AFRMA Rat & Mouse Links - Veterinarian/Research & Medical Sites

AFRMA Rat & Mouse Links - Veterinarian/Research & Medical

Veterinarian/Research & Medical Sites

365 Pet Insurance - Pet Insurance that includes rats and other exotics
United Pet Care - Pet insurance alternative, pet health care savings program at a flat monthly fee for their members
VPI/Nationwide - Veterinary Pet Insurance - The Nation’s #1 Pet Medical Insurance Plan. Includes mice and rats in their plans.

Lab Cages and Equipment:

Allentown Inc. - Cages and equipment for animal care
Alternative Design - Lab animal housing solutions
Ancare - Systems and supplies for animal care (read reviews on the Bottle House, Nestlets Bedding, and Nestlets for nesting)
Critter-Cages.com - Lab cages for rodents
Innovive, Inc. - Disposable lab cages
Labex of MA - Used lab cages at reasonable prices (formerly Lab4Less)
Lab Products - Laboratory animal housing and care equipment
Lenderking - Caging products
Lithgow Laboratory Services - Animal products for the research industry
Suburban Surgical - Stainless steel equipment and cages
Tecniplast USA - Equipment and cages from Italy (read reviews on the Tecniplast Mouse House™ and lab cages)
Thoren Caging Systems - Cages and equipment for animal care
Also, look for used lab cages and equipment on eBay

Genetics:

Color Genes - Mouse coat color genes from The International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies (IFPCS).
The Color Loci of Mice – A Genetic Century - by Dorothy C. Bennett and M. Lynn Lamoreux. PIGMENT CELL RES 16: 333–344. 2003. (PDF)
The Jackson Laboratory JAX - A world leader in the genetics revolution.

The Coat Colors of Mice by Willys K. Silvers
Mouse Genetics, Concepts and Applications by Lee M. Silver
Biology of the Laboratory Mouse Dr. Earl L. Green, editor, (by the staff of the Jackson Laboratory).
Origins of Inbred Mice Edited by Herbert C. Morse III.
The Jackson Laboratory Handbook on Genetically Standardized Mice - Sixth Edition, 2009 (PDF)

Lick Your Rats - epigenetics; nurtured rats calmer as adults, from University of Utah Health Sciences
Mouse Genome Informatics (MGI) - Data on the genetics, genomics, and biology of the laboratory mouse.
Mouse Genome Project
NIH Rat Genomics and Genetics
Rat Genome Database
Rat Genome Project

Temperament/Tameness

“Genetic architecture of tameness in a rat model of animal domestication” from Genetics, 2009 Jun;182(2):541-54. (abstract) or full PDF version.
“The non-agouti mutation in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) selected for behavior” from Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2013, 91(3): 111-117.
Nice Rats, Nasty Rats: Maybe It’s All in the Genes by Nicholas Wade, Published: July 25, 2006, The New York Times
Aggression in Norway rats from the Rat Behavior and Biology page
Coat color, temperament and domestication of Norway rats and deermice from the Rat Behavior and Biology page
Temper & Tameness In Rats by Eva Johansson, 26th of February 2004
Rat Aggression Scale - Social Behavior In The Rat by Anders Starmark & Eva Johansson, 8 March, 2008.
Rat temperament and behavior - problems by Eva Johansson 8 March, 2008

Places that do Genetic Testing:

Charles River Laboratories - Genetic Testing Services
IDEXX BioResearch (University of Missouri, Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (IDEXX RADIL)) - Animal Health Monitoring, Serology Services, Real-Time PCR Profiles (testing for bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites), Genetic Services
Taconic - Genotyping and Genetic Analysis state-of-the-art molecular characterization assays

Health:
Places to check for Veterinarians:

Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV)
Critters USA magazine PDF or in the Current Critters USA print magazine “Directory of Veterinarians”
The Rat Fan Club Midwest and Eastern U.S. and Western U.S. and other countries
Recommended Vets for Arizona on the Any Rat Rescue site
Exotic Vets for the East Coast (CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT) on the Mainely Rat Rescue site
- Financial Assistance For Veterinary Care
- Financial assistance for veterinary care costs - on the AVMA page
- Need Emergency Help With Vet Bills? 15 Sources of Relief - on the GoFundMe site
- Need Help Paying for Veterinary Care; archive page - on the RatChatter page

Diagnostic Laboratories:

Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) - Providing world-class pathology expertise in a cost effective manner. Board certified pathologists with expertise in rats, mice, and other pocket pets. Located in California.
California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory Diagnostic Services - from UC Davis Veterinary Medicine with locations in Davis, Turlock, Tulare, and San Bernardino.

