Blood collection techniques in exotic small mammals

Venipuncture may be very useful in clinical practice as a blood sample is often necessary to check the general health of a patient or for measurement of specific parameters.

Different techniques and venipuncture sites may be used and the choice of which one to use may rely on several factors, including size of the patient, parameters to be checked, sample frequency, as well as familiarity with the patient’s species and the technique used to collect the desired sample.

This article provides a practical step by step guide to the most commonly used techniques in the exotic small mammal species most frequently seen in general practice.