Species: General Species Information

Cat Cattle Chicken Dog Gerbil Guinea Pig Hamster Mouse Rabbit Rat Sheep Swine

Normative Data for the Cat

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	9–14 lbs
Female	9–11 lbs
Body Temperature	100–102.2°F
Food Consumption	60–80 Kcal/kg/day
Water Consumption	60 ml/kg/day
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	17% of body weight
Housing Conditions
Temperature	64–84°F
Humidity	30–70%

Breeding
Breeding Onset	Seasonally polyestrous
Fertilization	1 day
Implantation	12–14 days after mating
Gestation	63–65 days
Postpartum Estrus	8–10 weeks
Puberty
Male	7–9 months
Female	6–9 months
Breeding Life	5–10 years
Litter Size	1–6
Birth Weight	90–100 grams
Eyes Open	7–14 days
Wean	Start at 4 weeks; completed at 6 to 8 weeks
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	cephalic, saphenous, jugular, femoral

Normative Data for Cattle

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	2000–2800 lbs
Female	1300–1500 lbs
Body Temperature	100–102.5°F
Food Consumption	2-2.7% BW per day; lactating cows consume 40-60% more than dry cows; intake can increase 30% in colder temps or decrease 30% in hot/humid weather
Water Consumption	for dairy cattle, for beef cattle
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	1% blood volume if daily; 10% blood volume if weekly; 20% blood volume if once in a month

Breeding
Breeding Onset	bred by 13 months; 1^st calf 23–26 months of age
Gestation	285 days
Postpartum Estrus	16 days
Puberty Male
Holstein	9 months
Hereford	11 months
Average	11 months
Puberty Female
Holstein	8 months
Hereford	13 months
Average	11 months
Breeding Life
Holstein	4–10 years
Hereford	6–15 years
Litter Size	1–2
Birth Weight	80–120 lbs
Eyes Open	at birth
Wean Holstein	6 weeks or when calf consumes 2 lbs of calf starter for 3 consecutive days
Wean Beef	4–6 weeks
Average # of milk	23,151 lbs
Butterfat	842 lbs
Protein	711 lbs

Normative Data for the Chicken

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	2.2–4.5 kg
Female	1.6–4.1 kg
Body Temperature	40.6–43°C (105-109.4°F)
Food Consumption	110–250 grams/day
Water Consumption	250–500 mls/day
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	1% of body weight
Housing Conditions
Temperature	61–81°F (16–27°C)
Humidity	30–70%

Breeding
Breeding Onset	No well-defined estrous cycle
Fertilization	7–10 days following insemination
Egg incubation	20–22 days
Puberty
Male	4.5–6 months
Female	5–6 months
Breeding Life	3–5 years
Birth Weight	20–50 grams
Egg Laying Frequency	1 egg usually laid every 25–26 hours
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	brachial, jugular, and medial metatarsal veins

Normative Data for the Dog

General Information
Adult Weight
Beagle	8–14 kg
Crossbred Hound	11–34 kg
Springer Spaniel	18–23 kg
Body Temperature	37.5–39.2˚C (99.5–102.5˚F)
Food Consumption	MER(kcal)/day = 2 (30 weight kg + 70)
Gestation	Last trimester of pregnancy, dog should be fed puppy food ad lib
Water Consumption	44–66 ml/kg/day
Gestation	ad lib
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	10% of whole blood volume
Housing Conditions
Temperature	18–29˚C (64.4–84.2˚F)
Humidity	30–70%

Breeding
Breeding Onset	Estrus 2x/yr (9 days)
Pseudopregnancy	6-12 weeks after estrus
Fertilization	4–7 days
Implantation	3 days post fertilization
Gestation	59–63 days post ovulation
Postpartum Estrus	2–3 months
Puberty
Male	4–12 months
Female	6–18 months
Breeding Life	5–7 years
Litter Size	1–15 puppies
Birth Weight	200–300 grams
Eyes Open	10–14 days
Wean	6–8 weeks
Ovulation	2–4 days post onset of cytologic estrus
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	cephalic, lateral saphenous, jugular
Injection Sites and Volumes
Subcutaneous	scruff, back, 100–200 ml, <20G
Intramuscular	caudal thigh muscles, 2–5 ml, <20G
Intraperitoneal	200–500 ml, <20G
Intravenous	cephalic vein, 10–15 ml (slowly), <20G

Normative Data for the Gerbil

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	65–130 grams
Female	55–133 grams
Body Temperature	37–39°C
Food Consumption	5–8g/100g bw/day
Water Consumption	4–7mls/100g bw/day
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	0.6 mls/100g bw
Housing Conditions
Temperature	68–72°F
Humidity	30–70%
Special Concerns	Like it warmer

