Animal Care and Veterinary Services

Pre-review of “C” and “D” category of invasiveness protocols will occur following submission. The veterinarian conducting the pre-review will be in contact with you.

Pre-review of “C” and “D” category of invasiveness protocols will occur following submission. The veterinarian conducting the pre-review will be in contact with you.

Pre-review of “C” and “D” category of invasiveness protocols will occur following submission. The veterinarian conducting the pre-review will be in contact with you. 

Pre-review of “C” and “D” category of invasiveness protocols will occur following submission. The veterinarian conducting the pre-review will be in contact with you. 

The Biomedical stream consist of 9 modules and is mandatory for all rodent users in vivarium. In UM Learn, the Biomedical-1 and Bioimedical-2 streams are identical.  Enroll in Biomedical-2 if Biomedical -1 is at enrollment capacity.

The Animal Science stream consists of 5 modules and is mandatory for those working with farm animals in the department of Animal Science or other affiliated departments. 

The Wildlife and Behavioural Sciences: Laboratory stream consists of 8 modules and is mandatory for those conducting behavioural or wildlife studies with traditional or non-traditional animals in vivarium. 

The Wildlife and Behavioural Sciences: Field-Capture stream consists of 5 modules and is mandatory for those conducting behavioral and/or wildlife studies that involves capturing animals in the field. 

The Wildlife and Behavioural Sciences: Field, Non-Capture stream consists of 2 modules and is mandatory for those conducting wildlife studies that involves observing animals in the field. 

The Fish: Laboratory stream consists of 4 modules and is mandatory for those conducting studies with fish in the laboratory setting. 

The Fish: Field stream consists of 4 modules and is mandatory for those conducting studies with fish in the field. 

The Core Modules: Ethics and Policy consists of 3 modules.  This stream is applicable to those who receive animal tissue or are involved in studies because of their expertise with equipment etc.  For such individuals, especially if their role is unlikely to evolve into more direct animal work the core modules may be appropriate. 

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Three times per month; see online training schedule

Session length: 3 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who need to work with mice

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent

Training session objectives:

1. Confidently and safely handle and restrain the species.
2. Determine the sex of the species.
3. To become familiar with the appearance of a normal, healthy animal and be able to recognize common signs of pain, distress, injury or illness.
4. Understand how to apply individual methods of identification.
5. Learn how to weigh the animal.
6. Understand how to humanely euthanize a rodent and provide assurance of death.

Wet lab size: one to two people

Additional technical procedures taught as required.

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Three times per month; see online training schedule

Session length: 3 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who need to work with rats

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent

Training session objectives:

1. Confidently and safely handle and restrain the species.
2. Determine the sex of the species.
3. To become familiar with the appearance of a normal, healthy animal and be able to recognize common signs of pain, distress, injury or illness.
4. Understand how to apply individual methods of identification.
5. Learn how to weigh the animal.
6. Understand how to humanely euthanize a rodent and provide assurance of death.

Wet lab size: one to two people

Additional technical procedures taught as required.

Instructor: Animal health technician

Session dates: As needed upon request

Session length: 2 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who need to work with chickens for their research project

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent

Training session objectives:

1. Orientation to facility
2. Learn how to safely pick up, handle and restrain chickens
3. Understand different methods of identification
4. Learn how to recognize common signs of pain, distress, injury or illness
5. Learn how to weigh a chicken
6. Learn how to obtain a blood sample (if required)
7. Learn how to safely handle needles and syringes
8. Learn how to perform an IM injection (if required)
9. Learn how to properly transport chickens short distances
10. Understand acceptable methods of euthanasia

Wet lab size: one to three people

Additional procedures will be taught as required.

Instructor: Clinical veterinarian, agricultural attendant and/or animal health technician

Session dates: As needed upon request

Session length: 3 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who need to work with bovine for their research project.

