Animal Preparation

Protect the eyes

The eyes of animals under general anesthesia remain open and the corneal surface will dry out if not protected. Ophthalmic ointment should be placed in the eyes of anesthetized animals to prevent corneal drying.

Fur Removal

Aseptic surgical preparation includes removal of the hair surrounding the incision site by clipping, plucking or depilatories (e.g., Nair). This must take place in an area separate from the location of surgery. Note: Since depilatories can irritate the skin they should be applied for a short period of time and then thoroughly rinsed from the skin.

Protect the patient from hypothermia

Rodents lose body heat quickly during anesthesia. For all procedures, insulate the rodent from underlying cold surfaces. For procedures that are expected to last more than 5 to 10 minutes, the animal should be placed on a warm surface. Hot-cold packs that may be microwaved or heated in a water bath can protect the animal from hypothermia during and after surgery. Care should be exercised to insure that the packs do not become too hot during warming. Electric heating pads are not recommended due to variations in surface temperature that may cause burns or overheating of animals.

Secure the patient

It is often helpful to secure the patient in order to keep it in position during the surgical procedure. Masking tape works well to keep a rodent in place and is easy to remove at the end of the procedure. Be sure the tape does not hinder the animal's breathing or your observation of respiration rate and anesthestic depth.

Scrub the surgical site

The incision site should be cleaned with a non-irritating, germicidal soap such as povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine scrub. A sterile cotton swab can be used to scrub small rodents. The scrub should start in the center of the surgical area and gradually work outward in concentric circles around the incision site.

The site should be rinsed with sterile water or 70% alcohol following the same pattern. Repeat the scrub and rinse a second time. It is critical that rodents are not soaked with water or alcohol, which can lead to hypothermia.

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