Publications

Refining the welfare of immunocompromised mice receiving carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) to induce liver fibrosis

Our method provides evidence that we can alter CCI4 dosing and implement recovery techniques to enhance Animal Welfare, whilst maintaining sufficient levels of fibrosis in the liver.

Year Published: 2023Topics: Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Walczak-Gillies, Matthews, O., Fyfe, A. et al. 2023. Refining the welfare of immunocompromised mice receiving carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) to induce liver fibrosis. Animal Technology and Welfare 22(3), 237–239.

Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats

With recent increased focus on positive welfare in animal welfare science, there is demand for objective positive welfare indicators. It is unclear whether changes in body surface temperature can be used to non-invasively identify and quantify positive states in mammals....

Year Published: 2023Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wongsaengchan, C., McCafferty, D. J., Lennox, K. et al. 2023. Non-invasive assessment of positive affective state using infra-red thermography in rats. Animal Welfare 32, e66.

A UV lamp for birds

For birds, access to direct sunlight (without the use of glass) is very important. If that cannot be achieved in captivity, then at the very least ensure provision of the right UV lamp. Appropriate UV lighting is not only important...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken, Finch, Fowl, Other Bird, Parrot

Citation: van Es, J., Zandleven, A. 2023. A UV lamp for birds. RATEL (Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers) 50(3-4), 4-7.

An overview of black tree monitor (Varanus beccarii) husbandry

This article describes the enclosure, environmental parameters, feeding, enclosure dynamics, breeding, handling, identification, and enrichment for zoo-housed black tree monitors.

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Handling, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Identification Method, Reproduction, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Newton, R. 2023. An overview of black tree monitor (Varanus beccarii) husbandry. RATEL (Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers) 50(3-4), 24-25.

Comparison of systemic extended-release buprenorphine and local extended-release bupivacaine-meloxicam as analgesics for laparotomy in mice

Extended-release (ER) local anesthetics can be used in multi-modal analgesia or in situations in which systemic analgesics may alter animal physiology and thus introduce interpretational confounds. In this study, we compared the analgesic efficacy of an ER buprenorphine formulation with...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Analgesia, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Yang, P., Hish, G., Lester, P. A. 2023. Comparison of systemic extended-release buprenorphine and local extended-release bupivacaine-meloxicam as analgesics for laparotomy in mice. JAALAS 62(5), 416–422.

Comparison of low and high doses of pentobarbital or thiopental for euthanasia of isoflurane-anesthetized pigs

Barbiturate overdose is a common method for euthanizing pigs. However, barbiturates can cause tissue damage and may affect experimental results, so the minimal dose should be used. The minimal dose of barbiturate for euthanasia in pigs under isoflurane anesthesia has...

Year Published: 2023Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Yoshida, K. 2023. Comparison of low and high doses of pentobarbital or thiopental for euthanasia of isoflurane-anesthetized pigs. JAALAS 62(2), 185–188.

The effects of enrichment on an abnormal behaviour in naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) at Tilgate Nature Centre

The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a relatively rare mammal in zoological collections with only nine zoos in the United Kingdom holding colonies of varying sizes at the time of study. This study aims to determine whether housing the...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, HousingAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hatcher, N. 2022. The effects of enrichment on an abnormal behaviour in naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) at Tilgate Nature Centre. RATEL (Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers) 49(4), 15-18.

The effects of enrichment novelty versus complexity in cages of group-housed rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Although experimental work on environmental enrichment has answered many important questions, it is not yet known whether beneficial effects of enrichment are more strongly influenced by regular provision of novel objects, or by the diversity of objects present at any...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Abou-Ismail, U. A., Mendl, M. T. 2016. The effects of enrichment novelty versus complexity in cages of group-housed rats (Rattus norvegicus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 180, 130-139.

Effects of breeding configuration on maternal and weanling behavior in laboratory mice

Although numerous studies have evaluated the effect of housing density on the wellbeing of laboratory mice, little is known about the effect of breeding configuration on mouse behavior. The 8th edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of...

Year Published: 2017Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Braden, G. C., Rasmussen, S., Monette, S. et al. 2017. Effects of breeding configuration on maternal and weanling behavior in laboratory mice. JAALAS 56(4), 369-376.

Measuring ramp use in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

To investigate the utility of ramps as enrichment and as a method for establishing demand for commodities, the latency to climb a ramp of increasing slope to obtain food was measured in four guinea pigs. The average height where guinea...

Year Published: 2022Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rodent

Citation: Begum-Diamond, Z., Neuhauser, J. E., Cameron, K. E. 2022. Measuring ramp use in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior 118(2), 292-301.