{"id":2953,"date":"2023-01-29T08:24:02","date_gmt":"2023-01-29T08:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/az.research.umich.edu\/animalcare\/document\/sop-laboratory-assumption-feeding-watering-andor-cage-changing-rodents\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T20:19:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T01:19:30","slug":"sop-laboratory-assumption-feeding-watering-andor-cage-changing-rodents","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/az.research.umich.edu\/animalcare\/sops\/sop-laboratory-assumption-feeding-watering-andor-cage-changing-rodents\/","title":{"rendered":"SOP for Laboratory Assumption of the Feeding, Watering and\/or Cage Changing of Rodents"},"template":"","categories":[13,17],"tags":[],"content-type":[30],"topic":[],"update-type":[],"class_list":["post-2953","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","category-mice","category-rats","content-type-sops"],"acf":{"use_legacy_editor":true,"updated_date":"2026-02-20 00:00:00","update_notice":true,"author":"Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine","summary":"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).","button_links":null,"related_content":[2892,2930,3008,2942,2950],"legacy_path":"sop-laboratory-assumption-feeding-watering-andor-cage-changing-rodents","legacy_node_id":101,"legacy_related_nids":"37, 76, 165, 89, 98","legacy_content_section":[{"legacy_section_type":"heading","legacy_heading":"Responsibility","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":"","legacy_media_file":"","legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":null},{"legacy_section_type":"text_area","legacy_heading":"","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"
    \r\n \t
  1. ULAM Husbandry Personnel<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Investigative Personnel<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","legacy_media_position":"","legacy_media_file":"","legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":null},{"legacy_section_type":"heading","legacy_heading":"Glossary Definitions","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":"","legacy_media_file":"","legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":null},{"legacy_section_type":"glossary_terms","legacy_heading":"","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":"","legacy_media_file":"","legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":[2793,2691,2792],"legacy_glossary_nids":"1542, 1372, 1541","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":null},{"legacy_section_type":"heading","legacy_heading":"Procedures","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":"","legacy_media_file":"","legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":null},{"legacy_section_type":"text_area","legacy_heading":"","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"
      \r\n \t
    1. The\u00a0Principal Investigator<\/a> 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)<\/strong>.<\/em><\/li>\r\n \t
    2. Investigative personnel\u00a0complete\u00a0a SToP Form<\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0details:\r\n
        \r\n \t
      1. The changes in feeding, watering, and\/or cage changing practice.<\/li>\r\n \t
      2. The rationale supporting the changes.<\/li>\r\n \t
      3. A list of preferred contact information for all relevant investigative personnel.<\/li>\r\n \t
      4. The location of the water or diet supply in case of an emergency.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
      5. \u00a0Investigative personnel complete a Lab Will Care Log<\/a>\u00a0that details:\r\n
          \r\n \t
        1. The special diet, water, and\/or cage change requirements.<\/li>\r\n \t
        2. The types of food and water that cannot be provided, if applicable.<\/li>\r\n \t
        3. If HazMat collection is required.<\/li>\r\n \t
        4. PI name<\/li>\r\n \t
        5. Laboratory contact information.<\/li>\r\n \t
        6. Protocol number and expiration date.<\/li>\r\n \t
        7. Other pertinent notations, where applicable.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
        8. Investigative personnel place a yellow acetate<\/a> with a \u201cLab Will Care\u201d sticker on each applicable cage of animals and denote the following:\r\n
            \r\n \t
          1. The aspect of care that the laboratory is responsible for, i.e., feeding, watering, or cage changing.<\/li>\r\n \t
          2. If the food or water is ad lib or restricted.<\/li>\r\n \t
          3. The cage ID<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
          4. Investigative personnel:\r\n
              \r\n \t
            1. Administer food and\/or water to animals per SToP Form specifications (i.e., restricted or non-restricted).<\/li>\r\n \t
            2. Check animals daily for presence of food and\/or water if restricted.\r\n
                \r\n \t
              1. Check animals at appropriate intervals for the presence of food and\/or water if not restricted.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
              2. Change cages as outlined in Rodent Equipment Maintenance and Sanitization SOP<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
              3. Investigative personnel record on the Lab Will Care Log at the time care is provided and include for each entry:\r\n
                  \r\n \t
