Quote Originally Posted by Lizardlicks View Post
From my understanding Rodent Pro had problems in the past with sourcing their stock from lab surplus. Peoples where unknowingly feeding their animals rats with tumors, microchips embedded, etc. and deaths occurred because of this. They claim to have resolved it, but that's not a risk I'm willing to take with my animals. I would not trust Rodent Pro as far as I could kick 'em.
I find it really hard to believe that this actually happened. IRB and IACUC strictly regulate the disposal and usage of laboratory animals post research. After animals are sacrificed in labs, we sort them into different disposal streams based on what has been done to them. Any change at all to their normal physiology requires them to be sealed appropriately and disposed of accordingly. Our research institution participates in the Raptor Safe program, and any animals that go to them have to be completely unchanged. Even a small dissection of any organ disqualifies them.

If a lab got caught selling lab animals to outside sources inappropriately, NIH, FDA and the Fed would drop a bomb on them.

Also, rats are extremely pre-disposed to tumors, and will usually develop an oncogenic phenotype naturally given enough time.