard. 7.5 Euthanasia Refer to MBPVIV-40-101 Rodent Euthanasia and MBPVIV-60-106 Carbon Dioxide Compressed Gas Cylinder.7.6 Task Summary