FAQs for Animal Researchers

Have questions about working with animals? So do other researchers, both new and established! Below you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions from our BU research community. General Questions Animal Care & Use   Obtaining Animals       Breeding Rodents Animal Housing Reports and Invoices In Case of Emergency Additional Resources Explore […]

Osmotic Pumps in Mice and Rats

BU IACUC Approved April 2011, Revised January 28, 2014, Revised July 2019, Revised April 2022, Approved April 1, 2025 Osmotic pumps are miniature infusion pumps for the continuous dosing of laboratory animals. These minipumps provide researchers with a method for controlled and continuous agent delivery in vivo. Osmotic pumps can be used for systemic administration […]

Body Condition Scoring for Mice

BU IACUC Approved October 2008, Reviewed January 2014, Reviewed June 2019, Reviewed April 2022, Approved April 1, 2025 Scoring the body condition of rodents is a noninvasive method for assessing health and establishing endpoints for adults where body weight is not a viable monitoring tool, such as with tumor models, ascites production, pregnancy, or for […]

Getting Started in Animal Care and Research

Beginning a research project and working with animals? Joining an active study? Everything you need to know to get started is here. Read on for a step-by-step process that will support an efficient start to your research and ensure humane, safe and fully-compliant animal care. Quick Links Getting Clearance 1. Complete and Submit the Health […]

Anesthesia and Analgesia Recommendations

Federal guidelines, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) and the Public Health Service Research Extension Act and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (The Guide), require that procedures involving animals be conducted in a manner that avoids or minimizes discomfort, pain or distress. The Guide states: “The proper use of anesthetics, analgesics, […]

Per Diem Animal Housing Rates

To recover a portion of the money spent on animal care, the BU Animal Science Center (ASC) charges per diem rates. Per diem rates are established by the University and published on an annual basis. Per diems will be charged for each day or fraction of a day that a cage or animal is within […]

Carbon Dioxide Euthanasia for Rats and Mice (BU ASC Guidelines)

Updated 6/18/2025. “Euthanasia” is a term meaning “good death.” The goal of euthanasia is to provide a rapid, painless, stress-free death. Carbon dioxide (CO2) overdose causes rapid unconsciousness followed by death. The CO₂ flow rate should displace 30% to 70% of the cage volume per minute. Exposure to CO2 without removing animals from their home […]

Surgery: Rodent

BU IACUC Approved October 2000; Revision 1 January 2011, Revision 2 September 2011, Revision 3 January 2014, Revision 4 February 2018, Revision 5 March 2021, Revision 1 August 2023 Purpose To ensure that rodent survival surgeries are completed using the basic rules of asepsis, gentle tissue handling, anesthetic maintenance, and proper post-operative care. To ensure […]

M. Mazur

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M. (Michelle) Mazur is a multidisciplinary lab animal veterinarian who completed her veterinary degree at Kansas State University in 2013. She spent three years in a BSL-3 lab studying immunopathobiology and virology in collaboration with the Australian Animal Health Laboratory of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Geelong, Victoria. In 2016, Dr. M […]

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