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SOPs
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are step-by-step, detailed descriptions of how specific animal care and use procedures are performed.

This Copy Was Generated On: June 6, 2026

SOP for Laboratory Assumption of the Feeding, Watering and/or Cage Changing of Rodents

Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine

| Approval Date:

February 20, 2026 12:00 am

To establish procedures for investigative personnel to feed, water, and/or changes cages for the rodents used in their research projects and decline these services from the Unit for Laboratory Medicine (ULAM).

Responsibility

ULAM Husbandry Personnel
Investigative Personnel

Glossary Definitions

Lab Will Care Log

This form serves as the log sheet for research personnel to indicate care (feed, water, cage change) provided to the animals. These are typically placed on the inside of the animal room door.

Special Treatment or Procedure (SToP) Form

A form that indicates special procedure differing from standard operating procedure (SOP). These are typically placed on the inside of the animal room door. See Request for Special Treatment or Procedure (SToP) Form for more information.

Task Codes

Codes used by lab personnel to indicate the type of care provided.

F: Feed provided (restricted or topped off)
W: Water bottle topped off
CW: Changed water bottle
CC: Cage change performed
S: New cage started

Procedures

The Principal Investigator signs a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) acknowledging an understanding of the rules and stipulations related to providing care (feed, water, and cage changing) to rodents (See Appendix A).
Investigative personnel complete a SToP Form that details:
1. The changes in feeding, watering, and/or cage changing practice.
2. The rationale supporting the changes.
3. A list of preferred contact information for all relevant investigative personnel.
4. The location of the water or diet supply in case of an emergency.
Investigative personnel complete a Lab Will Care Log that details:
1. The special diet, water, and/or cage change requirements.
2. The types of food and water that cannot be provided, if applicable.
3. If HazMat collection is required.
4. PI name
5. Laboratory contact information.
6. Protocol number and expiration date.
7. Other pertinent notations, where applicable.
Investigative personnel place a yellow acetate with a “Lab Will Care” sticker on each applicable cage of animals and denote the following:
1. The aspect of care that the laboratory is responsible for, i.e., feeding, watering, or cage changing.
2. If the food or water is ad lib or restricted.
3. The cage ID
Investigative personnel:
1. Administer food and/or water to animals per SToP Form specifications (i.e., restricted or non-restricted).
2. Check animals daily for presence of food and/or water if restricted.
  1. Check animals at appropriate intervals for the presence of food and/or water if not restricted.
3. Change cages as outlined in Rodent Equipment Maintenance and Sanitization SOP.
Investigative personnel record on the Lab Will Care Log at the time care is provided and include for each entry:
1. Date
2. Cage ID #
  1. Multiple cage IDs can be listed in a single entry if the same care is provided to each cage.
3. Task code
4. Initials of the person performing the task.
  1. The individual providing care is required to be listed as personnel on the applicable protocol.
ULAM husbandry personnel evaluate rodents as documented in the Mouse and Rat Husbandry SOP.
1. Communication via email with investigative personnel is initiated under the following conditions:
  1. Care tasks are not properly documented on the Lab Will Care Log.
  2. Cages are identified with inadequate or no food and/or water.
    1. Review the Lab Will Care sticker for indication of restriction to food and/or water.
    2. Restricted diet and/or water do not require contact if documentation has been provided on the Lab Will Care Log within the past 24 hours.
  3. Cages are identified as ¼ wet or more, but bedding is not fully saturated.
2. Include the following information in the email and send to the contact listed on the affected cage:
  1. Rack number
  2. Slot number
  3. Room number
  4. Building
  5. Cage ID of cage(s)
  6. A cut-off time for acknowledgement and response plan from investigative personnel:
    1. Monday-Friday: 2:00PM
    2. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 10:30AM
3. ULAM Husbandry personnel provide food, water, and/or cage change if:
  1. Investigative personnel responded to communication but failed to perform required care tasks by the following day.
  2. Investigative personnel have not responded by the designated cut-off time.
  3. Cage bottom is fully saturated or contains standing water.
4. ULAM Husbandry personnel document any care tasks that are performed as follows:
  1. Place a yellow acetate in the vertical (“up”) position behind the cage card and record “ULAM [fed/watered/CC] at [date/time]”.
    1. Locate, identify, and provide special feed/water as indicated on associated SToP Form of affected cage(s).
      1. Provide standard rodent chow (Lab Diet #5LOD) and/or regular water if the laboratory’s special food/water cannot be located or identified.
      2. Record “ULAM [fed/watered] at [time] using [type of food/water]” on the Lab Will Care Log and include the affected cage IDs.s.
    2. Handle flooded cage(s)/fully saturated cage bottoms as outlined in the Mouse and Rat Husbandry SOP.
      1. Record “ULAM CC” at [time] on the Lab Will Care Log and include the affected cage IDs.
  2. Charge technician time per the Technician Time Charge Report SOP.
  3. Remove the acetate after 3 business days.
Separation of a Lab Will Care cage by ULAM husbandry personnel (overcrowded conditions, fighting, weaning, etc.):
1. 1. 1. 1. Follow steps for separating cages following weaning pups and evaluating cage density procedures in the Mouse and Rat Husbandry SOP.
      2. Ensure the new cage conditions (bedding, food, water, enrichment, etc.) are identical to original cage.
        
        Divide available special food/water among separated cages.
      3. Place a yellow Lab Will Care acetate, copying the information from the original cage acetate, minus the Cage ID.
      4. Email the investigative personnel listed on the associated SToP Form and include:
        
        The Cage ID that required separation.
        
        The rack, slot number, room number, and building of new cage(s).
        
        The need to assign a new Cage ID(s) to newly separated cages.
        
        Whether the new cage needs special food or water added.
ULAM husbandry personnel check for full or completed Lab Will Care Logs monthly.
1. Place completed/full Lab Will Care Logs in the designated location.
  1. See the husbandry supervisor for designated locations.
  2. The husbandry supervisor shreds completed animal room logs after one year.

Appendices

Appendix A: Memorandum of Understanding - Lab Assumes Care

Memorandum of Understanding - Lab Assumes Care

Appendix B: Lab Will Care Log

Lab Will Care Hazmat Log

SPECIES: Mice / Rats

Questions?

Questions or concerns about the content of this document should be directed to the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) at (734) 764-0277 or [email protected].