Rat Anesthesia and Analgesia Formulary

Rat Anesthesia and Analgesia Formulary Effective Date: November 2015

Note that all of these doses are approximations and must be titrated to the animal’s strain, age, sex, health status, and individual responses. Significant departures from these doses should be discussed with a veterinarian. Doses will also vary depending on what other drugs are being administered concurrently. All doses are listed as milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) unless otherwise noted. Dilution of injectable drugs allows more precise dosing, but may shorten the shelf-life of the compound (UCSF standard: diluted drugs should be labeled, then discarded after 1 month) This is a formulary of the most commonly used anesthetics and analgesics at UCSF; LARC veterinarians can assist with dosage recommendations when less commonly used drugs are required.

Drug name Dose (mg/kg) & Frequency Notes Route Inhalation anesthetics Recommended: 1-3% inhalant to Whenever general Survival surgery usually Isoflurane or Sevoflurane effect (up to 5% anesthesia is requires concurrent for induction). Up required preemptive analgesia to 8% for and use of precision Sevoflurane vaporizer.

Ketamine combinations Recommended: 40 - 80 ketamine As needed May not produce Ketamine-Xylazine + 5-10 xylazine IP surgical-plane (in same syringe) anesthesia for major Best used in conjunction procedures in some with isoflurane strains. May be partially reversed with Atipamezole. If more anesthetic is required, add isoflurane to effect (recommended) or re-dose about one- third initial dose of ketamine alone. Recommended: 40 - 80 Ketamine As needed May not produce Ketamine-Xylazine- + 8 Xylazine + 4 surgical-plane Acepromazine Acepromazine; anesthesia for major (in same syringe) procedures on some Best used in conjunction strains. May be partially with isoflurane reversed with Atipamezole. If more anesthetic is required, add isoflurane to effect (recommended) or re- dose about one-third initial dose of ketamine alone.

Ketamine- 60 - 75 ketamine As needed May not produce Dexmedetomidine + 0.2 – 0.5 surgical-plane dexmedetomidine anesthesia for major Best used in conjunction IP (in same procedures. If redosing, with isoflurane syringe) use ketamine alone. May be partially reversed with Atipamezole. If more anesthetic is required, add isoflurane to effect (recommended) or re- dose about one-third initial dose of ketamine alone.

Reversal agents Atipamezole 0.1 - 1.0 Any time subcutaneous or dexmedetomidine or IP xylazine has been used

Other injectable anesthetics Sodium pentobarbital 30 – 60 IP Recommended for Consider supplemental terminal/acute analgesia (opioid or procedures only, NSAID) for invasive with booster doses procedures. as needed Pharmaceutical-grade sodium pentobarbital is currently unavailable [ LINK to IACUC pentobarb recommendation]

Opioid analgesia Recommended: 0.01 - 0.05 SC or For pain Use once at time of Buprenorphine IP management after surgery (before surgery surgeries. if using isoflurane; after Best if administered surgery if using 30 – 60 minutes ketamine combination). before the surgery, especially with WARNING: May induce isoflurane. pica (abnormal Re-dose in 4 – 8 consumption of bedding hours if used without or other inappropriate NSAID. material) in rats. When re-dosing is Contact veterinary staff necessary after the if this is noted. second dose, administer every 8 – 12 hours.

If using NSAID, second dose of buprenorphine may not be necessary depending on the procedure.

Sustained-Release 1.2 mg/kg SC Used once at time of Availability is limited by Buprenorphine only surgery for very requirement for special invasive surgeries veterinary prescription. (thoracotomy; Not to be used IP. orthopedics) WARNING: May induce pica (abnormal consumption of bedding or other inappropriate material) in rats. Contact veterinary staff if this is noted. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesia (NSAID) Recommended: 5 SC Used pre-operatively Depending on the Carprofen for preemptive procedure, may be used analgesia, with a as sole analgesic, or as second dose the multi-modal analgesia next day and then with buprenorphine. every 24 hour if needed Recommended: 2 PO or SC Used pre-operatively Depending on the Meloxicam for preemptive procedure, may be used analgesia, with a as sole analgesic, or as second dose the multi-modal analgesia next day and then with buprenorphine. every 24 hour if needed Other NSAIDs: 2 – 5 SC Used pre-operatively Depending on the Ketoprofen, Flunixin for preemptive procedure, may be used analgesia and post- as sole analgesic, or as operatively every multi-modal analgesia 12-24 hour with buprenorphine.

Local anesthetic/analgesics Recommended: Dilute to 0.25%, Use locally before Slower onset than Bupivacaine do not exceed 8 making surgical lidocaine but longer (~ mg/kg total dose, incision 4-8 hour) duration of SC or intra- action incisional Lidocaine hydrochloride Dilute to 0.5%, do Use locally before Faster onset than not exceed 7 making surgical bupivicaine but short (<1 mg/kg total dose, incision hour) duration of action SC or intra- incisional