Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Which of the following would be primarily used to sedate an animal?

1. Analgesics

2. NSAIDs

3. Antibiotics

4. Tranquilizers

The correct answer is: Tranquilizers

Tranquilizers are primarily used to sedate an animal as they act on the central nervous system to reduce anxiety, agitation, and induce a calming effect. These medications can help facilitate handling procedures, medical treatments, or surgeries by making the animal more manageable. Their primary function is to decrease behavioral response, which is essential in laboratory settings where stress can affect research outcomes and animal welfare. Other options like analgesics and NSAIDs focus on pain relief and inflammation management, respectively, rather than sedation. Antibiotics target bacterial infections and do not provide any sedation effects. Therefore, tranquilizers are specifically designed for sedation, making them the correct choice in this context.