                1. Date<\/li>\r\n \t
                2. Cage ID #\r\n
                    \r\n \t
                  1. Multiple cage IDs can be listed in a single entry if the same care is provided to each cage.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                  2. Task code<\/li>\r\n \t
                  3. Initials of the person performing the task.\r\n
                      \r\n \t
                    1. The individual providing care is required to be listed as personnel on the applicable protocol.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                    2. ULAM husbandry personnel evaluate rodents as documented in the Mouse and Rat Husbandry SOP<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em>\r\n
                        \r\n \t
                      1. Communication via email with investigative personnel is initiated under the following conditions:\r\n
                          \r\n \t
                        1. Care tasks are not properly documented on the Lab Will Care Log.<\/li>\r\n \t
                        2. Cages are identified with inadequate or no food and\/or water.\r\n
                            \r\n \t
                          1. Review the Lab Will Care sticker for indication of restriction to food and\/or water.<\/li>\r\n \t
                          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.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                          3. Cages are identified as \u00bc wet or more, but bedding is not fully saturated.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                          4. Include the following information in the email and send to the contact listed on the affected cage:\r\n
                              \r\n \t
                            1. Rack number<\/li>\r\n \t
                            2. Slot number<\/li>\r\n \t
                            3. Room number<\/li>\r\n \t
                            4. Building<\/li>\r\n \t
                            5. Cage ID of cage(s)<\/li>\r\n \t
                            6. A cut-off time for acknowledgement and response plan from investigative personnel:\r\n
                                \r\n \t
                              1. Monday-Friday: 2:00PM<\/li>\r\n \t
                              2. Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 10:30AM<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                              3. ULAM Husbandry personnel provide food, water, and\/or cage change if:\r\n
                                  \r\n \t
                                1. Investigative personnel responded to communication but failed to perform required care tasks by the following day.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                2. Investigative personnel have not responded by the designated cut-off time.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                3. Cage bottom is fully saturated or contains standing water.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                                4. ULAM Husbandry personnel document any care tasks that are performed as follows:\r\n
                                    \r\n \t
                                  1. Place a yellow acetate in the vertical (\u201cup\u201d) position behind the cage card and record \u201cULAM [fed\/watered\/CC] at [date\/time]\u201d.\r\n
                                      \r\n \t
                                    1. Locate, identify, and provide special feed\/water as indicated on associated SToP Form of affected cage(s).\r\n
                                        \r\n \t
                                      1. Provide standard rodent chow (Lab Diet #5LOD) and\/or regular water if the laboratory\u2019s special food\/water cannot be located or identified.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                      2. Record \u201cULAM [fed\/watered] at [time] using [type of food\/water]\u201d on the Lab Will Care Log and include the affected cage IDs.s.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                                      3. Handle flooded cage(s)\/fully saturated cage bottoms as outlined in the Mouse and Rat Husbandry SOP<\/a>.\r\n
                                          \r\n \t
                                        1. Record \u201cULAM CC\u201d at [time] on the Lab Will Care Log and include the affected cage IDs.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                                        2. Charge technician time per the Technician Time Charge Report SOP<\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t
                                        3. Remove the acetate after 3 business days.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                                        4. Separation of a Lab Will Care cage by ULAM husbandry personnel (overcrowded conditions, fighting, weaning, etc.):\r\n
                                            \r\n \t
                                          1. \r\n
                                              \r\n \t
                                            1. \r\n
                                                \r\n \t
                                              1. \r\n
                                                  \r\n \t
