Abstract
The feasibility of administering the pain reliever acetaminophen to rats via their water bottles was examined in this study. Two different preparations of acetaminophen were used, a cherry-flavored suspension and an alcohol-containing solution. Both preparations of acetaminophen were diluted to 6 mg/ml by using normal drinking water. When healthy unmanipulated rats were exposed to either of the acetaminophen preparations for the first time, the animals showed a dramatic reduction in fluid intake. A marked reduction in food intake also was associated with the cherry-flavored preparation. These reductions appear to be an expression of the well-characterized neophobic response that can be demonstrated by rodents when they encounter a novel taste. This neophobic behavior suggests that administering pain relievers to rats via their drinking water is counterproductive as a means of providing pain relief.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 15-17 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| State | Published - 2001 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- veterinary(all)