|
| Variable | Score and description |
|
| Appearance | 0—coat is smooth |
| 1—patches of hair piloerected |
| 2—majority of the back is piloerected |
| 3—piloerection may or may not be present; the mouse appears “puffy” |
| 4—piloerection may or may not be present; the mouse appears emaciated |
|
| Level of consciousness | 0—the mouse is active |
| 1—the mouse is active but avoids standing upright |
| 2—mouse activity is noticeably slowed. The mouse is still ambulant |
| 3—activity is impaired. The mouse only moves when provoked; movements have a tremor |
| 4—activity severely impaired. Mouse remains stationary when provoked, with possible tremor |
|
| Activity | 0—normal amount of activity. The mouse is any of the following: eating, drinking, climbing, running, or fighting |
| 1—slightly suppressed activity. The mouse is moving around the bottom of the cage |
| 2—suppressed activity. The mouse is stationary with occasional investigative movements |
| 3—no activity. The mouse is stationary |
| 4—no activity. The mouse is experiencing tremors, particularly in the hind legs |
|
| Response to stimulus | 0—the mouse responds immediately to auditory stimulus or touch |
| 1—slow or no response to auditory stimulus; strong response to touch (moves to escape) |
| 2—no response to auditory stimulus; moderate response to touch (moves a few steps) |
| 3—no response to auditory stimulus; mild response to touch (no locomotion) |
| 4—no response to auditory stimulus. Little or no response to touch. Cannot right itself if pushed over |
|
| Eyes | 0—open |
| 1—eyes not fully open, possibly with secretions |
| 2—eyes at least half closed, possibly with secretions |
| 3—eyes half closed or more, possibly with secretions |
| 4—eyes closed or milky |
|
| Respiration rate | 0—normal, rapid mouse respiration |
| 1—slightly decreased respiration (rate not quantifiable by eye) |
| 2—moderately reduced respiration (rate at the upper range of quantifying by eye) |
| 3—severely reduced respiration (rate easily countable by eye, 0.5 s between breaths) |
| 4—extremely reduced respiration (>1 s between breaths) |
|
| Respiration quality | 0—normal |
| 1—brief periods of laboured breathing |
| 2—laboured, no gasping |
| 3—laboured with intermittent gasps |
| 4—gasping |
|