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent

Training session objectives:

• Be familiar with ways to safely handle and move dairy cattle.
• Demonstrate the proper approach to cow in a stall.
• Demonstrate proper rope halter placement.
• Be familiar with squeeze chutes, their purpose, and animal user safety.
• Be aware of potential zoonotic diseases and proper use of personal protective equipment.
• Be familiar with identification methods used with cattle.
• Understand how to recognize signs of pain and distress, injury or illness, and the proper reporting.
• Learn how to safely handle needles and syringes.
• Learn how to obtain a blood sample (if required).
• Learn how to perform injections (if required).
• Learn how to collect a fecal or urine sample (if required).
• Learn how to collect a milk sample (if required).

Location: Glenlea Dairy Barn

Wet lab size: one to four people

Additional procedures may be taught as required.

Instructor: Animal Health Technician and Agricultural Attendant

Session dates: As needed upon request

Session length: 3 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who need to work with swine for their research project

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent

Training session objectives:

1. Orientation to facility
2. Learn how to safely handle, move and restrain swine
3. Understand different methods of identification
4. Learn how to recognize common signs of pain, distress, injury or illness
5. Learn how to weigh a pig
6. Learn how to obtain a blood sample (if required)
7. Learn how to safely handle needles and syringes
8. Learn how to perform an IM injection (if required)
9. Understand issues to consider when transporting pigs

Location: T.K. Cheung Centre, Fort Garry Campus

Wet lab size: one to four people

Additional procedures may be taught as required.

Instructor: Clinical Veterinarian or Animal Health Technician

Session dates: As needed upon request

Session length: 3 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who need to work with fish for their research project

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course: Fish or equivalent

Training session objectives:

1. To introduce fish users to the aquatic holding facility.
2. To provide users with information regarding proper fish acquisition and housing.
3. To be able to recognize a sick fish.
4. To understand the basic concepts for anesthetizing fish.
5. To understand proper methods for tagging (if required).
6. To understand correct methods for injections in fish (if required).
7. To understand correct methods for blood collection in fish (if required).
8. To understand proper methods of euthanasia.

Location: Z100 Duff Roblin Building

Wet lab size: one to four people

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Once a month, see online training schedule.

Session length: 4 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who will be responsible for anesthetizing and monitoring rodents for invasive procedures.

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent, Introduction Wet Lab for the species being used, and the Anesthesia and Analgesia Modules (online module).

Training session objectives:

1. Become familiar with some of the common anesthetic agents and the primary concerns associated with anesthesia.
2. Become familiar with rodent anesthetic machines, their parts, proper connections and settings.
3. Learn how to operate a rodent anesthetic machine and deliver an inhalant anesthetic to an animal.
4. Learn how to do a drug dose calculation and administer an injectable anesthetic.
5. Recognize the four planes of anesthesia.
6. Understand and be able to apply proper anesthetic monitoring.
7. Understand the advantages and disadvantages associated with the more commonly used anesthetics.
8. Understand the importance of pain management and how to recognize signs of pain and distress.
9. Understand proper anesthetic recovery procedures.
10. Be able to perform SQ injection to deliver an analgesic.

Web lab size: 1-2 people

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Once a month, see online training schedule.

Session length: 3 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who will be responsible for anesthetizing rodents for short non-invasive procedures.

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent and the Introduction Wet Lab for the species being used.

Training session objectives:

1. Become familiar with rodent anesthetic machines, their parts, proper connections and settings.
2. Learn how to operate a rodent anesthetic machine and deliver an inhalant anesthetic to an animal.
3. Recognize the four stages or planes of anesthesia.
4. Understand how to properly assess depth of anesthesia and apply basic anesthetic monitoring methods for short non-invasive procedures.
5. Understand proper gas anesthetic recovery procedures.

Web lab size: 1-2 people

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Once a month, see online training schedule.

Session length: 6 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who will be responsible for or participating in survival surgeries on rodents.

Prerequisites: Animal User Training Course or equivalent, Introduction Wet Lab for the species being used, the Anesthesia and Analgesia Wet Lab: Rodents, and Procedures with Care: Aseptic Technique in Rodent Surgery Video (online module).

