Move From Water Bottles to In-Cage Automatic Water

Problems

&

SolutionsJulie Watson MA VetMB Dipl ACLAM

Advantages

Cage change every 2 weeks– Less disturbance– Breed better– Less labor

Dedicated air supply – Disease control– Reduced allergens

What’s the Problem?

•Water drop usually present•Touch only required

•Water drop absent•New skill required - •Grasp lever in teeth and push•Size & strength needed

Water BottleAuto Water Valve

WeanlingAdult

Strength required to work the valve: Weanlings have difficulty in working the valve: 5g pressure required to operate the valve

Mice Need to Learn New Skills: Old mice Singly-housed miceNeurological mutants

Often don’t explore or learn new skills well!

High Airflow Exacerbates Dehydration

50 Air Changes Per Hour

Overnight Consequences of

Water Deprivation“Balled-up”

“Hunchback” seen prior to death

Which Animals need to Transition to Automatic Water?

•All animals previously on water bottles (May include vendor animals)

•All weanlings •From microisolators•From auto water

SOP for Transition Period

ADULTS Water bottle 2 weeks Remove bottle if full

• Monitor twice daily 2 days• Monitor once daily 12 days• Transport gel plus bottle

if mice dehydrate

WEANLINGS Water bottle 2 weeks if

less than 4 weeks old or new to auto-water

Remove bottle

TwoWeeks: Water Bottle

Water Bottle Largely Full: Water Bottle Largely Empty

Repeat Once

Remove water bottle:48-hour close observation2 week daily observation

Fail twice, permanent water bottle

Use the Auto Water Transition Cage Cards

Weanling cardAdult

card

Appearance of Auto Water Transition Card with Cage Card

Designed to project above cagecard

Monitor closely twice daily for 2 days

Then daily until next cage change(2 weeks)

For Signs of Dehydration: Put transit gel in cage Replace water bottle Veterinary help if severely dehydrated

2 attempts to remove water bottleIf fail twice, then permanent bottle &

use water bottle sticker to flag cage

Animals that do not Transition-Check Food Supply

NOTE: the water bottle takes up space normally used for food. With large # of mice in the cage, food and water may need to be topped off before the 2 week cage change

Offspring Usually Transition to Auto-Water Even if Parents Don’t

Additional Procedures to Prevent Problems

Wean at 4 weeks– bigger and more able to

work the water valve

ALWAYS use nest material

- mitigates the effect of high air flow

Summary: Mice New to Auto Water

Use water bottle first 2 weeks.

Remove water bottle ONLY if largely full

Monitor VERY closely (twice) for dehydration signs

first 2 days, then daily until first cage change. Toggle

lickers each time.

Use ‘Auto Water Transition’ cage cards

Label cages with water bottle stickers and keep on

water bottles if fail to transition twice

Summary: Weanlings

If new to automatic water or under 4 weeks old, follow

same protocol as adults new to automatic water: ie

water bottle first 2 weeks after weaning followed by

close monitoring for 2 weeks.

If already on auto water and at least 4 weeks old, use

close-monitoring SOP only.

Remember weanlings may have problems with

STRENGTH and can dehydrate even after one week

on automatic water.

The End