Films and slide shows of procedures on laboratory animals

This page contains links to older films and slide shows produced at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, and links to newer resources produced by international colleagues. They illustrate basic procedures (handling, injection techniques and blood sampling) on common laboratory animal species. Please note that refinements of these techniques are continuously being developed (see under other resources on this page).

Some of the animals were sedated before they were filmed. This was done purely to make it easier to demonstrate the various stages of each technique.

Please note: quality assurance of handling and procedures is just one part of the process of planning animal studies. For more information and resources on planning animal research and testing, please see the PREPARE guidelines. In particular, the section on Experimental Procedures contains links to additional resources for refinement of the techniques mentioned below.

Hen:
Handling and blood sampling; s.c. injection and cardiac puncture

Mink:
i.v. injection
Blood sampling from the saphenous vein

Mouse:
Blood sampling from the saphenous vein
Immobilisation and blood sampling from the saphenous vein (NB older method of handling); i.p. injection; s.c. injection and oral gavage
Links to other resources
Housing, handling and training mice at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) - includes refinement of oral gavaging, saphenous venepuncture of mice and blood sampling from the tail of mice and rats (see also their film Refinement work at RISE)
Intravenous injections
Refinement of the scruffing technique
Refinement of mouse handling - video clips (NC3Rs webpage)
Refinement of mouse handling (NA3RsC webpage)
Handling techniques to reduce stress in mice (Marcotte et al., 2021; JOVE video)
Mouse handling posters (NC3Rs), A2 size, for display in animal facilities (English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish & Greek)
Webinar: Mouse handling made easy - Reducing anxiety in mice and their handlers
Advice on rodent housing from NA3RsC
Oral gavage training (Instech)
Automated blood sampling (Instech)
Videos of anaesthesia, blood pressure measurements, oximetry and warming of rodents, by Kent Scientific
Online Refined Mouse Handling Course (3RsC & NC3Rs)

Pig:
Blood sampling techniques (Framstad et al.)
Immobilisation and blood sampling
Links to other resources:
Pig blood sampling (NC3Rs)
Pig handling and housing (NC3Rs)
O'Malley et al. (2022): Refining restraint techniques for research pigs through habituation
The Panepinto Sling for minipigs and other animals up to 150 kg
Handling, Dosing and Training of the Göttingen Minipig
Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs Science Base
Panepinto (2020): Prioritizing humane minimum-stress methods in swine facility and protocol design

Rabbit:
Handling, lifting and immobilisation; blood sampling from the central ear artery; i.v. injection; s.c. injection and terminal bleeding (cardiac puncture)
Links to other resources:
Advice on rabbit handling and housing from NA3RsC
Advice on social housing of rabbits from the University of Michigan 

Rat:
Handling, lifting and immobilisation; how to wrap up a rat; s.c. and i.p. injections; blood sampling from the saphenous vein
Links to other resources:
Refinement of the scruffing technique
Refinement of the method of handling mice for blood sampling from the saphenous vein (relevant for rats as well)
Anatomy of the rat and Anatomía de la rata produced by the University of Alcalá, Madrid
Investigation of a Mammal (Rat): a dissection film
Rat tickling (Course with certificate) and more background information
Housing, handling and training rats at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) (see also their film Refinement work at RISE)
Using Clicker Training and Social Observation to Teach Rats to Voluntarily Change Cages
Oral gavage training (Instech)
Advice on rodent housing from NA3RsC
Playpen access improves rat welfare

Guidance on necropsies of laboratory animals in the PREPARE guidelines

General resources

• More guidance on blood sampling
• The Blood Sampling site produced by the National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs), UK contains many resources and literature references.

• Procedures With Care:

  • Administration of Substances - A series of tutorials to assist research workers develop their skills in the administration of substances to laboratory animals.

  • Aseptic Technique in Rodent Surgery - A comprehensive guide to help research workers apply best practice in aseptic surgical techniques in laboratory rodents.

• Novo Nordisk have produced videos showing methods of housing mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs (indoors and outdoors) and pigs (indoors and outdoors).
• Guidelines for a range of procedures can be found in the 3R Guide database by using the search engine.