Housing

The welfare of laboratory rabbits

Very useful review of species-adequate housing recommendations for rabbits.

Year Published: 2007Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Lidfors, L., Edström, T., Lindberg, L. 2007. The welfare of laboratory rabbits. In: The Welfare of Laboratory Animals, volume 2. Kaliste, E. (Ed), 211-243. Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

Housing conditions affect self-administration of anxiolytic by laboratory mice

Standard cages for laboratory rodents may induce greater anxiety than enriched cages. Enriched mice drank significantly less of the midazolam solution than the non-enriched mice, suggesting that the combined effect of more space and enrichment made the animals less anxious.

Year Published: 2004Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Sherwin, C. M., Olsson, I. A. S. 2004. Housing conditions affect self-administration of anxiolytic by laboratory mice. Animal Welfare 13, 33-38.

A better mouse cage

A closed-system caging with exhaust ventilation and environmental enrichment structures were studied. We conclude that this type of cages does refine mouse caging and might help reduce the number of mice used in biomedical research and testing.

Year Published: 2004Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rivard, G. F., Pyle, K. C. 2004. A better mouse cage. Proceedings of the 4th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences - Alternatives to Laboratory Animals [ATLA] 32(Supplement), 98 (Abstract).

Novel mouse housing system

Keeping mice in interconnected double cages reduced the chance of animals escaping since the cage does not need to be openend during changing. It also provided enrichment by allowing the mice to move about cages more freely.

Year Published: 2004Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Wardwell, K., Soule, J. 2004. Novel mouse housing system. American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 127-128 (Abstract).

Room to hop

Practical enrichment possibilities for group-housed rabbits are described.

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Down, N. 2005. Room to hop. Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) Quarterly 54(4), 17-18.

Pigeons used in research: From barren single-housing to an enriched environment

Single-caged pigeons were successfully transferred to compatible group-housing.

Year Published: 2005Topics: Environmental Enrichment, HousingAnimal Type: Bird, Other Bird

Citation: Conte, A. 2005. Pigeons used in research: From barren single-housing to an enriched environment. AWI Quarterly 54(3) (Summer), 14-15.

Effects of housing density and cage floor space on three strains of young adult inbred mice

Some recommendations in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) are based on best professional judgment. Our current efforts are directed toward replacement with data-driven standards. We demonstrated earlier that young adult C57BL/6J mice could...

Year Published: 2005Topics: Housing, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Smith, A. L., Mabus, S. L., Muir, C. et al. 2005. Effects of housing density and cage floor space on three strains of young adult inbred mice. Comparative Medicine 55(4), 368-376.

An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory ? A review

When housing hamsters and gerbils little has been done to identify the preferences of these species. The solitary nature of fat sand rats and hamsters is often discordant with housing practices in animal laboratories. This article provides a comparison of...

Year Published: 2005Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Gerbil, Hamster, Other Rodent, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Sorensen, D. B., Krohn, T., Hansen, H. N. et al. 2005. An ethological approach to housing requirements of golden hamsters, Mongolian gerbils and fat sand rats in the laboratory ? A review . Applied Animal Behaviour Science 93, 181-195.

The Welfare of Cats

This book covers the major issues affecting the welfare of domestic cats. It covers recent developments in our understanding of cat behaviour, considers the ways in which cat welfare is assessed, and addresses the successes and failures of the relationship...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Housing, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Natural Behavior, Reproduction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Rochlitz, I. (Ed.) 2007. The Welfare of Cats. Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 283 pp.

Preparation of animals for research — Issues to consider for rodents and rabbits

This article provides details to consider when preparing to use animals in biomedical research. The stress of transport and receipt of animals into a new environment mandate the need for a period of stabilization and acclimation. This allotment of time...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Regulations & Ethical Review, Relocation & Transport, Stocking DensityAnimal Type: Chinchilla, Gerbil, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Mouse, Other Rodent, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent

Citation: Conour, L. A., Murray, K. A., Brown, M. J. 2006. Preparation of animals for research -- Issues to consider for rodents and rabbits. ILAR Journal 47(4), 283-293.