                                                1. Follow steps for separating cages following weaning pups and evaluating cage density procedures in the Mouse and Rat Husbandry SOP<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                                2. Ensure the new cage conditions (bedding, food, water, enrichment, etc.) are identical to original cage.\r\n
                                                    \r\n \t
                                                  1. Divide available special food\/water among separated cages.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                                                  2. Place a yellow Lab Will Care acetate, copying the information from the original cage acetate, minus the Cage ID.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                                  3. Email the investigative personnel listed on the associated SToP Form and include:\r\n
                                                      \r\n \t
                                                    1. The Cage ID that required separation.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                                    2. The rack, slot number, room number, and building of new cage(s).<\/li>\r\n \t
                                                    3. The need to assign a new Cage ID(s) to newly separated cages.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                                    4. Whether the new cage needs special food or water added.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t
                                                    5. ULAM husbandry personnel check for full or completed Lab Will Care Logs monthly.\r\n
                                                        \r\n \t
                                                      1. Place completed\/full Lab Will Care Logs in the designated location.\r\n
                                                          \r\n \t
                                                        1. See the husbandry supervisor for designated locations.<\/li>\r\n \t
                                                        2. The husbandry supervisor shreds completed animal room logs after one year.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","legacy_media_position":"","legacy_media_file":"","legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":null},{"legacy_section_type":"heading","legacy_heading":"Appendices","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":"","legacy_media_file":"","legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":null},{"legacy_section_type":"text_area_with_subheading","legacy_heading":"","legacy_subheading":"Appendix A: Memorandum of Understanding - Lab Assumes Care","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":"media-full","legacy_media_file":3156,"legacy_media_url":"https:\/\/az.research.umich.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/media\/embedded\/Memorandum%20of%20Understanding%20%28PI%20to%20sign%29_3.pdf","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":[{"legacy_button":{"title":"Memorandum of Understanding - Lab Assumes Care (PDF Download)","url":"https:\/\/az.research.umich.edu\/animalcare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/MOU-\u2013-Lab-Will-Care-\u2013-PI-to-Sign.pdf","target":""},"legacy_import_link":true}]},{"legacy_section_type":"link_button","legacy_heading":"Appendix B: Lab Will Care Log","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":"","legacy_media_file":"","legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":[{"legacy_button":{"title":"Memorandum of Understanding - Lab Assumes Care","url":"https:\/\/az.research.umich.edu\/animalcare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/Memo-of-Understanding_Lab-will-care.pdf","target":""},"legacy_import_link":true}]},{"legacy_section_type":"text_area_with_subheading","legacy_heading":"","legacy_subheading":"Appendix B: Lab Will Care Log","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":"media-full","legacy_media_file":3157,"legacy_media_url":"https:\/\/az.research.umich.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/media\/embedded\/Lab%20Will%20Care%20Log%20%28HazMat%29.pdf","legacy_glossary_term":"","legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":"","legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":[{"legacy_button":{"title":"Lab Will Care Hazmat Log (PDF Download)","url":"https:\/\/az.research.umich.edu\/animalcare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/01\/Lab-Will-Care-Log-HazMat.pdf","target":""},"legacy_import_link":true}]},{"legacy_section_type":"link_button","legacy_heading":"","legacy_subheading":"","legacy_section_text":"","legacy_media_position":false,"legacy_media_file":null,"legacy_media_url":"","legacy_glossary_term":null,"legacy_glossary_nids":"","legacy_resource":null,"legacy_resource_nids":"","legacy_buttons":[{"legacy_button":{"title":"Lab Will Care Hazmat Log","url":"https:\/\/az.research.umich.edu\/animalcare\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/04\/Lab-Will-Care-Log-HazMat-04.26.pdf","target":""},"legacy_import_link":true}]}],"update_notice_type":[51,55,52,53,54],"update_notice_start":"2026-02-20 21:00:00","update_notice_end":"2026-05-22 21:00:00","update_notice_text_blocks":[{"update_notice_text":"

                                                          Summary of Changes<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\r\n