Diagnostic Submissions
Lab Tests and Fees including necropsy

Charles River Laboratories - Health Monitoring & Diagnostic Services
IDEXX BioResearch - University of Missouri (was Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory RADIL), The Radil Advantage Program
Research Associates Laboratory (RAL) - providing state of the art molecular diagnostics since 1992, located in Allen, TX. Does Small Mammal testing using swabs or blood
Sound Diagnostics LLC, a private veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Woodinville, Washington, that develops and provides assays for the detection of infectious agents in small mammals.

University Animal Care - from the University of Arizona. Does pathology and diagnostics.
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory - from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Provides diagnostic medical testing for infectious agents, toxins, and other causes of disease
Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics, Inc. - molecular-based diagnostics for veterinary medicine, mostly avian but does some ferret and small mammal testing, located in Milford, OH
Zoologix - molecular diagnostic testing for animals including rodents and rabbits, located in Chatsworth, CA

Animal Care Courses - Animal care online courses from Open Colleges in Australia
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) - has a list of Accredited Veterinary Colleges around the world

Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (ADL) - Providing world-class pathology expertise in a cost effective manner. Board certified pathologists with expertise in rats, mice, and other pocket pets. Located in California.
Bio-Serv - Rodent medicated diets and tablets, etc.
California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory Diagnostic Services - from UCDavis Veterinary Medicine with locations in Davis, Turlock, Tulare, and San Bernardino.

Diagnostic Submissions
Lab Tests and Fees including necropsy

Charles River Laboratories

Health Monitoring & Diagnostic Services
Infectious Agent Information - Technical sheets for viruses, bacteria/fungi, and parasites prevalent today and historically

Diseases A-Z: Exotic from Pet MD - has several health articles for rats
Diseases of Laboratory Rodents - archived page from the University of Arizona/University Animal Care. Also, does pathology and diagnostics
Diseases of Research Animals (DORA) - from University of Missouri, Comparative Medicine Program and IDEXX-BioResearch with rat and mouse pages
First Aid for Small Furries - Critical Care of Rats and other small animals in the Home.
Guide to Diseases Spread by Animals by Wildlife Removal
Mouse and Rat Anesthesia and Analgesia - from Current Protocols, Neuroscience section, Sang Su Oh, Heather L. Narver, 2024
The Heartland Institute - Naturally occurring mutagens and carcinogens found in foods and beverages.

IDEXX BioResearch - University of Missouri (was Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory RADIL)

The Radil Advantage Program
Mouse Diseases (archived version)
Rat Diseases (archived version)

The Merck Veterinary Manual - Has several articles on pet rats and pet mice, and rat and mouse health issues.
Plants Toxic to Animals - from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Veterinary Medicine Library (archived page)
Some food toxic for pets - by Natália Kovalkovicová, Irena Šutiaková, Juraj Pistl, and Václav Šutiak, Interdiscip Toxicol. 2009 Sep; 2(3): 169–176.
Sound Diagnostics LLC, a private veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Woodinville, Washington, that develops and provides assays for the detection of infectious agents in small mammals.

The Scientist - Man-made and natural carcinogens—putting the risks in perspective. Originally published in Veterinary and Human Toxicology, 31 (6) p.589-590, 1989.
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory - from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Provides diagnostic medical testing for infectious agents, toxins, and other causes of disease.
Zoonotic Diseases - diseases and infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man. From the UCSB web site; go to list of diseases by species.

General Biology, Care, and Housing:

A Guide To How Animals Sleep by Rose MacDowell of Sleepopolis
Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) - part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The AWIC provides information for improved animal care and use in research, testing, teaching, and exhibition.

Information Resources on the Care and Welfare of Rodents - Compiled by Richard L. Crawford, D.V.M, AWIC Resource Series No. 37, December 2006 (PDF)

Animal Welfare Institute (AWI)

Comfortable Quarters for Mice in Research Institutions - by Chris M. Sherwin. This article emphasizes housing mice under conditions more suited to their own species-specific needs.
Comfortable Quarters for Rats in Research Institutions - by Monica M. Lawlor. This article’s emphasis is on behavioral considerations in the care of lab rats.
Environmental Enrichment for Rats - by Dr. Emily Patterson-Kane, University of British Columbia
Variables, Refinement and Environmental Enrichment for Rodents and Rabbits kept in Research Institutions - by Viktor and Annie Reinhardt, 2006, Animal Welfare Institute (PDF)

Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)
Environmental Enrichment in Rodents - by Heleen A. van de Weerd and Vera Baumans, Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Environmental enrichment for laboratory mice: preferences and consequences - by Weerd, Heleen Ariane van de, (2001) Utrecht University Repository
The Jackson Laboratory JAX - A world leader in the genetics revolution.

