Publications

Maintenance of the Brugia Malayi life cycle in Mongolian gerbils

The Mongolian gerbil or jird (Meriones unguiculatus) is a rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. They are commonly used as models for a variety of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis E virus and Giardia lamblia. At the LSTM/University of Liverpool...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & Intubation, Disease/Experimental Model, Drug/Substance AdministrationAnimal Type: Gerbil, Rodent

Citation: Steven, A. 2025. Maintenance of the Brugia Malayi life cycle in Mongolian gerbils. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(2), 155–156.

Pain and pessimism affect calves’ play behaviours post-disbudding

Calves are expected to play less when in pain, and more pessimistic individuals may be more affected by painful events, such as hot-iron disbudding (i.e., horn-bud removal). We explored 1) the impact of disbudding on different play behaviours, predicting that...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Body Modification/Mutilation, Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: St John Wallis, A., Held, S. D. E., Mendl, M. T. et al. 2025. Pain and pessimism affect calves’ play behaviours post-disbudding. Discover Animals 2(1), 50.

Individual preferences for scented water bowls in dogs

Introduction While food preferences have been extensively studied, much less is known about water preferences in dogs, especially regarding preferences for non-consumptive scented items attached to water bowls. As a form of sensory enrichment, scents can increase engagement and were...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Sonowal, R., Hall, N. J., Stellato, A. C. 2025. Individual preferences for scented water bowls in dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

How does food enrichment and the presence of visitors affect the behaviour of two species of freshwater fish in a public aquarium?

Food-based environmental enrichment (EE) is a valuable strategy for stimulating foraging behaviour in fish under human care, as it increases the challenge of food acquisition and encourages prolonged engagement in this activity. Curimbas (Prochilodus argenteus) and pacus (Myleus micans) are...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Silva, A. A., Azevedo, C. S. de, Cipreste, C. F. et al. 2025. How does food enrichment and the presence of visitors affect the behaviour of two species of freshwater fish in a public aquarium? Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 6(3), 35.

Horse vision through two lenses: Tinbergen’s Four Questions and the Five Domains

To improve human–horse interactions and reduce the risk of injury, it is essential to adopt an equi-centric perspective that prioritizes how horses perceive their environment. This review focuses on the equine visual system, both because it is the most studied...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Roth, L. S. V., McGreevy, P. 2025. Horse vision through two lenses: Tinbergen’s Four Questions and the Five Domains. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Impact of feeding strategies on the welfare and behaviour of horses in groups: An experimental study

Finding feeding strategies that meet horses’ needs without compromising health is essential for optimising welfare, particularly in group housing, where limited hay availability increases aggression and injury risks. Recently, two strategies have emerged: portioning daily intake into smaller, frequent meals...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Roig-Pons, M., Bachmann, I., Freymond, S. B. 2025. Impact of feeding strategies on the welfare and behaviour of horses in groups: An experimental study. PLOS ONE 20(6), e0325928.

A multimodal approach to treatment and management of rumination syndrome in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

The management of chronic rumination syndrome in professionally cared-for animals requires a comprehensive and individualized approach. In this case study, a multimodal approach incorporating pharmacological treatment, feeding modifications, and behavioral management was applied to a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Ramos, A. M., McClain, A., Dunham, J. M. et al. 2025. A multimodal approach to treatment and management of rumination syndrome in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Animals 15(20), 3039.

Road transportation is associated with decreased intestinal motility in horses

Background Transportation of horses has been associated with colic and changes to the gastrointestinal microbiome. Percutaneous abdominal ultrasonography using wireless, point-of-care transducers can be used to assess gastrointestinal motility in field settings. Objectives Characterization of intestinal motility and salivary cortisol...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Raidal, S. L., Freccero, F., Carstens, A. et al. 2025. Road transportation is associated with decreased intestinal motility in horses. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

Welfare of calves and heifers on dairy farms with cow-calf contact rearing or early separation

Early separation (ES) of cow and calf in dairy farming is increasingly questioned due to implications on animal welfare. The aim of this study was to compare the welfare of animals on commercial dairy farms with cow-calf contact (CCC) or...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Rademann, A., Schneider, M. L., Waiblinger, S. 2025. Welfare of calves and heifers on dairy farms with cow-calf contact rearing or early separation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.

A scoping review on pair housing dairy calves: Health and performance outcomes and tactics to reduce cross-sucking behavior

Calves raised in pairs or triplets often experience better growth performance outcomes when compared to their individually housed peers. However, veterinarians may be concerned that pair housing compromises calf health, and producers are concerned about abnormal oral behavior (e.g., cross-sucking)....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: Plaugher, G. D., Cantor, M. C. 2025. A scoping review on pair housing dairy calves: Health and performance outcomes and tactics to reduce cross-sucking behavior. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.