Breeding
Breeding Onset	Polyestrous
Gestation	24–26 days
Postpartum Estrus	immediate
Puberty
Male	8–10 weeks
Female	8–10 weeks
Breeding Life	9–12 months
Litter Size	5–8
Birth Weight	2–4 grams
Eyes Open	16–21 days
Wean	24–28 days
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	lateral tail vein, retro-orbital sinus, cardiac puncture

Normative Data for the Guinea Pig

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	900–1200 grams
Female	700–900 grams
Body Temperature	99.0–103.1°F (37.2–39.5°C)
Food Consumption	6 gm/100g bw/day
Water Consumption	10 ml/100g bw/day
Life Span	4–5 years
Housing Conditions
Temperature	68–72°F
Humidity	30–70%
Special Concerns	12:12 light:dark

Breeding
Type Estrus Cycle	Nonseasonally
Estrus Length	15–17 days
Implantation	6–7 days
Gestation	59–72 days
Postpartum Estrus	60–80% fertile; 2 to 10 hours after parturition
Puberty
Male	90–120 days
Female	60–90 days
Breeding Life
Male	12–18 months
Female	18–24 months
Litter Size	2–5
Birth Weight	60–115 grams
Eyes Open	at birth
Wean	14–28 days
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	cranial vena cava (jugular), lateral saphenous vein (small amount)
Injection Sites and Volumes
Subcutaneous	scruff, back, 5–10 ml, <20G
Intramuscular	caudal thigh muscles, 0.3 ml, <21G
Intraperitoneal	10–15 ml, <21G
Intravenous	ear vein, saphenous vein, <23G

Normative Data for the Syrian Hamster

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	85–140 grams
Female	95–120 grams
Body Temperature	36.2–37.5°C
Food Consumption	10–15 g/day
Water Consumption	30 ml/day
Experimental Information>
Max Single Bleed	1% of body weight
Housing Conditions
Temperature	21–24°C (69.8–75.2°F)
Humidity	40–60%

Breeding
Breeding Onset			Normal seasonal breeding
Pseudopregnancy			May occur with an infertile mating
Fertilization			4–5 days
Implantation			Day 2 of the estrous cycle
Gestation			15–18 days
Postpartum Estrus			2–18 days after weaning
Puberty
Male			6–8 weeks
Female			8–12 weeks
Breeding Life			6–8 weeks to 15–18 months
Litter Size			4–12
Birth Weight			2–3 grams
Eyes Open			12–14 days
Wean			19–21 days
Blood Collection
Recommended sites			orbital sinus, lateral vein of the tarsus, anterior cephalic vein
Injection Sites and Volumes
Subcutaneous			scruff, 3–4 ml, <20G
Intramuscular			caudal thigh muscles, 0.1 ml, <21G
Intraperitoneal			3–4 ml, <21G
Intravenous			femoral or jugular vein (cutdown), 0.3 ml, <25G

Normative Data for the Laboratory Mouse

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	20–40 grams
Female	18–35 grams
Body Temperature	36.5–37.7°C
Food Consumption	15 g/100g/day
Water Consumption	15 ml/100g/day
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	10% TBV [Example: for a 25g mouse, Total Blood Volume ( TBV) is: 72 ml/kg x .025 kg = 1.8 ml
Gavage Volume	10 ml/kg

Breeding
Breeding Onset	50–60 days
Pseudopregnancy	10–13 days
Fertilization	2 hr post mating
Implantation	4–5 days
Gestation	19–21 days
Postpartum Estrus	24 hrs
Puberty
Male	28–49 days
Female	28–49 days
Breeding Life	12–18 months
Litter Size	4–12
Birth Weight	1–1.5 grams
Eyes Open	12–14 days
Wean	21 days
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	maxillary, saphenous, pedal vein, tail vein/artery, retro-orbital, jugular, cardiac puncture
Injection Sites and Volumes
*Use the smallest size needle gauge possible when performing injections. Needle size example – 22 gauge is larger than 24 gauge
*Recommended max dose
Subcutaneous	scruff, 40 ml/kg or 0.04 ml/g
Intramuscular	caudal thigh* muscles, 1 ml/kg or 0.001 ml/g
Intraperitoneal	20 ml/kg or 0.02 ml/g
Intravenous	lateral tail vein, 10 ml/kg or 0.01 ml/g

Normative Data for the Laboratory Rabbit

General Information
Adult Weight	2–6 kg (♂ ♀)
Body Temperature	38–40˚C (100.4–104˚F)
Food Consumption	(g/day)
Juvenile	100–200
Adult	200–300
Pregnant	300
Lactating	300–400
Water Consumption	100–600 ml/day
Gestation	ad lib
Gastrointestinal Transit	4–5 hours
Life Span	5–7 years
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	1%
Gavage Volume	15 mL
Housing Conditions
Temperature	16.1–22.2˚C (61–72˚F)
Humidity	30–70%
Special Concerns	Heat stressed easily. Must have access to water at all times.

