Abnormal/Problematic Behavior

Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life

The welfare of horses involved in sport and leisure activities has come under increasing scrutiny, both from within the equine sector and from the public. A systematic review of scientific evidence was conducted to derive observable, evidence-based behavioural measures of...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Rearing & Weaning, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Hall, C., Kay, R. 2024. Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life. Part I: Fulfilment of species-specific needs. Animal Welfare 33, e40.

What are the priority welfare issues facing parrots in captivity? A modified Delphi approach to establish expert consensus

Parrots (Psittaciformes) are widely kept in captivity, yet their welfare is under-researched in comparison to other captive species. This study aimed to determine key welfare issues affecting parrots through a modified Delphi approach. Twenty-eight welfare issues were first compiled via...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Chalmers, R., Cooper, J., Ventura, B. 2024. What are the priority welfare issues facing parrots in captivity? A modified Delphi approach to establish expert consensus. Animal Welfare 33, e54.

The extent and function of ‘food grinding’ in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus)

Many laboratory rodents grind their food into crumbs that are discarded at the bottom of the cage (sometimes called orts). This can have substantial impacts on measures of food intake and assimilation efficiency. We quantified food grinding in two laboratory...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Cameron, K. M., Speakman, J. R. 2010. The extent and function of ‘food grinding' in the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus). Laboratory Animals 44(4), 298-304.

Voluntary wheel running as an effective intervention in the management of excessive food usage in CD-1 mice (Mus musculus)

Some mice demonstrate excessive food-grinding behaviors in which food pellets are broken down into crumbs (orts). This is considered abnormal behavior and is undesirable in a research environment, as it is thought to potentially be a stereotypic behavior suggestive of...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Skurnack, A. M. E., Lane, S. P., Garman, L. et al. 2024. Voluntary wheel running as an effective intervention in the management of excessive food usage in CD-1 mice (Mus musculus). JAALAS 63(5), 504–512.

Effects of nesting material and housing parameters on feed wastage behavior in female Swiss Webster mice

Feed wastage in laboratory mice, also known as chewing or grinding behavior, is problematic for program management and animal welfare. The destruction of pelleted feed without consumption produces a powder accumulation on the cage floor called orts. Ort accumulation disrupts...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Zawacki, Z. E., Sharpe, J. A., Porco, T. C. et al. 2024. Effects of nesting material and housing parameters on feed wastage behavior in female Swiss Webster mice. JAALAS 63(5), 495–503.

Cage-induced stereotypies in female ICR CD-1 mice do not correlate with recurrent perseveration

Stereotypies are repetitive, unvarying, apparently purposeless behavioural patterns. They develop in animals kept in barren environments and are highly prevalent in laboratory mice (Mus musculus), yet their underlying mechanisms have remained elusive. In humans, stereotypies are associated with several psychiatric...

Year Published: 2011Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Gross, A. N., Engel, A. K. J., Richter, S. H. et al. 2011. Cage-induced stereotypies in female ICR CD-1 mice do not correlate with recurrent perseveration. Behavioural Brain Research 216(2), 613-620.

Bite wounds and dominance structures in male and female African spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus): Implications for animal welfare and the generalizability of experimental results

Bite wounds due to aggression in male laboratory mice (Mus musculus) are a major welfare concern, often leading to attrition, chronic activation of the innate immune system, and significant impacts on the experimental results derived from the use of these...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Varholick, J. A., Godinez, G., Jenkins, A. et al. 2024. Bite wounds and dominance structures in male and female African spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus): Implications for animal welfare and the generalizability of experimental results. Animals 14(1), 64.

Effects of gabapentin on the treatment of behavioral disorders in dogs: A retrospective evaluation

The use of gabapentin in treating dogs with behavioral disorders is not well described. To characterize behavioral effects of gabapentin, this study surveyed 50 owners whose dogs were prescribed gabapentin at a veterinary behavior-focused practice over a five-year period. Most...

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

Citation: Kirby-Madden, T., Waring, C. T., Herron, M. 2024. Effects of gabapentin on the treatment of behavioral disorders in dogs: A retrospective evaluation. Animals 14(10), 1462.

A multidimensional evaluation of the factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) that are associated with, and predictive of, behaviour disorders in dogs

Behavioural disorders in dogs are common and have severe welfare consequences for dogs. This study aimed to assess the factors that are significant and predictive of behaviour problems in dogs using the animal welfare assessment grid (AWAG) to further understand...

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

Citation: Malkani, R., Paramasivam, S., Wolfensohn, S. 2024. A multidimensional evaluation of the factors in the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid (AWAG) that are associated with, and predictive of, behaviour disorders in dogs. Animals 14(4), 528.

The effects of enrichment on an abnormal behaviour in naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) at Tilgate Nature Centre

The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is a relatively rare mammal in zoological collections with only nine zoos in the United Kingdom holding colonies of varying sizes at the time of study. This study aims to determine whether housing the...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, HousingAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hatcher, N. 2022. The effects of enrichment on an abnormal behaviour in naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber) at Tilgate Nature Centre. RATEL (Journal of the Association of British and Irish Wild Animal Keepers) 49(4), 15-18.