Publications

Animals with various forms of abnormal behaviour differ in learning performance and use of enrichment: Evidence from farm mink

Abnormal behaviour has been related to differences in cognitive function and reduced animal welfare. However, these associations are understudied, and little is known about how various forms of abnormal behaviour affect learning performance, stress responses and use of enrichment. We...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mink

Citation: Malmkvist, J., Díez-León, M., Christensen, J. W. 2024. Animals with various forms of abnormal behaviour differ in learning performance and use of enrichment: Evidence from farm mink. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 271, 106167.

New perspectives in the objective evaluation of animal welfare, with focus on the domestic pig

Animal welfare can be viewed as the result of integrating repeated affective evaluations of success in coping with environmental challenges, i.e., subjective challenge adequacy. The present work summarizes why established physiological and behavioral welfare parameters are inadequate to assess challenge...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Manteuffel, C., Spitschak, M., Ludwig, C. et al. 2023. New perspectives in the objective evaluation of animal welfare, with focus on the domestic pig. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 26(4), 518–529.

Impact of visual barrier removal on the behavior of shelter-housed dogs

With millions of dogs housed in shelters each year, it is important to consider how the shelter environment impacts welfare. Social isolation and a lack of control over the environment can negatively impact wellbeing. However, providing social opportunities requires costly...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Martin, A. L., Walthers, C. M., Pattillo, M. J. et al. 2023. Impact of visual barrier removal on the behavior of shelter-housed dogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 26(4), 596–606.

A flexible endotracheal tube introducer improves first-attempt success of intubation in cats by novice anesthetists

OBJECTIVE To test whether the use of a flexible endotracheal tube introducer (ETI) facilitates intubation of cats by veterinary students with little or no experience. ANIMALS 125 healthy cats. PROCEDURES Cats were sedated with dexmedetomidine and morphine IM, and anesthesia...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Martin-Flores, M., Sakai, D. M., Muto, R. M. et al. 2022. A flexible endotracheal tube introducer improves first-attempt success of intubation in cats by novice anesthetists. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 260(11), 1324–1329.

A pharmacokinetic and analgesic efficacy study of carprofen in female CD1 mice

The minimization of pain in research animals is a scientific and ethical necessity. Carprofen is commonly used for pain management in mice; however, some data suggest that the standard dosage of 5 mg/kg may not provide adequate analgesia after surgery....

Year Published: 2023Topics: AnalgesiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: McKenna, B. A., Weaver, H. L., Kim, J. et al. 2023. A pharmacokinetic and analgesic efficacy study of carprofen in female CD1 mice. JAALAS 62(6), 545–552.

Towards more translatable research: Exploring alternatives to gavage as the oral administration route of vaccines in rodents for improved animal welfare and human relevance

Oral vaccines are gaining attention for their ease of administration and ability to activate mucosal immune responses. However, preclinical studies using this route often require the use of gavage, which has limitations. In this comment, we briefly discuss the challenges...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Miguelena Chamorro, B., Swaminathan, G., Mundt, E. et al. 2023. Towards more translatable research: Exploring alternatives to gavage as the oral administration route of vaccines in rodents for improved animal welfare and human relevance. Lab Animal 52(9), 195–197.

Group size planning for breedings of gene-modified mice and other organisms following Mendelian inheritance

Colony management of gene-modified animals is time-consuming, costly and affected by random events related to Mendelian genetics, fertility and litter size. Careful planning is mandatory to ensure successful outcomes using the least number of animals, hence adhering to the 3R...

Year Published: 2023Topics: ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Milchevskaya, V., Bugnon, P., ten Buren, E. B. J. et al. 2023. Group size planning for breedings of gene-modified mice and other organisms following Mendelian inheritance. Lab Animal 52(8), 183–188.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) distinguish between two human caretakers and their associated roles within a captive environment

Zebrafish have become a popular biomedical model in recent decades, and are now maintained in laboratories worldwide. However, living within a captive environment can introduce novel environmental stressors and experiencing stress chronically can negatively affect animal welfare and, if applicable,...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Miller, S. L., Leri, F., Pushinsky, A. et al. 2023. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) distinguish between two human caretakers and their associated roles within a captive environment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 267, 106053.

Evaluation of dexmedetomidine-midazolam sedation in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the sedative effects of IM administration of a high or low dose of dexmedetomidine in combination with midazolam in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). ANIMALS 20 healthy adult budgerigars. PROCEDURES In a prospective, randomized, blinded study, birds were sedated...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Mumm, L. E., Mans, C. 2022. Evaluation of dexmedetomidine-midazolam sedation in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 260(10), 1194–1199.

Use of loss of righting reflex to assess susceptibility to carbon dioxide gas in three mouse strains

Exposure to CO2 gas is a common rodent euthanasia method. CO2 activates nociceptors in rats and is painful to humans at concentrations equal to or greater than 32.5% The concentration of CO2 at which rodents become unconsciousness is inadequately defined....

Year Published: 2023Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Munro, B. A., Merenick, D. R., Gee, J. M. et al. 2023. Use of loss of righting reflex to assess susceptibility to carbon dioxide gas in three mouse strains. JAALAS 62(6), 553–558.