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Hamsters happiest in hammocks, study finds
Hamster in cage
Hamsters housed in cages with ledges, hammocks, chews and extra bedding are more optimistic.
Enriched cages help creatures make more positive decisions

Hamsters living in cages enriched with hammocks, extra bedding, ledges and chews are more positive than than those living in less luxurious cages, according to a study by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU).

The study, published in Royal Society journal Open Science, reveals that enriched hamsters make more optimistic judgements about ambiguous information than they do when enrichment is removed.

Scientists tested the happiness of hamsters by training the creatures to choose between bitter-tasting water laced with quinine and sugar water placed in another location.  The hamsters were quick to approach the sugar water, but stopped approaching the bitter water.

Half of the hamsters were then given a range of enrichment devices, including extra bedding hammocks, chews and ledges, to increase opportunities to express natural behaviours and improve their mood. The scientists then measured how often hamsters approached 'ambiguous' drinkers placed in locations in between the sweet and bitter water locations.  The enriched hamsters approached the ambiguous drinkers more often than the unenriched hamsters did, suggesting that they were more optimistic that the drinkers might contain sugar water.

Commenting on the study, Dr Emily Bethell senior lecturer in primate behaviour, said:  “This study shows that hamsters housed in enriched environments make more optimistic judgements about otherwise ambiguous information.

"The important note for pet owners is that ensuring pets have adequate opportunities to express natural behaviours in captivity improves their mood and is essential for their welfare."

Co-author Dr Nicola Koyama, adds: “Judgement bias studies let us examine the effect of emotions on cognitive processes and are important measures for improving animal welfare.

"Hamsters are often a child’s first pet and we’ve shown that what goes into a cage (ledges, chews, hammocks and material to dig in) has a positive impact on a hamster’s emotional state and thus, their well-being.”

The study is the first of its kind to demonstrate that positive shifts in emotion can be objectively measured in hamsters. 

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.