Enrichment Solutions

A research environment can be a stressful and unnatural setting for laboratory animals. Environmental Enrichment enhances the animal's physiological and psychological well-being, prevents stereotypical-behavior, promotes the expression of species specific behavior and improves animal welfare. Therefore, Environmental Enrichment is an essential component of a successful research program. It has been demonstrated that Environment Enrichment can be incorporated into protocols without disturbing research outcomes.

Bio-Serv offers a wide variety of enrichment products for all species. We have provided a chart below outlining species' normal and stereo-typical behaviors and suggested enrichment solutions to promote or alleviate those behaviors. Contact our experienced staff to discuss which of our products will benefit your animals' specific needs.

Species Normal Behavior Stereotypical Behavior Bio-Serv Solutions

Mice

Nocturnal, Nest Building, Burrowing, Thigmotaxic, Foraging, Gnawing

Barbering, Fighting, Food Grinding, Back Flipping, Bar Mouthing, Excessive Grooming

Products offering opportunities for sheltering, exercising, nest building, gnawing and foraging, and edible rewards

Rats

Nocturnal, Nest Building, Burrowing,Thigmotaxic, Foraging, Coprophagy, Gnawing

Barbering, Bar Mouthing, Fighting, Food Grinding, Back Flipping

Products offering opportunities for sheltering, nest building, gnawing and foraging, and edible rewards

Hamster

Nocturnal, Exploratory, Food Hoarding, Gnawing, Burrowing, Foraging, Exercising Cannibalism, Fighting, Bar Mouthing

Cannibalism, Fighting, Bar Mouthing

Products offering opportunities for sheltering, nest building, exercising, gnawing and foraging, and edible rewards

Gerbils

Exploratory, Gentle, Burrowing, Gnawing, Jumping, Hind Limb Thumping, Exercising

Scratching at Cage Corners, Aggression

Products offering opportunities for sheltering, gnawing, burrowing and exercising

Guinea Pig

Foraging, Social, Vocalizing, Gnawing, Coprophagy, Hiding

Fighting, Stampeding, Teeth Chattering, Bar Biting, Barbering

Products offering opportunities for sheltering, gnawing and foraging, and edible treats

Rabbit

Crepuscular, Non-Aggressive, Exploratory, Playful, Social, Digging, Attraction to Sweets

Aggression, Barbering, Bar Chewing, Excessive Grooming (Hair Pulling), Thumping, Cage Nosing, Repetitive Motions, Erect Tail, Grunting

Products offering opportunities for play, noise-making and gnawing, and sweet edible treats

Avian

Foraging, Pecking, Exploratory, Roosting, Vocalizing, Dusting

Aggression, Feather Pecking, Cannibalism, Excessive Fearfulness

Products offering opportunities for pecking, exploring, and foraging

Pigs

Social, Rooting, Sniffing, Exploratory, Chewing, Back Scratching

Excessive Aggression, Pacing, Chomping Jaws, Raised Hair

Products offering opportunities for play, noise-making, rooting and chewing, and edible rewards

Cats

Investigative, Social, Allogrooming, Allorubbing

Excessive Vocalization, Excessive Grooming, Pacing, Paw Shaking, Staring

Products offering opportunities for play and scratching

Dogs

Exploratory, Social, Chewing

Excessive Aggression, Excessive Barking, Pacing, Self-Biting, Excessive Grooming, Coprophagy, Spinning

Products offering opportunities for play and manipulation, varied textures for chewing diversity, and edible rewards

Non-Human
Primates

Vocial, Vocalizing ,Foraging, Exploratory, Vertical Movement, Grooming

Pacing, Back Flipping, Rocking, Self-Biting/Injury, Head Banging, Hair Plucking, Feces Painting

Products offering opportunities for creative play and manipulation, foraging, exploration and gnawing, and edible rewards

Please contact us with your dietary nutritional and research specifications. We welcome the opportunity to work with you.

Enrichment:
Karena Thek, MBA, CMAR
ph: 800-996-9908 ext. 111
cell: 908-255-9145
email: kthek@bio-serv.com

Nutritional:
Jaime Lecker, Ph.D.
ph: 800-996-9908 ext. 112
email: jlecker@bio-serv.com

Veterinary:
Karen Froberg-Fejko, LATg, VMD
ph: 800-996-9908 ext. 135
email: kfroberg@bio-serv.com