Rodent

Enrichment in group-housed laboratory golden hamsters

Enriched hamsters [four same-sexed animals per group] showed varied behavior and less aggression toward their cagemates. The hamsters preferred jars to pipes probably because the jars' greater height, as compared to pipes, made it easy to look outside the cage.

Year Published: 1998Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Arnold, C. E., Westbrook, R. D. 1997/1998. Enrichment in group-housed laboratory golden hamsters. Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) Newsletter 8(3/4), 22-24.

Preliminary behaviour data for single and pair housed rats

Singly housed rats spent most of the time in the back of the cage, while pairs spent most time by the food hoppers. This may have been exacerbated by the presence of humans, as pair housed rats were more confident...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Heath, M. 1999. Preliminary behaviour data for single and pair housed rats. Animal Technology 50, 47-48.

Report of the 1999 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting

The following contributions are included in this database: - Practical rodent enrichment (Leach, Ambrose, Morton), - Environmental enrichment in a neurosurgical environment: the importance of licensee and technician communication ( Higgins, Eagle), - Improvements in transgenic animal husbandry and welfare:...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Rodent

Citation: Hawkins, P., Reid, R., Nevison, C. et al. 1999. Report of the 1999 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting. Animal Technology 50, 173-186.

Working together to improve rodent well-being

Highlights of the RSPCA/UFAW Rodent Welfare Group reports. Barn-dried, first-cut hay is pliable enough for the transgenic mice to construct ball-shaped nests, connected chambers, and runs (paper materials are not suitable). .... When supplied with hay, gerbils become very active...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Gerbil, Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hawkins, P. 1999. Working together to improve rodent well-being. Lab Animal 28(2), 30-32.

Report of the 1998 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting

The following contributions are included in this database:- Diet restriction through hopper design (Wrightson & Dickson), - Preliminary behaviour data for single and pair housed rats (Heath), - Rat cage modification: Improving welfare (Dickson & Wrightson).

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hawkins, P., Heath, M., Dickson, C. et al. 1999. Report of the 1998 RSPCA/UFAW rodent welfare group meeting. Animal Technology 50, 41-46.

Effect of access to a running wheel on behaviour of C57BL/6 mice

Male mice spend approximately 2 hours per 24-hour day running.

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Harri, M., Lindblom, J., Malinen, H. et al. 1999. Effect of access to a running wheel on behaviour of C57BL/6 mice. Laboratory Animal Science 49, 401-405.

Impact of home cage alterations on aggression in mice

PVC straight pipes, plumbing elbows and T pipes, and shreddible nesting squares were evaluated. Nesting squares appear to be the most effective enrichment object for reducing the incidence of aggression in group-housed male mice.

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gwinn, L. A., Krauthauser, C. L., Kerr, J. S. 1999. Impact of home cage alterations on aggression in mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 35 (Abstract).

Environmental enrichment in laboratory rodents: Animal welfare and the methods of science

Examined types of and goals for the environmental enrichment of laboratory rodents. Studies concerning environmental complexity, social housing, and increases in cage size suggest that professional judgments are not a reliable basis for evaluating the outcomes of enrichment programs. Successful...

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Galef Jr., B. G. 1999. Environmental enrichment in laboratory rodents: Animal welfare and the methods of science. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2, 267-280.

Aspen wood-wool is preferred as a resting place, but does not affect intracage fighting in male BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice

The nesting material [aspen wood-wool] used in this study did not cause any adverse effects on the animals, as determined by both behavioural and physiological observations. On the other hand, it might have a positive value for the animals; the...

Year Published: 1999Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Eskola, S., Kaliste-Korhonen, E. 1999. Aspen wood-wool is preferred as a resting place, but does not affect intracage fighting in male BALB/c and C57BL/6J mice. Laboratory Animals 33, 108-121.

Environmental enrichment may alter the number of rats needed to achieve statistical significance

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether two enrichment items, an aspen tube and block, have any impact on commonly analysed clinical chemistry and physiological parameters of Wistar rats and - more importantly - on the extent of...

Year Published: 1999Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Eskola, S., Lauhikari, M., Voipio, H.-M. et al. 1999. Environmental enrichment may alter the number of rats needed to achieve statistical significance. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 26(3), 134-144.