Handling

Impact of refinements to handling and restraint methods in mice

There is increasing evidence that, compared to non-aversive handling methods (i.e., tunnel and cupping), tail handling has a negative impact on mouse welfare. Despite this evidence, there are still research organisations that continue to use tail handling. Here, we investigated...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Handling, RestraintAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Davies, J. R., Purawijaya, D. A., Bartlett, J. M. et al. 2022. Impact of refinements to handling and restraint methods in mice. Animals 12(17), 2173.

Refinement of handling and dosing methods for rats and mice

Modified Handling for Mice: Handling mice by gripping the base of the tail has been shown to negatively impact animal welfare by increasing anxiety and aversion to handling. We aimed to refi ne the dosing procedure by finding a handling...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Bartlett, J., Davies, J., Purawijaya, D. et al. 2022. Refinement of handling and dosing methods for rats and mice. Animal Technology and Welfare 21(2), 120-124.

Five hot topics in refinement of nonhuman primate neuroscience research

Members of the North American 3Rs Collaborative (NA3RsC) refinement initiative have chosen to summarize developments in five hot topics of interest: 1. Tips for welfare-friendly transport, chairing, and restraint; 2. Guidance on refining food and fluid control; 3. Protective caps...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Cannulation, Catheterization, & Intubation, Handling, Husbandry & Management, Imaging & Electrophysiological Recording, Relocation & Transport, RestraintAnimal Type: Macaque, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Buckmaster, C. L., Levesque, D., LaFollette, M. et al. 2022. Five hot topics in refinement of nonhuman primate neuroscience research. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 10(1) (January/February), 24-26.

Refined ways to pick up mice

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement of laboratory animal welfare, the North American 3Rs Collaborative (NA3RsC) brought together several experts to examine the evidence, impact, and practicality of alternative methods for picking up mice.

Year Published: 2022Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: LaFollette, M. R. 2022. Refined ways to pick up mice. Laboratory Animal Science Professional 10(2) (March/April), 46-48.

Effects of non-aversive versus tail-lift handling on breeding productivity in a C57BL/6J mouse colony

Non-aversive handling is a well-documented refinement measure for improving rodent welfare. Because maternal stress is related to reduced productivity, we hypothesized that welfare benefits associated with non-aversive handling would translate to higher production and fewer litters lost in a laboratory...

Year Published: 2022Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Hull, M. A., Reynolds, P. S., Nunamaker, E. A. 2022. Effects of non-aversive versus tail-lift handling on breeding productivity in a C57BL/6J mouse colony. PLOS ONE 17(1), e0263192.

Practical Canine Behaviour: For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians (2nd ed)

In this book Stephanie Hedges draws on more than 20 years as a practicing veterinary nurse and her training as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB). She provides a quick reference and practically relevant canine behaviour resource to meet both...

Year Published: 2021Topics: Animal Training, Handling, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Hodges, S. 2021. Practical Canine Behaviour: For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians (2nd ed). CABI, Wallingford, UK.

Introducing non-aversive mouse handling with ‘squnnels’ in a mouse breeding facility

Based on queries received during our 2021 LASA 3Rs' presentation, we describe operational highlights and concerns that came up during the rollout of nonaversive handling as standard of care at our mouse breeding facility. We describe the development of the...

Year Published: 2022Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Reynolds, P. S. 2022. Introducing non-aversive mouse handling with ‘squnnels' in a mouse breeding facility. Animal Technology and Welfare 21(1), 42-45.

Thinking outside the lab: Can studies of pet rats inform pet and laboratory rat welfare?

Surveys provide a low-cost means to obtain large amounts of data that are ideal for conducting exploratory research, and they are becoming an increasingly valuable tool in a veterinary context. We investigated whether surveys of pet rat owners might provide...

Year Published: 2022Topics: Handling, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Neville, V., Mounty, J., Benato, L., Hunter, K. et al. 2022. Thinking outside the lab: Can studies of pet rats inform pet and laboratory rat welfare? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 246, 105507.

Thinking outside the lab: Can studies of pet rats inform pet and laboratory rat welfare?

Year Published: 2022Topics: Handling, Housing, Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

The effect of blindfolding and swaddling on the stress response to handling in domestic rabbits

Stress during handling can negatively impact the welfare of an animal. Gradual habituation or systematic desensitisation can reduce this but is not always possible. Blindfolding has been shown to decrease stress indicators, including heart rate and struggling in cattle (Bos...

Year Published: 2022Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: McIndoe, K. S., Saunders, R., Blackwell, E. J. et al. 2022. The effect of blindfolding and swaddling on the stress response to handling in domestic rabbits. Animal Welfare 31(1), 27-36.