STAINS Plasma Serum

1. NMB stain Anticoagulants is needed for Anticoagulants are not needed

- Stains acidic particles (DNA, RNA) blue purification
- Used to detect immature RBCs and oxidative damage to RBCs Fibrinogen is present Fibrinogen is absent
Platelets and WBCs can contaminate Cleaner sample, depleted of cells
MATERIALS IN A VETERINARY LABORATORY liquid fraction and cell remnants, but latent clotting
- Glass slides can lead to fibrin formation
- Cover slips Considered less stable More stable – gold standard for
- Blood tubes biobanking
o Striped-red and gray – used to collect serum, aka serum Composition of ions is Clot retraction elevates potassium
separator tubes representative of the circulating level relative to its plasma value
o Red-top – collect serum but does not contain serum blood
separator gels It can be prepared as soon as it has 30 mins delay for clot formation
o Purple-top – used to collect whole blood, contains EDTA – been mixed thoroughly
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, for CBCs in mammals
o Green-top – used to collect plasma, contains anticoagulant
lithium heparin
o Vlue-top – contains 3.2% sodium citrate, preferred for BASIC LABORATORY SAFETY
platelet function tests A. Sharps
*Gray top – anticoagulant – sodium fluoride - Sharps containers should be provided for proper disposal should
*yellow top – anticoagulant – citrate be easily accessible at all times
- Containers must be closed, sealed, and removed from the lab
SAMPLE TYPES before they becom filled to the brim
1. Whole blood - Glass slides may break in the lab
- Includes the unclotted cells and fluid portion of the blood - Needles are frequently used
2. Serum - If samples contain biologic materials, glass should be cleaned up
- Fluid portion of the blood that remains after the formation of the and disposed off in a sharps container
blood clot B. Chemicals
3. Plasma - Labs store chemicals and solutions that are used for various tests
- Fluid portion of the blood that remains after unclotted cells have - Material safety data sheets should be posted for each chemical
been removed from the sample C. Biological materials
4. Urine - Samples must be handled properly to prevent the alteration of the
- Fluid wate product removed from the kidneys sample with environmental contaminants and to prevent
5. Feces contamination of the environment with infectious organisms from
- Solid waste product produced by the digestive tract the samples
- If area is contaminated, use 10% bleach to soak the area for at
least 10 minutes, wipe the area dry and dispost into a garbage can
- To clean contaminated clothing, remove soiled articles of clothing
and wash them on site in 10% bleach solution
D. PPE
- Gloves, lab coats, eye protection, masks, surgical caps, closed-toe
shoes, booties
- Labs often require personnel to wear one or more of these items,
particularly if potentially biohaxzardous samples are being
processed in the lab
- Important to minimize contamination of skin and clothing
RABBITS Patient History
1. Ask the complaint and reason for visit
Reasons for the rising popularity of house rabbits 2. Signalment
- Highly intelligent 3. Question on the form, vaccination is not asked
- Engage in play with owners 4. Note how the rabbit was acquired, if there are other pets
- Can be litter trained 5. Record info on the diet including supplements, treats, items for
- Easy to feed, drink water from a sipper bottle chewing
- Require simple housing - Rabbits are hind-gut fermenters
Behavior - Diet is sometimes the reason for kidney stones
- Quiet 6. Describe the habitat in detail
- Vocalize only when provoked, in pain, or frightened 7. Record details of previou medical problem
- Affectionate and playful when socialized at an early age
- Can be very territorial Guidelines for physical examination
- Doe is more aggressive than a buck - Potential of injury to a rabbit’s back if it becomes frightened and
- Use scent glands to mark territory: submandibular, inguinal glands attempts to escape
o Produce an unpleasant smelling, thick, waxy substance Procedure
- Place a large towel on the exam table
Fecal pellets - Wear examination gloves
- Hard pellets – passed during the day - Remove patient from carrier and place on the towel or directly on
- Night feces (cecotrophs) the gram scale to obtain weight
o Soft and encased in mucous membrane - An assistant should control rabbit’s movements
o Consumed from the anus - Observe for respiration rate and record
o Contains Vit B and K, beneficial bacteria and protein - Auscultate for heart rate and record
o Coprophagy - Auscultate lungs
- Examine areas of the head – eyes, nostrils, dewlap, teeth, ears,
Breeding presence of head tilt
- Male testicles ascend at 12 weeks  Conjunctivitis or weepy eye
- Does have elongated vulva and a vertical opening  Pasteurellosis – affects conjunctiva, respiratory system or any
- Mature does have dewlap organ of the body
- Does become sexually mature @ 4-8 mos, 1-2 mos earlier than  Examine ears gently, very sensitive
bucks  Rabbits have no sweat glands, ears assist in thermoregulation
- Smaller breeds mature earlier than larger breeds  Rabbits cannot breathe thru the mouth
- Does are induced ovulators – ovulation occurs 10 hours after  Rhinitis or snuffles – with thick white/yellow discharge
breeding  Torticollis or wry neck
- Bucks are known to kill the litter - Look carefully at the fur and examine underneath if there is any
- Does sometimes cannibalize the young, consume dead or abnormality
deformed kits - Palpate the entire body
- Kits are altricial – born without hair and eyes are closed, eyes open  Infectious disease
at 10-12 days o Ringworm – red leasion with a crusty bald center, found on
- Does nurse the kits 3-5 mins per day the head, ears or around the face
 o Fungal dermatitis – skin irritation caused by fungus, starts
around the head and spreads to the legs, feet and toenail
beds. In serious cases, there can be pus, fever and alopecia
- Using the trance technique, place the rabbit on its back to examine
the ventral area and confirm its sex
o Rabbit urine scald or hutch burn
- Examine the hocks and bottom of feet
- Obtain rectal temp
- Return rabbit to sternal recumbency and allow it to settle
- Release rabbit on the floor to assess gait
- Restrain and put it back in its carrier, back first
- Remove gloves and dispose correctly

Blood collection sites

- Marginal ear vein
- Central auricular artery
- Jugular vein
- Cephalic vein
- Lateral saphenous vein – easiest to access and least amt of stress
for the rabbit
GUINEA PIG
Vital statistics
T: 37.2-39.6C or 99-103.1F
H: 230-280/min
R: 42-100/min

Zoonotic potential
- Bacterial
o Salmonella
o Pasteurella spp
o Streptobacillus
o Staphylococcus
- Viral
o Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
o Rabies
- Parasites
o Giardia spp
o Coccidia spp
- Fungal
o Dermatophytosis

Guinea pig aka cavy

- Known for their gentle nature, social with ppl and other guinea
pigs
- Poor eyesight, highly developed hearing
- Elicit variety of whistles, chirps, chuckling sounds
 Whistle – call of greeting or alarm
 Chirps and chuckles – low pitch, sound of contentment
 Drilling – low, guttural and rapid drrr sound used to alert other
guinea pigs of danger
- Little in the way of self-defense
o Oral cavity is small – difficulty in biting
o Have claws, scratches of they do not feel secure when held
- Should be on smooth floor and sides of around 8-10 inches floor
- Provide ample room for a hide box, food bowls and water bottles
- Urinate and defecate w/o any preference, feeder and water should
be elevated

Breeding