Rodent

The effects of enrichment with music or colorful light on the welfare of restrained mice

Objective: To investigate the positive effects of four different forms of environmental enrichment on the welfare of mice subjected to restraint stress with the purpose of screening suitable enrichment. Method: Mice undergoing poor welfare due to repeated restraint were kept...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hu, Y., Xu, L., Yang, F. et al. 2007. The effects of enrichment with music or colorful light on the welfare of restrained mice. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 27(2), 71-76.

The effect of housing rats in a stimulus rich versus stimulus poor environment on preference measured by sigmoid double demand curves

The present experiment investigated if the double demand curve method is sensitive to differences in housing conditions. We tested if rats performed more pressing when housed under barren compared to stimulating conditions, and if cross-points were ultimately affected. The experiment...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Holm, L., Ladewig, J. 2007. The effect of housing rats in a stimulus rich versus stimulus poor environment on preference measured by sigmoid double demand curves. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 107(3-4), 342-354.

Massage-like stroking of rats

Massage is an ancient treatment that still is commonly used in humans. Massage is reported to have several beneficial effects including activation of the relaxation and growth response that is proposed to be mediated by oxytocin (OT). In the present...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Holst, S. 2007. Massage-like stroking of rats. Acta Universitatis agriculturae Sueciae 124, 124 (Abstract).

A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management

In this article, recent publications are examined to determine the potential impact of new scientific evidence on current practices for the housing and care of laboratory rodents. The discussion points out recent advances in technology and new knowledge of the...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gonder, J. C., Laber, K. 2007. A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management. ILAR Journal 48(1), 29-46.

The duration of capture and restraint during anesthesia and euthanasia influences glucocorticoid levels in male golden hamsters

Since the stress response of the HPA is sensitive to many unwanted and uncontrollable factors, these results must be interpreted with caution. The positive effect of deep bedding could be diminished by methodological problems during handling at the time that...

Year Published: 2007Animal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G., Fischer, K., Hauzenberger, A. R. et al. 2007. The duration of capture and restraint during anesthesia and euthanasia influences glucocorticoid levels in male golden hamsters. Lab Animal 36(4), 41-47.

Environmental enrichment:Running wheels; burrows for rats and gerbils

Running wheels provide suitable enrichment rodents.The need to dig a burrow is probably not as strong in rats as it seems to be in mice. In sharp contrast to rats - who are very curious - mice are reluctant to...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Gerbil, Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment:Running wheels; burrows for rats and gerbils. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 72-74. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Feeding enrichment for mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats and sheep

Feeding enrichment is a practical option for animals kept in research laboratories. The regular provision of thoroughly cleaned, whole fruits and vegetables and of seeds scattered on woodchips or corncob bedding is probably the easiest yet most effective way to...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cat, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Feeding enrichment for mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats and sheep. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 51-60. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Environmental enrichment: Vertical space enhancement

Under normal circumstances - when the cage is not flooded - rodents do not necessarily benefit from a raised platform, unless it also provides cover.Raised resting surfaces are liked by dogs. They provide some degree of security, increase the dog's...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment:Vertical space enhancement. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 80-86. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Individual housing – justifications

Studies in which I feel single-housing of rodents and rabbits is justified are those involving cannulatio, nutrition studies where we need to record intake/refusals,post-op animals after substantial surgery where the patient needs intensive nursin g.All single-caged animals must be housed...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Individual housing - justifications. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 29-30. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Making use of the stress buffering influence of a companion: Post-operative care

We have mice who are recovering from telemetry-implantation while being housed either alone or in pairs. With several years of experience with this surgery, we now are pretty sure that socially housed mice feel better than individually housed mice.I can...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Making use of the stress buffering influence of a companion: Post-operative care. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 101. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.