Publications

The effects of music designed for canine and human relaxation on short-term stress in dogs

Auditory stimuli such as music can be an inexpensive and accessible option to help relieve stress for pet dogs. In some studies, classical music has been shown to have a stress-relieving effect on dogs experiencing a long-term stressor. However, the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Beecy, S. J., Dowling-Guyer, S., Patel, A. D. et al. 2025. The effects of music designed for canine and human relaxation on short-term stress in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106766.

Quantifying use of elevated surfaces for climbing Sichuan takins (Budorcas taxicolor) in human care

Sichuan takins (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana) are capable climbers whose movements in the wild appear to be driven by seasonal variations in resources. Ex situ habitats for takins frequently incorporate elevated features to encourage species-appropriate climbing. We opportunistically observed three takins...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Baskir, E., Callagy, C., Poelker, C. et al. 2025. Quantifying use of elevated surfaces for climbing Sichuan takins (Budorcas taxicolor) in human care. Zoo Biology 44(4), 377–382.

Gestational enrichment of commercial breeding dams (Canis familiaris) influences offspring behaviour

The benefits of environmental enrichment for kennelled dog welfare have been widely demonstrated. Research in rodents shows that provision of maternal environmental enrichment during gestation can also influence the behavioural development of the offspring. However, the effects of prenatal enrichment...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, ReproductionAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Baqueiro-Espinosa, U., McEvoy, V., Donnelly, P. et al. 2025. Gestational enrichment of commercial breeding dams (Canis familiaris) influences offspring behaviour. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106779.

Differential long-term effects of physical, social, and psychological stressors in male mice: Down-regulation of inflammatory markers and unresponsiveness of the antioxidant system

The long-term molecular consequences associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are poorly understood. Our study examined the long-term (up to five months) metabolic consequences of acute and chronic traumatic factors, including physical (2-hour restraint), psychological (predator sound), and social (social...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Restraint, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Balatskyi, V., Gospodaryov, D., Abrat, O. et al. 2025. Differential long-term effects of physical, social, and psychological stressors in male mice: Down-regulation of inflammatory markers and unresponsiveness of the antioxidant system. Physiology & Behavior 301, 115065.

Validation of body condition scoring as a screening test for low body condition and obesity in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

Assessing body weight is common practice for monitoring health in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Body composition analysis via quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) is a more in-depth assessment allowing measurements of lean and fat mass, but it is expensive and remains...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Arroyo, J. P., Alvarez, A., Alvarez, L. et al. 2025. Validation of body condition scoring as a screening test for low body condition and obesity in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). American Journal of Primatology 87(8), e70068.

Effects of two types of environmental enrichment on the behavior of dogs in shelters

The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, is commonly kept in shelters. In these locations, features such as confinement, forced intraspecific and interspecific contact, and lack of environmental stimulation can diminish the welfare of dogs. One way to avoid poor welfare...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Antonino, G. V., Lovestain, D. D. C., Burle, M. M. de C. et al. 2025. Effects of two types of environmental enrichment on the behavior of dogs in shelters. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 80, 28–38.

The maintenance conditions of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) breeding stock affect the survival and behavior of their offspring

The environment in which we live influences our biological traits throughout our ontogeny, being markedly significant during the beginning of our lives. Some characteristics inherited (genetically and/or epigenetically) from parents can also influence individual development, known as transgenerational effects. In...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Amaral, F. U. I., Pompermaier, A., Rutikoski, G. et al. 2025. The maintenance conditions of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) breeding stock affect the survival and behavior of their offspring. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106761.

Tactile stimulation by humans: Do pigs prefer scratching or stroking?

Scratching and stroking are tactile interactions used to improve the animal-human relationship and reduce stress in pigs. Both interactions resemble behaviours from the behavioural repertoire of pigs and have been applied in previous studies. To investigate the relative efficacy of...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Amann, M., Waiblinger, S., Hemsworth, P. H. et al. 2025. Tactile stimulation by humans: Do pigs prefer scratching or stroking? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106768.

Behavioral assessment of tramadol and meloxicam effects on postoperative pain in a rat craniotomy model

Stereotaxic surgery is a common procedure in neuroscience, yet effective analgesic protocols require further study and refinement to optimize the analgesia used in invasive procedures and to improve animal welfare. This study evaluated the effects of tramadol and meloxicam, alone...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Analgesia, Disease/Experimental ModelAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Alemán-Laporte, J., Alvarado, G., Pellagio, N. B. et al. 2025. Behavioral assessment of tramadol and meloxicam effects on postoperative pain in a rat craniotomy model. JAALAS 64(4), 716–725.

Comparison of dexmedetomidine/morphine and xylazine/morphine as premedication in isoflurane-anesthetized sheep

In this study we investigated the sedative, anesthetic, and pulmonary histopathologic effects of dexmedetomidine/morphine (DM) and xylazine/morphine (XM) in sheep. We hypothesized that DM would provide profound sedation and better maintain physiologic parameters under anesthesia than XM in sheep undergoing...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Akaraphutiporn, E., Bunnag, P., Limprasutr, V. et al. 2025. Comparison of dexmedetomidine/morphine and xylazine/morphine as premedication in isoflurane-anesthetized sheep. JAALAS 64(4), 726–732.