Surgery & Post-Op

3D-printable non-invasive head immobilization system for non-human primates

Background: Efficient head fixation is critical in primate behavioral experiments for accurate eye tracking and neural studies. Existing methods risk infection and bone necrosis due to their invasive nature. New method: We propose a custom-designed, 3D-printed non-invasive head immobilization system...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Behavioral & Cognitive Testing, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Shahbazi, E., Nguyen, D., Swedan, T. et al. 2026. 3D-printable non-invasive head immobilization system for non-human primates. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 425, 110593.

Supplemental oxygen prevents hypoxemia in pigs (Sus domesticus) chemically restrained with ketamine, dexmedetomidine, and diazepam

The study described here evaluated the efficacy of supplemental oxygen in preventing hypoxemia (pO2 < 80 mm Hg) in pigs chemically restrained with ketamine, dexmedetomidine, and diazepam. Twenty gilts (154.5 ± 4.8 kg, 250 ± 2 days old) received a combination of ketamine (2...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Reis, A. N., Sanches, M. C., Henriques, M. A. et al. 2026. Supplemental oxygen prevents hypoxemia in pigs (Sus domesticus) chemically restrained with ketamine, dexmedetomidine, and diazepam. JAALAS 65(1), 132–136.

Standardizing perioperative heat to improve mouse (Mus musculus) recovery

Maintaining the core body temperature of anesthetized rodents is essential because of the depression of physiologic homeostasis caused by anesthetics. The maintenance of core body temperature is influenced by the ability of the heating device to provide sufficient heat, the...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Popadich, A. J., Mishra, B., Oldham, S. N. et al. 2026. Standardizing perioperative heat to improve mouse (Mus musculus) recovery. JAALAS 65(2), 297–302.

Efficacy of warmed inspired air for prevention of perianesthetic hypothermia in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Warmed inspired air circuits have proved to be effective in semiclosed heating modalities in veterinary species such as dogs, cats, and nonhuman primates, and thus, there is a gap in species requiring a nonrebreathing circuit. This study evaluated the efficacy...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Balzer, A. H., Raiciulescu, S., Fugina, W. R. et al. 2026. Efficacy of warmed inspired air for prevention of perianesthetic hypothermia in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). JAALAS 65(1), 85–91.

Small changes, big differences: Collaborative refinements in animal research

Our unit opened in 2017, during the procurement of new equipment we had the opportunity to purchase a digital ventilated rack system from Tecniplast UK. The cages are referred to as the Digitally Ventilated Cage or DVC. This system uses...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Onions, L., WIlkinson, G. 2025. Small changes, big differences: Collaborative refinements in animal research. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(3), 239–240.

You can have your cone and eat too! Soft cone collars lead to improved postoperative rabbit care

There are various adaptations of collars and restraints for rabbits on the market. No one size fits all; therefore, finding the right one with the least number of modifications and restrictions is important. Most importantly, they should accommodate the rabbit’s...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Barrera, R., Haynes, G., Kearney, M. et al. 2025. You can have your cone and eat too! Soft cone collars lead to improved postoperative rabbit care. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 13(5) (September/October), 36-39.

Germinating a novel idea to rodent heat support

An external heat source is frequently used to help rodents maintain optimal body temperature. The current gold standard for providing heat support to laboratory rodents is circulating warm water blankets. However, these come with certain drawbacks, including cost, the need...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & Management, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Glaspell, S., Welch Jernigan, R. 2025. Germinating a novel idea to rodent heat support. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 13(3) (May/June), 23-24.

Music as a perioperative, non-pharmacological intervention in veterinary medicine. Establishing a feasible framework for music implementation and future perspectives with a focus on the perioperative period of dogs and cats

Research in human medicine has provided sufficient evidence to support music’s incorporation into the perioperative period, suggesting it as a significant non-pharmacological adjunct in terms of a multimodal approach, which should be available to all surgical patients. The literature regarding...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Cat, Dog

Citation: Georgiou, S. G., Galatos, A. D. 2025. Music as a perioperative, non-pharmacological intervention in veterinary medicine. Establishing a feasible framework for music implementation and future perspectives with a focus on the perioperative period of dogs and cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Extended oxygen supplementation after thoracotomy in rats may improve welfare

A retrospective comparison of welfare indicators in male rats undergoing thoracotomy for intrapleural dosing is presented. The initial cohort (n = 7) breathed room air after recovery from anaesthesia, while later cohorts (n = 12) had oxygen supplementation for up to 48 h post-surgery....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Few, B., Dugdale, A. 2025. Extended oxygen supplementation after thoracotomy in rats may improve welfare. Laboratory Animals 59(2), 283–289.

Evaluation of different intramuscular injectable anesthetic combinations in rabbits: Impact on anesthetic depth, physiological parameters, and EEG recordings (2025)

Rabbits have a high anesthesia-related mortality rate because of their small size, high metabolic rate and challenging airway management. This study aimed to investigate different combinations of intramuscularly administered anesthetics in New Zealand White rabbits, focusing on their effects on...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Schmid, M.-L., Werner, J., Saller, A. M. et al. 2025. Evaluation of different intramuscular injectable anesthetic combinations in rabbits: Impact on anesthetic depth, physiological parameters, and EEG recordings. PLOS ONE 20(2), e0319106.