What should be monitored to detect health problems related to nutrition in mice?

• A. Food and water intake.
• B. Cage temperature only.
• C. Activity of lighting.
• D. Vocalization frequency.

Answer: (A)

Monitoring food and water intake is the best way to catch nutrition-related health problems in mice. Changes in how much they eat or drink almost always signal something affecting their nutritional status, such as dental issues, digestive upset, or metabolic problems, and these changes can occur before more obvious signs appear. If intake drops, intervention may be needed to prevent weight loss, dehydration, and deterioration of health. While cage temperature, lighting, or vocalization can reflect welfare or stress, they don’t directly indicate nutritional status, making intake the most reliable early indicator for nutrition-related problems.