Environmental Enrichment

Environmental enrichment: Definition and criteria of effectiveness

Regardless of how we define the term environmental enrichment, it will always distract from the fact that we do not enrich the environment of captive animals, but provide them, at best, with opportunities to express very basic behavioral needs.Biologically relevant...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment: Definition and criteria of effectiveness. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 47-51. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Environmental enrichment: beds for dogs

An easy way to make a bed for dogs is to buy plastic dog kennels and use each half as a bed. It provides three sides that are high enough to give the animal a sense of security. Our dogs...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment: beds for dogs. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 79-80. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Environmental enrichment effects on development of retinal ganglion cell dendritic stratification require retinal BDNF

A well-known developmental event of retinal maturation is the progressive segregation of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) dendrites into a and b sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), a morphological rearrangement crucial for the emergence of the ON and OFF...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Landi, S., Cenni, M. C., Maffei, L. et al. 2007. Environmental enrichment effects on development of retinal ganglion cell dendritic stratification require retinal BDNF. PLOS ONE 2(4), e346.

The effect of hiding enrichment on stress levels and behaviour of domestic cats (Felis sylvestris catus) in a shelter setting and the implications for adoption potential

Results of this study suggest that the welfare of kennelled cats is greatly improved if they are provided with the opportunity to perform effective hiding behavior, and that the ability to perform such a behaviour does not decrease the likelihood...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Kry, K., Casey, R. 2007. The effect of hiding enrichment on stress levels and behaviour of domestic cats (Felis sylvestris catus) in a shelter setting and the implications for adoption potential. Animal Welfare 16(3), 375-383.

The influence of the location of a nest box in an individually ventilated cage on the preference of mice to use it

The study concluded that the location of the nest boxes in the individually ventilated cage (on the cage floor or hung from the cage lid) can give animals a choice to modify their environment and to choose what to use...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Kostomitsopoulos, N. G., Paronis, E., Alexakos, P. et al. 2007. The influence of the location of a nest box in an individually ventilated cage on the preference of mice to use it. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 10(2), 111-121.

The effects of enrichment with music or colorful light on the welfare of restrained mice

Objective: To investigate the positive effects of four different forms of environmental enrichment on the welfare of mice subjected to restraint stress with the purpose of screening suitable enrichment. Method: Mice undergoing poor welfare due to repeated restraint were kept...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hu, Y., Xu, L., Yang, F. et al. 2007. The effects of enrichment with music or colorful light on the welfare of restrained mice. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 27(2), 71-76.

A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management

In this article, recent publications are examined to determine the potential impact of new scientific evidence on current practices for the housing and care of laboratory rodents. The discussion points out recent advances in technology and new knowledge of the...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Gonder, J. C., Laber, K. 2007. A renewed look at laboratory rodent housing and management. ILAR Journal 48(1), 29-46.

Social-housing of cats and dogs; exercise for dogs

Permanent social housing of cats can be a safe arrangement under the condition that the primary enclosure is properly structured and the personnel committed to providing high-quality care. If all animals of a group are spayed or neutered, the social...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Cat, Dog

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Social-housing of cats and dogs; exercise for dogs. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 106-110. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Feeding enrichment for mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats and sheep

Feeding enrichment is a practical option for animals kept in research laboratories. The regular provision of thoroughly cleaned, whole fruits and vegetables and of seeds scattered on woodchips or corncob bedding is probably the easiest yet most effective way to...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cat, Guinea Pig, Mouse, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Sheep

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Feeding enrichment for mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats and sheep. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 51-60. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Environmental enrichment: Vertical space enhancement

Under normal circumstances - when the cage is not flooded - rodents do not necessarily benefit from a raised platform, unless it also provides cover.Raised resting surfaces are liked by dogs. They provide some degree of security, increase the dog's...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Environmental enrichment:Vertical space enhancement. In: Making Lives Easier for Animals in Research Labs: Discussions by the Laboratory Animal Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Baumans, V., Coke, C., Green, J., Moreau, E., Morton, D., Patterson-Kane, E., Reinhardt, A., Reinhardt, V., Van Loo, P. (eds), 80-86. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.