Publications

Fasting of male mice – Effects of time point of initiation and duration on clinical chemistry parameters and animal welfare

Fasting of mice is a common procedure, which can affect the outcome of the study as well as animal welfare. In this study, we assess the effects of fasting, fasting duration and fasting initiation time in relation to light schedule...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Jensen, T. L., Kiersgaard, M. K., Mikkelsen, L. F. et al. 2019. Fasting of male mice – Effects of time point of initiation and duration on clinical chemistry parameters and animal welfare. Laboratory Animals 53(6), 587–597.

Increase in morbidity and mortality in a shipment of red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans)

A cohort of captive-bred red-eared slider turtles, Trachemys scripta, was received from a commercial vendor. Shortly after arrival, several turtles presented as lethargic with subjectively pale skin and multifocal areas of cotton-like tufts in the mouth area and distal extremities....

Year Published: 2019Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Eichner, M., Garcia, K. 2019. Increase in morbidity and mortality in a shipment of red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans). Laboratory Animals 53(6), 634–640.

Environmental and psychological enrichment for NHPs reimagined and repurposed

This article describes creative enrichment ideas for nonhuman primates, including celery stalks embedded with seeds; paper rolled into tubes, braided and filled with fruit and seeds; pineapple crowns loaded with treats; dry spaghetti noodles coated with honey and seeds; and...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Heyworth, C., Olivo, D. 2018. Environmental and psychological enrichment for NHPs reimagined and repurposed. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 5(4) (December), 39-43.

Attempting enrichment harmonization across multiple sites and embracing our differences

A glabal enrichment committee incorporates active members from each of the company's 6 sites and works towards harmonization of enrichment practices. One of the hot topics is attempting to standardize mouse enrichment and social housing practices. This has proven to...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Allen, C., Duggan, L., Fox, M. et al. 2018. Attempting enrichment harmonization across multiple sites and embracing our differences. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 5(4) (December), 48-51.

Breaking down the barriers: Social housing of previously single-housed adult baboons

An important responsibility of each institution is to challenge preconceived notions that may limit social housing. At our institution's center for comparative medicine (CCM), we recently challenged a historical mindset that 2 large (>25 kg) male baboons with a long-term...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Baboon, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Camacho, J., Morris, J. 2018. Breaking down the barriers: Social housing of previously single-housed adult baboons. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 5(4) (December), 55-57.

An inexpensive approach to social housing enrichment for laboratory rabbits and guinea pigs

We analyzed our current enrichment protocols in order to develop and implement social experiences for our rabbit and guinea pig colonies. This article describes the development of an exercise pen for rabbits and a custom-made social housing enclosure for guinea...

Year Published: 2013Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Guinea Pig, Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Rose, A. M. 2013. An inexpensive approach to social housing enrichment for laboratory rabbits and guinea pigs. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 1(4) (December), 46-48.

Inventive enrichment to facilitate weight gain in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) during invasive studies

To provide the highest standard of care to marmosets during invasive surgical studies, studies that often lead to weight loss, it is paramount to call upon inherent species-specific enrichment tactics to mitigate weight loss. Weight loss is common in marmosets...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Heyworth, C. 2019. Inventive enrichment to facilitate weight gain in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) during invasive studies. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 7(4) (December), 38-41.

Playtime! Exploring habituation techniques in laboratory rats

Our rat training program teaches the standard method of handling and restraining that involves picking the rat up by the base of the tail and placing it on the wire mesh to be restrained. We observed that there was excessive...

Year Published: 2019Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Low, D. D., Leong Peng, J. Z., Tay, Y. Q. et al. 2019. Playtime! Exploring habituation techniques in laboratory rats. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 7(4) (December), 42-45.

Revamping porcine enrichment

Pigs may exhibit stereotypic behaviors due to lack of proper mental stimulation. Stereotypic behaviors include self-inflicted wounds, biting at the pen, polydipsia, cage destruction, and loud vocalizations. These behaviors may be alleviated with proper daily enriching stimulation. Pigs enjoy a...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Heyworth, C. 2019. Revamping porcine enrichment. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 7(3) (September), 63-65.

Conscious urine sampling and quantification from indwelling catheterization of female Yucatan swine

In addition to routine diagnostic testing of urine for health status, data from urine collection is often necessary to support various nutritional, metabolic, biochemical, and physiologic studies. Collection methods can be stressful to the animal (manual restraint), may require sedation...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Bogins, C., Beale, C. 2019. Conscious urine sampling and quantification from indwelling catheterization of female Yucatan swine. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 7(3) (September), 44-46.