The Anatomy of the Laboratory Mouse by Margaret J. Cook
Biology of the Laboratory Mouse Dr. Earl L. Green, editor, (by the staff of the Jackson Laboratory).
The Jackson Laboratory Handbook on Genetically Standardized Mice - Sixth Edition, 2009 (PDF)

Meeting the Needs Of Captive Mice and Their Caretakers - by Margaret E. Wallace. The Cambridge Cage, not only meets species-specific needs, but also meets the convenience needs of their caretakers. (archived page)
The Merck Manual for Pet Health - Has several articles on rats and mice.
Mouse Husbandry, breeding and development. - From the University of Irvine, Transgenic Mouse Facility (archived page).
Rat Behavior and Biology - Articles about rat behavior and biology by Anne Hanson, M.S., Ph.D.
Rat Handout - compiled by Dr. James B. Nichols, University Veterinarian, Florida Atlantic University. Has a Rat Formulary table.
Sound Diagnostics LLC, a private veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Woodinville, Washington, that develops and provides assays for the detection of infectious agents in small mammals. Rodent Infections included in their rodent serology panels.

University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)

Mouse Biomethodology - (PDF) from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
Rat Biomethodology - (PDF) from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)

A Home For A Mouse - by Monica Lawlor. How to care for mice in order to ensure a humane quality of life based on their needs. (archived site)

Miscellaneous:

Braintree Scientific - lab research products (books, enrichment products, plastic rat models for surgery training, etc.)
Charles River Laboratories
Drs. Foster & Smith’s Pet Education Center - A comprehensive site for pet care. Go to the Mice & Rats page
Lab Animal - A magazine for the research industry.
NetVet and Electronic Zoo - Lots of info and links. Go directly to the Rodent section.

Rat Bacterial Diseases

Rat Anatomy - from Rebecca Irwin, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Tennessee at Martin. Has photos of parts of a dissected rat.
Veterinary Partner.com - part of VIN–Veterinary Information Network; see also VSPN–Veterinary Support Personnel Network for Veterinary information

VWR - Sells bedding, cages (including Maryland Plastics brand), enrichment items, food, supplements and treats (including Love Mash™ for reproductive performance, medications (including doses in food tablets/food by Bio-Serv), etc.
Whole Mouse Catalog - Information and links for mouse research. (archived page)

Cedar and Pine articles

Barbiturate sleeptime in mice exposed to autoclaved or unautoclaved wood beddings by Terrie L. Cunliffe-Beamer, Lisa C. Freeman, and David D. Myers, published in Laboratory Animal Science 31(6), 672-675.
“Cytotoxicity and biotransformation inducing activity of rodent beddings: A global survey using the Hepa-1 assay” by Kai H.O Pelkonen, Osmo O.P Hänninen. Toxicology Volume 122, Issues 1–2, 26 September 1997, Pages 73–80.
The Dangers of Softwood Shavings by George Flentke, Ph.D., House Rabbit Society Web Site.
Decrease in hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activities after removal of rats from pine bedding. by Davey A.K., Fawcett J.P., Lee S.E., Chan K.K., Schofield J.C. in Comp Med. 2003 Jun;53(3):299–302.
Evaluation of Cage Micro-Environment of Mice Housed on Various Types of Bedding Materials. by Smith E., Stockwell J.D., Schweitzer I., Langley S.H., Smith A.L. Contemp Top Lab Anim Sci. 2004 Jul;43(4):12–17. (PDF)
Exposure to an environment containing the aromatic red cedar, Juniperus virginiana: procarcinogenic, enzyme-inducing and insecticidal effects. by J.R. Sabine in Toxicology. 1975 Nov;5(2):221–35.
Induction of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes in Liver Microsomes of Mice and Rats by Softwood Bedding by Elliot S. Vesell in Science 1 September 1967: Vol. 157. no. 3792, pp. 1057–1058.
“Litterboxes and Liver Disease.” Harriman, Marinell (1989). House Rabbit Journal I (12): 8-9.
Physiological Effects of Softwoods on Respiratory and Liver Function - An article from the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Davidson, NC. (archived page)
Respiratory toxicity of cedar and pine wood - A review of the biomedical literature from 1986 through 1995. Written by Jeff Johnston, doctoral candidate in epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (archived page)
The Toxicity of Pine and Cedar Shavings by Debbie “The Rat Lady” Ducommun.
Use Of Cedar As A Substrate and More on the use of pine in captive herp environments - by Melissa Kaplan. The effects of cedar and pine on birds and reptiles.
Wood Dust Exposure and Squamous Cell Cancers of the Upper Respiratory Tract by Thomas L. Vaughan and Scott Davis, American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 133, No. 6: 560-564.
Wood Shavings - The problem with cedar and pine shavings as pet bedding and litter.
Photos of paper beddings, wood beddings, misc. beddings, and pelleted beddings.

Updated December 24, 2024