Rat

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.

Double dissociation of social and environmental stimulation on spatiallearning and reversal learning in rats

These findings strengthen the view that social and inanimate stimulation act, at least in part, upon dissociable neural substrates.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Schrijver, N. C., Pallier, P. N., Brown, V. J. et al. 2004. Double dissociation of social and environmental stimulation on spatiallearning and reversal learning in rats. Behavioral Brain Research 152, 307-314.

Consequences of enhancing environmental complexity for laboratory rodents – a review with emphasis on the rat

Where the behavioural benefits of environmental enrichment justify the use of more animals [increased variabilty], better welfare should be more highly valued than a reduction in the number of animals used.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B., Ottesen, J. L., Hansen, A. K. 2004. Consequences of enhancing environmental complexity for laboratory rodents - a review with emphasis on the rat. Animal Welfare 13, 193-204.

Rat preferences for commercially available simulated burrows

Rats preferred to spend their time during the light phase in Rodent Retreats compared to Rat Shacks or on open bedding.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Saad, M., Sharp, J., Azar, T. et al. 2004. Rat preferences for commercially available simulated burrows . American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 137 (Abstract).

Rat’s demand for group size

Rats had a preference for groups of 5 animals.

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Patterson-Kane, E. G., Hunt, M., Harper, D. 2004. Rat's demand for group size. Applied Animal Welfare Science 7, 267-272.

Enrichment of laboratory caging for rats: A review

Rats demonstrate high demand for social contact and prefer lager cages, and cages with shelters, nesting material and foraging devices.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Patterson-Kane, E. G. 2004. Enrichment of laboratory caging for rats: A review. Animal Welfare 13(S), 209-214.

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.

The importance of learning young: the use of nesting material in laboratory rats

Unlike mice, adult laboratory rats do not spontaneously build nests when nesting material is offered. As a result, nesting material is often regarded as unsuitable environmental enrichment for laboratory rats. Wild rats and pet rats, however, have been observed to...

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Baumans, V. 2004. The importance of learning young: the use of nesting material in laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 38, 17-24.

Environmental options for laboratory rats and mice

Environmental enrichment is the alteration of animals' microenvironment to provide them with the opportunity to perform species-specific behaviors that we perceive as positive, while reducing abnormal behaviors. [p. 39] From my experience in providing environmental ernichment benefits for the animal,...

Year Published: 2004Animal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Key, D. 2004. Environmental options for laboratory rats and mice. Lab Animal 33(2), 39-44.

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.