Laboratory Animal Science Center (BUMC)

Recommended Doses For Anesthesia For Mice

The following are recommended doses for anesthesia for mice. For a general explanation of how different anesthetic agents work (and whether they might be expected to interfere with your research), refer to Mechanisms of Anesthesia and Analgesia or consult with a LASC veterinarian.

Inhalant anesthetic agents. For your safety, all volatile agents must be used only with an active exhaust flow (chemical fume hood or gas scavenging system) to remove vapors from the room and discharge them to the outdoors. The use of ether in research animals is prohibited.

Isoflurane (Forane®, AErrane®)

  • volatile agent
  • requires active exhaust system
  • administer via precision vaporizer
  • 3-4% for induction, 1.5-2.5% for maintenance
  • purchase from Animal Facility or Schein, Inc., ph. 800-872-4346

Halothane (Fluothane®)

  • volatile agent;
  • requires active exhaust system
  • administer via precision vaporizer
  • 2-4% for induction, 0.9-1.5% for maintenance
  • purchase from Animal Facility or Schein, Inc., ph. 800-872-4346

Carbon Dioxide:Oxygen Mixture

  • for short duration (<5 min.) minor or terminal procedures only—induction in approx. 1 minute, rapid recovery upon removal from gas mixture
  • recommended ratios vary from CO2:O2 of 50:50 to 80:20—if CO2 is too low, induction is slow or incomplete; if CO2 is too high, pain and distress occurs on inhalation. Do not exceed 80%.
  • purchase pre-mixed in gas cylinder

Mouse Parenteral anesthetic agents

  • pentobarbital 40-85 mg/kg IP;
  • xylazine 5-10 mg/kg IP plus ketamine 80-100 mg/kg IP;
  • pentobarbital 30 mg/kg IP plus ketamine 30 mg/kg IP.
  • tribromoethanol (Avertin240 mg/kg IP (= 1.25% solution dosed at 0.2 ml/10 g IP)
  • recommended for nonsurvival procedures;

Rat Parenteral anesthetic agents

  • pentobarbital 40-85 mg/kg IP;
  • xylazine 5-10 mg/kg IP plus ketamine 50-80 mg/kg IP;

Alternatives to the anesthetic and euthanasia agents listed above may be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee on the basis of scientific justification provided by the investigator. The duration and invasiveness of the proposed surgical procedure need to be considered in the selection of an anesthetic regimen for any animal. Additional information on animal anesthesia is available from the LASC office;call 638-4086. The generic name, dose (mg/kg), route, and frequency of administration of any agent(s) that will be used for animals must be specified in the protocol that is reviewed by the Committee