Surgery & Post-Op

Using subcuticular stitching in rats to replace skin closure clips as a refinement

Skin closure clips are widely used within the University of Edinburgh to close incision sites for various procedures in both rats and mice. In rats the skin closure clips very often come out as a result of cage mates biting...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Thomson, J., Mungall, W. 2019. Using subcuticular stitching in rats to replace skin closure clips as a refinement. Animal Technology and Welfare 18(1), 75-76.

Use of air-activated thermal devices during recovery after surgery in mice

Laboratory mice (Mus musculus) are susceptible to hypothermia, especially during anesthetic events, disease states, and exposure to environmental stressors. Thermal support devices for small mammals are numerous, but often require a power source and may be impractical to use for...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Beale, C. N., Esmail, M. Y., Aguiar, A. M. et al. 2018. Use of air-activated thermal devices during recovery after surgery in mice. JAALAS 57(4), 392-400.

Perioperative support reduces mortality of obese BALB/c mice after ovariectomy

The incidence of obesity is on the rise in most western countries and represents major risks to health. Obesity causes complex metabolic dysfunctions and can be associated with a large number of secondary diseases. To investigate causal mechanisms of obesity...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Reproduction, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Mattheis, L., Jung, J.-S., Hiebl, B. et al. 2016. Perioperative support reduces mortality of obese BALB/c mice after ovariectomy. Lab Animal 45(7), 262-267.

Alternatives to single caging of rhesus monkeys

Single-housed rhesus macaques were transferred to permanent pair-housing arrangements. The present investigation also demonstrates that pairing caged rhesus monkeys with compatible conspecifics does not interfere with a number of common research protocols [e.g., headcap implantation, experimental surgery, blood collection]. Our...

Year Published: 1989Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Reinhardt, V. 1989. Alternatives to single caging of rhesus monkeys. Humane Innovations and Alternatives in Animal Experimentation 3, 123-125.

Videotape viewing as enrichment during recovery of hospitalized monkeys

During videotape exposure monkeys did not remove their sutures. Animals that had previously withdrawn from food were observed eating during videotapes showing primates eating.

Year Published: 2000Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate

Citation: O'Neill-Wagner, P. L. 2000. Videotape viewing as enrichment during recovery of hospitalized monkeys. American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) Regional Conference Proceedings, 8-16.

Effects of attention and rewarded activity on immune parameters and wound healing in pigs

Challenging animals with a demanding situation they are able to cope with and where they are rewarded may be a source of positive emotions and possibly of increased welfare. In order to test if this results in changes of immunological...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Ernst K, Tuchschere M, Kanitz E, et al. 2006. Effects of attention and rewarded activity on immune parameters and wound healing in pigs. Physiol and Behav. 89;448-456.

Postsurgical pairing: a discussion by the Refinement & Enrichment Forum

Our experience-based discussion suggests that social animals benefit from compatible companionship during post-operative recovery. The traditional practice of keeping animals alone in an unfamiliar environment after surgery increases the subjects surgery-associated stress. Providing a familiar, compatible companion is likely to...

Year Published: 2006Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Skoumbourdis, E., Reinhardt, V. 2006. Postsurgical pairing: a discussion by the Refinement & Enrichment Forum. Animal Technology and Welfare 5, 17-19.

Making use of the stress buffering influence of a companion: Post-operative care

We have mice who are recovering from telemetry-implantation while being housed either alone or in pairs. With several years of experience with this surgery, we now are pretty sure that socially housed mice feel better than individually housed mice.I can...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rat, Rodent

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Making use of the stress buffering influence of a companion: Post-operative care. 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), 101. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.

Impact of ‘living apart together’ on postoperative recovery of mice compared with social and individual housing

We investigated whether housing two female mice in a cage, separated by a grid partition ('living apart together') counters the adverse effects of individual housing on postoperative recovery. Results indicated that socially housed mice appear to be less affected by...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Van Loo, P. L. P., Kuin, N., Sommer, R. et al. 2007. Impact of 'living apart together' on postoperative recovery of mice compared with social and individual housing. Laboratory Animals 41(4), 441-455.

Chapter 5.3.1. Post-Operative Care

It is my experience with rhesus macaques that it is advisable to pair-house an animal after surgery as soon as possible with his or her compatible companion. We do this especially with pairs, after one of them had cranial implant...

Year Published: 2007Topics: Social Housing & Companionship, Surgery & Post-OpAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: LAREF [Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum] 2007. Chapter 5.3.1. Post-Operative Care. 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), 101-103. Animal Welfare Institute, Washington, DC.