COMPANION ANIMALS SYMPOSIUM: Environmental enrichment for companion, exotic, and laboratory animals1

Abstract

Animal scientists have an extraordinary burden to promote the health and well-being of all animals in their care. Promoting species- or breed-appropriate behaviors through proper training and enrichment, regardless of animal housing, should be a paramount concern for all animal scientists working with exotic animals, laboratory animals, shelter animals, or privately owned pet animals. Developing ideal training and enrichment programs for any species begins with understanding basic behavior patterns and emotional systems of animals. The basic emotional systems in mammals have been extensively mapped; however, most of these studies are in the neuroscience literature and seldom read by animal science professionals. The emotional circuits for fear have been well documented through studies demonstrating that lesions to the amygdala will block both conditioned and unconditioned fear behaviors. Additionally, other core emotional systems including seeking (i.e., approaching a novel stimulus), rage, panic (e.g., separation stress), play, lust (i.e., sex drive), and care (e.g., mother-young nurturing behavior) have been identified. More recent neuroscience research has discovered the subcortical brain regions that drive different types of seeking behaviors. Research to increase the understanding of the emotional systems that drive both abnormal and normal animal behaviors could greatly improve animal welfare by making it possible to provide more effective environmental enrichment programs. Enrichment devices and methods could be specifically designed to enable the expression of highly motivated behaviors that are driven by emotional circuits in the brain. The objective of this paper is to increase awareness of animal scientists to the field of neuroscience studying animal emotions and the application of that science to improve the welfare of captive exotic animals, laboratory animals, and pets with environmental enrichment.

The Use of Simulation Models and Student-Owned Animals for Teaching Clinical Examination Procedures in Veterinary Medicine

“…Beyond the financial advantages of the MA system, there are animal welfare issues that must be considered. Spatial restriction is one of the factors that generates more stress [ 22 , 23 , 24 ], contributing to a decrease in animal welfare in kennels [ 24 ]. Numerous studies have already highlighted that dogs housed in kennel facilities for long periods of time experience suboptimal living conditions [ 22 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

‘Bowls are boring’: Investigating enrichment feeding for pet dogs and the perceived benefits and challenges

“…The premise is that enrichment feeding more closely matches the way that pets would eat naturally and will thus have positive welfare outcomes. 9,10 Stray dogs are scavengers, eating several small meals a day, which should be mimicked if aiming to encourage natural behaviours. 11 It has been suggested that some level of cognitive challenge and problem solving to access food can have a positive effect on mood.…”

“…Enrichment feeding is advocated for cats and dogs in both kennels and home environments 4–8 ; however, empirical research to support this is scarce. The premise is that enrichment feeding more closely matches the way that pets would eat naturally and will thus have positive welfare outcomes 9,10 . Stray dogs are scavengers, eating several small meals a day, which should be mimicked if aiming to encourage natural behaviours 11 .…”

Evaluating pair versus solitary housing in kennelled domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) using behaviour and hair cortisol: a pilot study

“…It is well documented that captive animals experience stress (eg, Beerda and others 2000 , Markowitz and Woodworth 1978 , Morris and others 2011 ), and a goal of optimal welfare should be to minimise stress. As we work towards this goal by changing the social or physical environment, the effect of the change should be reflected by the animal; it is important therefore to establish meaningful, measurable outcomes of any inputs designed to increase welfare ( Maple and Perdue 2013 ).…”