Small prey species' behaviour and welfare: implications for veterinary professionals
Small prey species' behaviour and welfare: implications for veterinary professionals
People have obligations to ensure the welfare of animals under their care. Offences under the UK Animal Welfare Act (HMSO 2006) are acts, or failures of action, causing unnecessary suffering. Veterinary professionals need to be able to provide current, scientifically-based prophylactic advice, and respect the limits of their expertise.
The ethical concept of a life worth living and the Five Freedoms are core to welfare (FAWC 2009; Broom and Fraser 2015). Behaviour is a central component, both influencing and influenced by physical health. Keepers of small prey mammals (SPM) frequently misunderstand their behaviour and how to meet their needs.
This review provides insight into the physical-social (external) and the cognitive-emotional (internal) environments of SPM, contextualised within an evolutionary perspective. This is extrapolated to captivity and practical suggestions given for meeting behavioural freedoms and enhancing client understanding and enjoyment of their animals, thereby improving welfare for both.
Behaviour, Welfare, Medicine-General, Rodents, Rabbits, Exotics
Mcbride, Elizabeth
8f13b829-a141-4b67-b2d7-08f839972646
Mcbride, Elizabeth
8f13b829-a141-4b67-b2d7-08f839972646
Mcbride, Elizabeth
(2017)
Small prey species' behaviour and welfare: implications for veterinary professionals.
Journal of Small Animal Practice.
(doi:10.1111/jsap.12681).
Abstract
People have obligations to ensure the welfare of animals under their care. Offences under the UK Animal Welfare Act (HMSO 2006) are acts, or failures of action, causing unnecessary suffering. Veterinary professionals need to be able to provide current, scientifically-based prophylactic advice, and respect the limits of their expertise.
The ethical concept of a life worth living and the Five Freedoms are core to welfare (FAWC 2009; Broom and Fraser 2015). Behaviour is a central component, both influencing and influenced by physical health. Keepers of small prey mammals (SPM) frequently misunderstand their behaviour and how to meet their needs.
This review provides insight into the physical-social (external) and the cognitive-emotional (internal) environments of SPM, contextualised within an evolutionary perspective. This is extrapolated to captivity and practical suggestions given for meeting behavioural freedoms and enhancing client understanding and enjoyment of their animals, thereby improving welfare for both.
Text
Pre publication accepted JSAP paper
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Submitted date: 15 August 2015
Accepted/In Press date: 3 March 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 17 May 2017
Keywords:
Behaviour, Welfare, Medicine-General, Rodents, Rabbits, Exotics
Organisations:
Clinical Neuroscience
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 406885
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/406885
PURE UUID: 5b8c4a3b-a806-44f4-b475-2a7789b8d1ae
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Date deposited: 25 Mar 2017 02:04
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 05:09
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