Training session objectives                                                                            

At the end of this session the trainee must be able to:

• Demonstrate correct preparation of packs for the autoclave.
• Demonstrate correct surgeon preparation.
• Demonstrate proper instrumentation and suturing techniques on inanimate training tools.
• Demonstrate proper patient preparation.
• Demonstrate proper conduct as non-sterile assistant.
• Demonstrate an understanding of proper operating room conduct.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to maintain a sterile field.

At the end of this session, the trainee should be familiar with:

• The importance of pre-surgical planning.
• The importance of SOP development and checklists.
• The importance of proper instrument care and use.
• The different types of suture material and their use.
• How to correctly perform multiple surgeries on the same day.
• Basic Post-op Care

Web lab size: 1-2 people

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: As needed upon request

Session length: 3 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who will be responsible for conducting survival surgeries on rodents.

Prerequisites: Animal User Training Course or equivalent, an Introduction Wet Lab for the species being used, Anesthesia and Analgesia Wet Lab: Rodents, and Introduction to Surgery and Post-op Care Part 1.

Training Session Objectives

At the end of this session, the trainee must be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to perform a rat nephrectomy applying basic surgical skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain a sterile field while performing the surgery.
• Demonstrate acceptable operating room conduct as a surgeon.
• Demonstrate the ability to complete a post-op care monitoring record.

At the end of this training session, the trainee must be familiar with the concepts of:

• Acute Post-op Care
• Long Term Post-op Care

Wet lab size: 1-2 people

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Once a month

Session length: 2 hours with follow up as required

Who should attend: Students and researchers who need to learn how to perform a physical method of euthanasia on a rodent for their research project.

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent and Rat or Mouse Wet Lab: Introduction

Training session objectives:

1. Learn how to identify the emotional impact that physical methods of euthanasia may have on personnel.
2. Learn how to indicate the need for justification for use at the time of protocol submission.
3. Learn how to perform the physical method of euthanasia as required in the approved Animal Use Protocol.

Wet lab size: 1 person

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Available upon request

Session length: 5 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who need to learn how to perform a jugular or carotid artery cannulation for their research project.

Prerequisite: Animal User Training Course or equivalent and Introduction to Surgery and Post-operative Care Wet Lab.

Training session objectives:

1. Learn how to correctly place a catheter in the jugular vein and/or the carotid artery
2. Identify the importance for using aseptic technique
3. Demonstrate how to exteriorize an indwelling catheter (if required)
4. Learn concepts relating to catheter maintenance and catheter obstruction
5. Correctly perform a cannulation on a rat

Web lab size: 1 person

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Once a month, see online training schedule.

Session length: 5 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who will be responsible for conducting stereotactic surgery.

Prerequisites: Animal User Training Course or equivalent, an Introduction Wet Lab for the species being used, Anesthesia and Analgesia Wet Lab: Rodents, and Introduction to Surgery and Post-op Care Part 1.

Training Session Objectives

At the end of this training session, the trainee must be able to:

• Position the animal in the stereotactic apparatus correctly.
• Perform correct patient preparation.
• Demonstrate how to prepare the sterile field using the sterile tip approach.
• Demonstrate proper instrumentation and suturing techniques.
• Identify the two landmarks: Bregma and Lambda

At the end of this training session, the trainee should be familiar with:

• The spatial relationship expressed using 3 coordinates: Anterior-Posterior (AP), Medial-Lateral (ML), and Dorsal-Ventral (DV).
• The concepts of acute post-op care
• The concepts of long-term post-op care

Wet lab size: 1-2 people

Instructor: Animal Health Technician

Session dates: Once a month, see online training schedule.

Session length: 2 hours

Who should attend: Students and researchers who will be responsible for performing endpoint monitoring.

Training Session Objectives:

• To understand the significance and purpose for setting humane endpoints.
• To learn how to assess an animal's well-being.
• To understand whose responsibility it is to monitor the animals.
• To learn how to complete an endpoint monitoring record.

Class size: 1-4 people