How can you starve mice? - briefly
Denying access to all food sources—by sealing entry points, removing stored grains, and eliminating feeding stations—forces mice to exhaust their energy reserves within days. Simultaneously removing water accelerates dehydration and mortality.
How can you starve mice? - in detail
Depriving a rodent of nourishment requires precise control of its environment. Begin by confining the animal in a sealed enclosure that eliminates accidental access to food. Ensure the enclosure is constructed of material that does not permit small insects or debris to enter, as these could serve as unintended sustenance.
Remove all edible items from the surroundings. This includes standard rodent chow, seed mixes, fruit scraps, and any organic material that might be present on bedding. Replace the bedding with a sterile, non‑nutritive substrate such as clean paper chips or fine sand. Verify that cleaning agents used on the enclosure have been thoroughly rinsed to avoid residual nutrients.
Implement a strict monitoring schedule. Record the animal’s weight, activity level, and signs of physiological stress at 12‑hour intervals. Weight loss of more than 10 % of initial body mass indicates severe caloric deficit and necessitates immediate intervention.
If the objective includes preventing access to water, install a sealed water delivery system that can be turned off at a predetermined time. Note that water deprivation accelerates dehydration and can lead to organ failure within 48–72 hours, making it a critical factor in the starvation process.
Maintain environmental conditions that do not compensate for the lack of food. Keep temperature, humidity, and lighting constant to avoid metabolic fluctuations that could alter energy expenditure. Avoid providing enrichment objects that contain edible components, such as wooden chew toys treated with oil or wax.
Document all procedures meticulously. Include timestamps for each action, observations of behavioral changes, and any interventions performed. This record ensures reproducibility and fulfills regulatory requirements for animal experimentation.
Finally, be aware of legal and ethical frameworks governing the use of animals in research. Compliance with institutional animal care and use committees (IACUC) or equivalent bodies is mandatory. Failure to adhere to these standards can result in sanctions and compromise the validity of the study.