Animal Husbandry and Care Flashcards
7 cards from real ALAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Animal Husbandry and Care flashcards as text
A zebra fish (Danio rerio) tank shows cloudy water and increased fish mortality. The FIRST corrective action should be:
Answer: Test water parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrite, temperature) and perform a partial water change
Water quality testing followed by a partial water change addresses the most common causes of aquatic animal mortality before assuming infectious disease.
What is the correct gavage (oral) volume limit for a standard laboratory mouse (25–30 g)?
Answer: Up to 0.5 mL
The recommended maximum oral gavage volume for mice is approximately 10 mL/kg body weight, equating to ~0.5 mL for a 25–30 g mouse.
Which of the following nonhuman primate (NHP) behaviors indicates a potential welfare concern requiring veterinary evaluation?
Answer: Self-directed biting or excessive rocking (stereotypy)
Stereotypies such as repetitive self-biting or rocking indicate chronic psychological distress in NHPs and require behavioral and veterinary intervention.
A technician must perform a tail vein injection in a mouse. Which technique best facilitates venous dilation prior to injection?
Answer: Briefly warming the tail with warm water or a heat lamp
Gentle warming of the mouse tail dilates the lateral tail veins, making them more visible and accessible for intravenous injection.
Which of the following is true about coprophagy in rabbits?
Answer: It is a normal behavior that allows rabbits to recover cecotropes rich in nutrients
Cecotrophy (eating soft cecotropes directly from the anus) is a normal rabbit behavior that provides essential B vitamins, proteins, and microbial flora.
What is the primary purpose of performing a physical examination on animals upon receipt from a vendor?
Answer: To detect signs of illness or injury and establish baseline health status
Intake physical examinations identify sick or injured animals and document baseline health status before they enter the colony or studies.
Which of the following is a common clinical sign of pinworm (Syphacia or Aspiculuris spp.) infestation in laboratory mice?
Answer: Perianal pruritus and occasional weight loss
Pinworm infestations in mice can cause perianal pruritus (itching) and, in heavy burdens, weight loss and decreased reproductive performance.