Guinea Pig

Comfortable quarters for guinea-pigs in research institutions

Practical guidelines for the species-adequate housing of guinea pigs in research facilities. Animals living in groups should be provided a floor area of no less than 1200 cm2 per breeding female, and no less then 750 cm2 per weaned, non-breeding...

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 2002. Comfortable quarters for guinea-pigs in research institutions. In: Comfortable Quarters for Laboratory Animals, Ninth Edition. Reinhardt, V. , Reinhardt, A. (eds.), 39-43. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Progression of environmental enrichment at Sequani Limited

Several enrichment options for beagles, rabbits and guinea pigs are described.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog, Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Prowse, L. 2002. Progression of environmental enrichment at Sequani Limited. Animal Technology and Welfare 1, 119-121.

Guinea pig enrichment

Some feeding and inanimate enrichment options are listed.

Year Published: 2002Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: White, E., Hartner, M. 2002. Guinea pig enrichment. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 7(1), 7.

Sex specific difference in social support – a study in female guinea pigs

In female guinea pigs social support can be provided by social partners. In contrast to males, however, not only the bonding partner is able to reduce the female's stress responses, but also a familiar conspecific, though in a less effective...

Year Published: 2003Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Kaiser, S., Kirtzeck, M., Hornschuh, G. et al. 2003. Sex specific difference in social support - a study in female guinea pigs. Physiology and Behavior 79, 297-303.

Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research

Expanding on the National Research Council's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, this book deals specifically with mammals in neuroscience and behavioral research laboratories. It offers flexible guidelines for the care of these animals, and guidance on...

Year Published: 2003Topics: Regulations & Ethical Review, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Ferret, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: National Research Council. 2003. Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research. National Academic Press: Washington, DC, 223 pp.

Social environment affects peripheral oxytocin and cortisol during stress responses in guinea-pigs

Cortisol was elevated in individually housed animals compared to male-female pairs. The stress-induced behavioral immobility response after exposure to a noise stressor was significantly reduced in preferred males and to a lesser extent in their female partners.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Machatschke, I. H., Wallner, B., Schams, D. et al. 2004. Social environment affects peripheral oxytocin and cortisol during stress responses in guinea-pigs. Ethology 110, 161-176.

Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals

Includes regulatory compliance, program development and management, common environmental enrichment strategies, program assessment and monitoring. A key component to the enrichment program development is the understanding of the natural behavior and habitat of each species housed in the animal facility....

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General, Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Ferret, Gerbil, Gibbon, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mole Rat, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Stewart, K. L. , Bayne, K. 2004. Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals. In: Laboratory Animal Medicine and Management. Reuter, J. D. , Suckow, M. A. (Eds). International Veterinary Information Service, Ithaca, New York.

The welfare of laboratory guinea pigs

Recommendations on species-adequate housing and husbandry of guinea pigs with special emphasis on social housing.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Sachser, N., Kunzl, C., Kaiser, S. 2004. The welfare of laboratory guinea pigs. In: The Welfare of Laboratory Animals. Kaliste, E. (ed), 181-209. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

New housing conditions: Improving the welfare of experimental animals

Prototypes for new housing systems satisfying the most important of these basic needs of the animals were developed. Along with newly introduced socialization programs [they] contribute to improved animal welfare. .. Mice need to be able to rest, hide and...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Dog, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Ottesen, J. L., Weber, A., Gertler, H. et al. 2004. New housing conditions: Improving the welfare of experimental animals. Alternatives to Laboratory Animals [ATLA] 32(Supplement), 397-404.

Housing, care and environmental factors

General discussion on husbandry and regulatory issues pertaining to the housing and care of laboratory animals.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: All/General, Dog, Guinea Pig, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hansen, A. K. , Baumans, V. 2004. Housing, care and environmental factors. In: The Welfare of Laboratory Animals. Kaliste, E. (ed), 37-50. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.