Husbandry & Management

Pilot study evaluating the effect of feeding method on overall activity of neutered indoor pet cats

Indoor housing of cats is associated with a higher incidence of multiple diseases, including obesity. Increased exercise is often recommended as a method of creating or increasing the negative energy balance required for weight loss. Food-dispensing toys have been suggested...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Naik, R., Witzel, A., Albright, J. D. et al. 2018. Pilot study evaluating the effect of feeding method on overall activity of neutered indoor pet cats. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 25, 9-13.

Field assessment of cats’ litter box substrate preferences

Cats living inside a home without any possibility of outdoor access have to defecate in a litter box. To suit the cats' needs, several recommendations seem to be agreed upon. The litter box has to be clean and in a...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Villeneuve-Beugnet, V., Beugnet, F. 2018. Field assessment of cats' litter box substrate preferences. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 25, 65-70.

The effects of dog-appeasing pheromone spray upon canine vocalizations and stress-related behaviors in a rescue shelter

Exposure to dog-appeasing pheromones (DAPs) has been suggested to reduce stress-related behaviors in dogs; however, the effects of DAP administered using a portable, rapid use spray has not received as much attention as the plug-in format. The aim of the...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Hermiston, C., Montrose, V. T., Taylor, S. 2018. The effects of dog-appeasing pheromone spray upon canine vocalizations and stress-related behaviors in a rescue shelter. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 26, 11-16.

Use of beds by laboratory beagles

Comfortable resting areas for laboratory dogs have been recommended by many authors and by the European Directive 2010/63/EU. They are particularly important for geriatric dogs for age- and health-related reasons. Systematic research in this area has not been done. Therefore,...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Dog

Citation: Döring, D., Backofen, I., Schmidt, J. et al. 2018. Use of beds by laboratory beagles. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 28, 6-10.

Nutrient intake, feeding patterns, and abnormal behavior of growing bulls fed different concentrate levels and a single fiber source (corn stover silage)

Twenty-eight bulls weighing 227 ± 6.8 (SD) kg were randomly assigned to four concentrate levels (1-1.5 kg [low level of concentrate {LC}], 1.5-2 kg [medium level of concentrate], 2-2.5 kg [high level of concentrate {HC}], and 2.5-3 kg [highest level...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cattle

Citation: ur Rahman, M. A., Xia, C., Ji, L. et al. 2019. Nutrient intake, feeding patterns, and abnormal behavior of growing bulls fed different concentrate levels and a single fiber source (corn stover silage). Journal of Veterinary Behavior 33, 46-53.

Effect of bedding for reducing the postshearing stress in sheep

Shearing of sheep is routine management. However, the shearing induces stress in the animal. To reduce the postshearing stress, providing bedding may be an effective method. Therefore, the present study was initiated to assess the effect of bedding for reducing...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: De, K., Kumar, D., Mohapatra, A. et al. 2019. Effect of bedding for reducing the postshearing stress in sheep. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 33, 27-30.

Rabbits: Good Practice for Housing and Care (3rd edition)

This report describes what rabbits need in terms of social housing, enclosure size and type, and environmental enrichment. It also describes potential husbandry-related welfare problems and how to resolve them.

Year Published: 2011Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Research Department, RSPCA. 2011. Rabbits: Good Practice for Housing and Care (3rd edition).

A test of the effects of the equine maternal pheromone on the clinical and ethological parameters of equines undergoing hoof trimming

“Pheromonal therapy” has been promoted as a promising alternative therapy to improve the human-animal relationship and to reduce behavioral reactions to stressful stimuli. This placebo-controlled double blind study evaluated the use of a synthetic equine maternal pheromone (EMP) in animals...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Alves de Paula, R., Cruz Aleixo, A. S., Peternelli da Silva, L. et al. 2019. A test of the effects of the equine maternal pheromone on the clinical and ethological parameters of equines undergoing hoof trimming. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 31, 28-35.

Assessment of behavior and physical condition of shelter cats as animal-based indicators of welfare

Surveillance of cat shelters by official veterinarians in Austria is based on legal requirements and does not directly assess cat welfare. The aim of this study was to develop animal-based parameters that are feasible to measure in a surveillance setting,...

Year Published: 2015Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Arhant, C., Wogritsch, R., Troxler, J. 2015. Assessment of behavior and physical condition of shelter cats as animal-based indicators of welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 10(5), 399-406.

The gray matter: Prevention and reduction of abnormal behavior in companion gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus)

Gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus) are popular companion birds, particularly noted for their ability to mimic human speech, their intelligence, and longevity. They are also prone to developing abnormal behaviors such as feather damaging behavior. This review explores the current available...

Year Published: 2017Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, Body Modification/Mutilation, Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Bird, Parrot

Citation: Greenwell, P. J., Montrose, V. T. 2017. The gray matter: Prevention and reduction of abnormal behavior in companion gray parrots (Psittacus erithacus). Journal of Veterinary Behavior 20, 44-51.