Making Life Easier for Rodents and Rabbits in Laboratories

Refinements for Rodents and Rabbits in Research Laboratories will be rolling off the presses soon. AWI will introduce the book—an update of a previous volume—at the 74^th Annual Symposium of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science in Nashville this November. While there, we will be taking book orders from animal care personnel and others seeking information on proven strategies for implementing quality-of-life improvements for rodents and rabbits in laboratories. 

Rodents and rabbits account for more than 95 percent of all mammals used in research, underscoring the importance of advancing their welfare. To facilitate the implementation of improvements for these animals, the new book summarizes the scientific literature on refinements to their care and use. The goal is to synthesize the knowledge gained from these studies into an evidence-based, user-friendly resource on how to safeguard and promote the welfare of rodents and rabbits in laboratories. 

The book summarizes approximately 600 scientific articles published since the year 2010. It is organized into sections focused on key topics related to the care and use of these animals, including Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal Interactions, Colony Management, Housing, Social Housing, Rearing and Weaning, Welfare Assessment, and Experimental Use (including refinements to biological sampling and peri-operative care). Each section begins by describing why this topic is important and how it impacts both animal welfare and research outcomes. This is followed by summaries of the scientific literature regarding this topic. The sections are organized by species (mice, rats, other rodents, rabbits), with a Key Takeaways summary box provided within each section for quick reference. 

Written by two laboratory rodent welfare specialists—Dr. Anna Ratuski and AWI’s Dr. Joanna Makowska—this book will be a useful resource for anyone working with or caring for rodents and rabbits in a research setting.

Program Terms: Animals in Laboratories

AWI Quarterly Terms: Feature Article