Laboratory Animal Science Center (BUMC)
Rat and Mouse Analgesia
Details required for describing provision of analgesia
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Name of agent | Generic (not brand) name of drug |
| Agent dosage | In mg/kg based on body weight of animal |
| Route of agent administration | IP, SC, PO are recommended for rodents; IM is not advisable |
| Frequency of agent administration | e.g., q8h = every 8 hours |
| Duration of analgesic therapy | e.g., "... at the completion of surgery and for 3 days following" |
Analgesic agent options
For significant pain (e.g., following surgery or major procedures):
| Drug | Rat Dosage | Mice Dosage |
|---|---|---|
| Buprenorphine (Buprenex®) | 0.01–0.05 | 0.1-0.5 mg/kg SC q8-12h |
| Butorphanol (Torbutrol®, Torbugesic®) | 0.05-2 | 1-5 mg/kg SC q4h |
| Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran®) | 1-2 mg/kg SC q8-12h | Same |
| Meperidine (Demerol®) | 10-20 | 20-40 mg/kg SC q2-3h |
| Morphine (Duramorph®) | 5-10 | 10 mg/kg SC q2-4h |
Alternatives to the analgesic agents listed above may be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The duration and invasiveness of the proposed surgical procedure need to be considered in the selection of an analgesic regimen for any animal.
| IV | = | intravenous |
| IM | = | intramuscular |
| IP | = | intraperitoneal |
| PO | = | per os (oral) |
| SC | = | subcutaneous |
Please contact an LASC veterinarian if you need assistance choosing an analgesic regimen for your study.
