Hamster

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.

Potential for unintended consequences of environmental enrihment for laboratory animals and research results

Many aspects of the research animal's housing environment are controlled for quality and/or standardization. Of recent interest is the potential for environmental enrichment to have unexpected consequences such as unintended harm to the animal, or the introduction of variability into...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Hamster, Macaque, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bayne, K. 2005. Potential for unintended consequences of environmental enrihment for laboratory animals and research results. ILAR Journal 46(2), 129-139.

Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents and rabbits: Requirements of rodents, rabbits, and research

Environmental conditions such as housing and husbandry have a major impact on the laboratory animal throughout its life and will thereby influence the outcome of animal experiments. However, housing systems for laboratory animals have often been designed on the basis...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Baumans, V. 2005. Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents and rabbits: Requirements of rodents, rabbits, and research. ILAR Journal 46(2), 162-170.

Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents

In this article, laws and guidelines relating to rodent enrichment are reviewed, the natural behaviors of select rodent species are discussed, and an overview of widely used types of enrichment in laboratory rodent management is provided. Survey data on current...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Natural Behavior, Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hutchinson, E., Avery, A., Van de Woude, S. 2005. Environmental enrichment for laboratory rodents. ILAR Journal 46(2), 148-161.

How does the running wheel affect the behaviour and reproduction of golden hamsters kept as pets? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 95, 199-203

Hamster females with a functional wheel showed significantly less climbing and stereotypical bar-mouthing than females with non-functional wheels.

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G., Vonlanthen. E.M., Steiger, A. 2005. How does the running wheel affect the behaviour and reproduction of golden hamsters kept as pets? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 95, 199-203.

Collecting blood from rodents: A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum

The question was asked: "In your own experience, what is the least disturbing technique - from the subject's point of view! - of blood collection for rodents?" In summary, it is fair to conclude the clinical and ethical concerns outweigh...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Luzzi, M., Skoumbourdis, E., Baumans, V. et al. 2005. Collecting blood from rodents: A discussion by the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum. Animal Technology and Welfare 4, 99-102.

An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory ? A review

When housing hamsters and gerbils little has been done to identify the preferences of these species. The solitary nature of fat sand rats and hamsters is often discordant with housing practices in animal laboratories. This article provides a comparison of...

Year Published: 2005Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Gerbil, Hamster, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B., Krohn, T., Hansen, H. N. et al. 2005. An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory ? A review . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 93, 181-195.

Running wheel choice by Syrian hamsters

The hamsters did not express a preference when offered a choice of a running surface made of metal rods spaced 9 mm apart and a similar running surface covered with plastic mesh to prevent the possible stippage between the rods....

Year Published: 2005Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Reebs, S. G., St-Onge, P. 2005. Running wheel choice by Syrian hamsters. Laboratory Animals 4, 442-451.

Preparation of animals for research — Issues to consider for rodents and rabbits

This article provides details to consider when preparing to use animals in biomedical research. The stress of transport and receipt of animals into a new environment mandate the need for a period of stabilization and acclimation. This allotment of time...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Regulations & Ethical Review, Relocation & Transport, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Conour, L. A., Murray, K. A., Brown, M. J. 2006. Preparation of animals for research -- Issues to consider for rodents and rabbits. ILAR Journal 47(4), 283-293.

The influence of bedding depth on behaviour in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Hamsters kept with 10 cm deep bedding showed significantly more wire-gnawing and a higher running wheel activity than the hamsters in the other groups. In 80 cm deep bedding wire-gnawing was never observed.... All hamsters in 40 and 80 cm...

Year Published: 2006Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Hauzenberger, A. R., Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G., Steiger, A. 2006. The influence of bedding depth on behaviour in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 100(3-4), 280-294.