Environmental Enrichment

Covance animal environmental enrichment programme: In-house enrichment items, their benefits and the process of implementation

Some enrichment objects for rats, rabbits, dogs and macaques are demonstrated.

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog, Macaque, Nonhuman Primate, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Emmott, M. 2010. Covance animal environmental enrichment programme: In-house enrichment items, their benefits and the process of implementation. Animal Technology and Welfare 9, 189-190.

Effects of environmental enrichment and housing system on weight gain of C57BL/6 mice

Our goal was to evaluate the effect of treatment represented by enrichment with cotton balls, and the housing system, by comparing the conventional (open cage) and the ventilated cage (IVC) systems on the weight gain of C57BL/6 inbred mice, as...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Santos, R. A., Fontes, R. S., Ong, F. M. et al. 2010. Effects of environmental enrichment and housing system on weight gain of C57BL/6 mice. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 712-713 (Abstract #P100).

Preferences for toy types and presentations in kennel housed dogs

Toys are often provided for adult dogs housed in kennels, but their effectiveness as environmental enrichment is not well documented. At a minimum, toys need to elicit interest in the animal for which they are intended, before any “enrichment” can...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Pullen, A. J., Merrill, R. J. N., Bradshaw, J. W. S. 2010. Preferences for toy types and presentations in kennel housed dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 125(3-4), 151-156.

Effects of access to voluntary wheel running on the development of stereotypy

Stereotyped motor behaviors are a common consequence of environmental restriction in a wide variety of species. Although environmental enrichment has been shown to substantially reduce stereotypy levels, the various components of enrichment have not been evaluated independently to determine which...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Pawlowicz, A., Demner, A., Lewis, M. H. 2010. Effects of access to voluntary wheel running on the development of stereotypy. Behavioural Processes 83(3), 242-246.

Effects of specific environmental enrichment contributing to litter size and attrition rate of TRP1/TGfβ transgenic mice in a breeding colony

In previous studies of environmental enrichment of mice it has been determined that certain types of mice are affected by manipulation of their living environment. Some have effects on cognitive memory and some affect the developmental nurturing on second and...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Rearing & Weaning, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Oteham, C. P. 2010. Effects of specific environmental enrichment contributing to litter size and attrition rate of TRP1/TGfβ transgenic mice in a breeding colony. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 698 (Abstract #P51).

Long-term effects of housing and enrichment on affective behavior and responsiveness of Sprague-Dawley rats

Most rodent studies evaluate different caging paradigms over short periods of time, which may not be realistic for typical colony settings. Inappropriate housing may lead to boredom, aggression, stereotypies, and altered metabolism, which in turn may affect experimental responses. In...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Turner, P. V., Ovari, J., Pinelli, C. et al. 2010. Long-term effects of housing and enrichment on affective behavior and responsiveness of Sprague-Dawley rats. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 658-659 (Abstract #PS12).

Middle-aged mice with enrichment-resistant stereotypic behaviour show reduced motivation for enrichment

For captive animals, living in barren conditions leads to stereotypic behaviour that is hard to alleviate using environmental enrichment. This resistance to enrichment is often explained via mechanisms that decouple abnormal behaviour from current welfare, such as "establishment": a hypothetical...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Tilly, S.-L. C., Dallaire, J., Mason, G. J. 2010. Middle-aged mice with enrichment-resistant stereotypic behaviour show reduced motivation for enrichment. Animal Behaviour 80(3), 363-373.

Modification of a dog cage for use as an exercise unit for rabbits

The Guide for the Care and Use of Animals and the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations (AWR) outline minimum space requirements for laboratory animals, including rabbits. These documents encourage housing of animals in enclosures that allow adequate freedom of movement and...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Williams-Fritze, M. J., Altieri, J. A., Clough, C. et al. 2010. Modification of a dog cage for use as an exercise unit for rabbits. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 703 (Abstract #P70).

Visual aid for creating enrichment items

Enrichment devices are administered to laboratory animals to reduce abnormal behaviors and to promote species typical behaviors (for example, foraging and nest building). With a diverse collection of species that require numerous enrichment options, a laboratory enrichment schedule can become...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Vyas, D., Mayfield, K. L. 2010. Visual aid for creating enrichment items. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 705 (Abstract #P76).

Preference of Syrian hamsters to nest in old versus new bedding

This study tested whether Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) have an aversion to old bedding (up to 14 days) by offering them the option to nest in a new cage. A secondary goal was to assess the relative value of shelters...

Year Published: 2010Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Hamster, Rodent

Citation: Veillette, M., Reebs, S. G. 2010. Preference of Syrian hamsters to nest in old versus new bedding. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 125(3-4), 189-194.