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 |
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