Publications

A promising novel judgement bias test to evaluate affective states in dogs (Canis familiaris)

The judgement bias test represents one of the most applied tools to evaluate animals' optimistic/pessimistic attitude and to infer their emotional and welfare state accordingly. The judgement bias test (JBT) has been used several times with dogs (Canis familiaris), in...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Burani, C., Pelosi, A., Valsecchi, P. 2022. A promising novel judgement bias test to evaluate affective states in dogs (Canis familiaris). Animal Cognition 25(4), 837–852.

A touchscreen-based, multiple-choice approach to cognitive enrichment of captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

Research on the psychological and physiological well-being of captive animals has focused on investigating different types of social and structural enrichment. Consequently, cognitive enrichment has been understudied, despite the promising external validity, comparability, and applicability. As we aim to fill...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Calapai, A., Pfefferle, D., Cassidy, L. C. et al. 2023. A touchscreen-based, multiple-choice approach to cognitive enrichment of captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Animals 13(17), 2702.

Evaluation of healing progression at surgical incision sites and the use of antiseptics for enhancing post-operative survival in subyearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

In an attempt to develop more effective surgical implantation methods for fish, surgical incisions typical of those made for implanting micro-acoustic transmitters into the peritoneal cavity were evaluated on a weekly basis for healing progression using a suite of metrics....

Year Published: 2023Topics: Identification Method, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Fish, Salmon

Citation: Cameron, A. S., Rub, A. M. W., Sandford, B. P. 2023. Evaluation of healing progression at surgical incision sites and the use of antiseptics for enhancing post-operative survival in subyearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). PLOS ONE 18(7), e0288056.

Environmental enrichment influences spatial learning ability in captive-reared intertidal gobies (Bathygobius cocosensis)

Behavioural plasticity is an advantageous trait for animals living in dynamic environments, and can be induced through learning. While some behavioural traits are innate, others are framed by experience and learning during an individual's lifetime. Many studies have investigated cognitive...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Carbia, P. S., Brown, C. 2019. Environmental enrichment influences spatial learning ability in captive-reared intertidal gobies (Bathygobius cocosensis). Animal Cognition 22(1), 89–98.

Impact of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavior and multifractal complexity of metabolic rate in Octodon degus

Social interaction can improve animal performance through the prevention of stress-related events, the provision of security, and the enhancement of reproductive output and survival. We investigated the effects of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavioral, cognitive, and physiological performance...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Other Rodent, Rodent

Citation: Cavieres, G., Bozinovic, F., Bogdanovich, J. M. et al. 2023. Impact of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavior and multifractal complexity of metabolic rate in Octodon degus. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 17.

Here puppy, chew on this: Short-term provision of toys does not improve welfare in companion dogs

Retail dog toys are often provided to companion animals to provide cognitive and physical stimu- lation and improve the animals' quality of life. These toys, sometimes known as “enrichment toys”, have been shown to play a role in increasing appetite...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Chan, K., Arellano, C., Horowitz, A. 2023. Here puppy, chew on this: Short-term provision of toys does not improve welfare in companion dogs. Animals 13(21), 3340.

Noninvasive measurement of blood calcium concentration using electrocardiography in peripartum Jersey cows

We previously developed a noninvasive method for measuring blood calcium concentration (Ca) in Holstein cows on site using electrocardiographic (ECG) variables and calving number, based on a high positive correlation between Ca. Jersey cows easily develop peripartum hypocalcemia compared with...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Chiba, Y., Nozaki, I., Itoh, M. et al. 2023. Noninvasive measurement of blood calcium concentration using electrocardiography in peripartum Jersey cows. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 10.

Early-life object exposure with a habituated mother reduces fear reactions in foals

Fear reactions in horses are a major cause of horse–human accidents, and identification of effective pathways for reduction in fearfulness can help decreasing the frequency of accidents. For a young mammal, the mother is one of the most salient aspects...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Christensen, J. W. 2016. Early-life object exposure with a habituated mother reduces fear reactions in foals. Animal Cognition 19(1), 171–179.

Cognitive enrichment and welfare: Current approaches and future directions

Cognitive enrichment” is a subset of enrichment that has gained interest from researchers over the past decade, particularly those working in zoos. This review explores the forms of cognitive enrichment that have been attempted for laboratory, farmed and zoo animals...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Clark, F. 2017. Cognitive enrichment and welfare: Current approaches and future directions. Animal Behavior and Cognition 4(1), 52–71.

Comparison of a minimally invasive transthoracic approach and a surgical method for intrapleural injection of tumor cells in mice

Intrapleural injections can be used in mice to deliver therapeutic and diagnostic agents and to model human disease processes (for example, pleural fluid accumulation, malignant pleural disease, and lung cancers). In the context of establishing cancer models, minimally invasive methods...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Xu, J. J., Lucero, M. Y., Herndon, N. L. et al. 2023. Comparison of a minimally invasive transthoracic approach and a surgical method for intrapleural injection of tumor cells in mice. Comparative Medicine 73(2), 120–126.