Breeding
Breeding Onset	Induced ovulation
Pseudopregnancy	18 days
Gestation	30–33 days
Postpartum Estrus	N/A
Puberty
Male	6–7 months
Female	5 months
Breeding
Male	5–6 years
Female	3 years
Litter Size	7–9 kits
Birth Weight	30–80 grams
Eyes Open	7 days
Wean	28–42 days
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	ear lateral vein, ear central artery, jugular vein, cephalic vein, lateral saphenous, cardio centesis
Injection Sites and Volumes
Subcutaneous	scruff, flank, 30–50 ml, <20G
Intramuscular	caudal thigh or lumbar muscles, 0.5–1.0 ml, 20G
Intraperitoneal	50–100 ml, <20G
Intravenous	marginal ear vein, 1–5 ml (slowly), <21G

Normative Data for the Laboratory Rat

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	450–520 grams
Female	250–300 grams
Body Temperature	35.9–37.5°C
Food Consumption	5–6 g/100g bw/day
Water Consumption	10–12 ml/100g bw/day
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	10% TBV Example: for a 250g rat, Total Blood Volume ( TBV): 64 ml/kg x .25 kg = 16 ml
Gavage Volume	10 ml/kg

Breeding
Breeding Onset	50–60 days
Pseudopregnancy	10–13 days
Implantation	4–5 days
Gestation	20 days
Postpartum Estrus	24 hrs
Puberty
Male	37–67 days
Female	37–67 days
Breeding Life	12–18 months
Litter Size	8–14
Birth Weight	5–6 grams
Eyes Open	10–14 days
Wean	21 days
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	jugular, saphenous, pedal vein, tail vein/artery, cardiac puncture
Injection Sites and Volumes
*Use the smallest size needle gauge possible when performing injections. Needle size example – 22 gauge is larger than 24 gauge
*Recommended max dose
Subcutaneous	scruff, 40 ml/kg 0r 0.04 mls/g
Intramuscular	caudal thigh muscles, 1 ml/kg or 0.001 ml/g
Intraperitoneal	20 ml/kg or 0.02 ml/g
Intravenous	lateral tail vein, 10 ml/kg or 0.01 ml/g

Normative Data for Sheep

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	150–450 lbs
Female	90–300 lbs
Body Temperature	100.9–103.8°F
Food Consumption	2–4.5 lbs/day
Water Consumption	2–6 liters/day
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	1% blood volume if daily; 10% blood volume if weekly; 20% blood volume if once in a month
Housing Conditions
Special Concerns	house in groups

Breeding
Estrus	14–19 days
Breeding Onset	varies by breed
Implantation	2–4 days
Gestation	147 days
Puberty
Male	5–7 months
Female	5–12 months
Breeding Life
Litter Size	1–4
Birth Weight	5–8 lbs
Eyes Open	at birth
Wean	45–60 days
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	jugular, cephalic, saphenous veins

Normative Data for Swine

General Information
Adult Weight
Male	varies by breed
Female	varies by breed
Body Temperature	101.6–103.6ºF
Food Consumption	2–3% bw/day
Water Consumption	2.5 L/kg of food consumption
Life Span	10–15 years
Experimental Information
Max Single Bleed	1% blood volume if daily; 10% blood volume if weekly; 20% blood volume if once in a month
Housing Conditions
Temperature
<15 kg	79–90ºF
15 – 35 kg	64–79ºF
Large swine	50–77ºF
Humidity	30–70%

Breeding
Estrus Cycle	21 days
Gestation	114 days
Postpartum Estrus	3–9 days
Puberty
Male	6 months
Female	4–9 months
Breeding Life	2 litters/per 5–6 years
Litter Size	4–20 (smaller with mini)
Birth Weight	3 lbs
Eyes Open	At birth
Wean	6–8 weeks
Blood Collection
Recommended Sites	cranial vena cava, external jugular vein, cephalic vein, auricular veins, superficial cranial epigastric, femoral vein, coccygeal vein *Bleed on right side so vagus nerve not damaged.

Species: General Species Information

Normative Data for the Cat

Normative Data for Cattle

Normative Data for the Chicken

Normative Data for the Dog

Normative Data for the Gerbil

Normative Data for the Guinea Pig

Normative Data for the Syrian Hamster

Normative Data for the Laboratory Mouse

Normative Data for the Laboratory Rabbit

Normative Data for the Laboratory Rat

Normative Data for Sheep

Normative Data for Swine

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