DOI: 10.58833/bozokvetsci.1950312 ISSN: 2757-5179

Surgical Diseases, Anesthetic Management, and Pharmacological Treatment Strategies in Laboratory Rodents: Rats, Mice, and Hamsters – A Comprehensive Review

Nimet Kılıç, Nuh Kılıç, Seren Yiğit
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Laboratory rodents, particularly rats, mice, and hamsters, are among the most commonly used experimental animals worldwide and are increasingly maintained as companion animals. Due to their unique anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics, these species require specialized clinical and surgical approaches. Surgical diseases in small rodents present significant challenges for veterinarians because of their small body size, high metabolic rates, rapid physiological changes, and sensitivity to stress and anesthesia. The present review aims to summarize the most frequently encountered surgical diseases in laboratory rodents, with particular emphasis on rats, mice, and hamsters. Important anatomical and physiological characteristics relevant to surgical practice are discussed together with restraint techniques, sample collection methods, anesthesia and analgesia protocols, and perioperative management. In addition, commonly encountered ophthalmic, dental, gastrointestinal, dermatological, reproductive, thoracic, and orthopedic disorders are comprehensively reviewed. Current diagnostic approaches and treatment options, including both medical and surgical interventions, are evaluated in light of contemporary veterinary literature. This review is intended to provide clinicians and researchers with a practical and evidence-based resource for the diagnosis and management of surgical diseases in laboratory rodents.

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