Search Results (337)

Training in laboratory animals is important to ensure that scientific studies are reliable, reproducible, and ethically acceptable. Well-trained animals experience less stress and exhibit fewer unwanted behaviors, improving both welfare and research outcomes. Clicker training is widely used in animal training as a positive reinforcement method to reduce distress. The present study was designed as a pilot study to examine the effects of a four-day clicker training protocol applied to both dams and their offspring, with behavioral outcomes assessed exclusively in the offspring. The results indicated that clicker training potentially increased voluntary interaction with the experimenter and promoted body weight gain during the training period. No significant effects of offspring training were found for classical anxiety-related measures (EPM open arm time, OF center time, Nest Building Test, Sucrose Preference Test, Forced Swim Test) or plasma corticosterone. A potential sex effect was observed across locomotor, center-zone, and corticosterone measures. Maternal training effects on offspring outcomes should be interpreted as preliminary exploratory observations, as only two dams per maternal group were available. Given the exploratory nature and limited sample size of this pilot study, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Under the present condition, clicker training produced a context-specific improvement in human–animal interaction without evidence of harm, but did not produce generalized reductions in anxiety-like behaviors as assessed by standard paradigms. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. Full article

Systems that farm non-typical (wild) species for human consumption are on the rise globally, in contrast to more typical livestock production. In some instances, wildlife farming may arguably help alleviate poverty, provide sustainable animal protein, and be a useful strategy for conservation through reducing wildlife poaching or breeding some animals on farms for reintroduction. However, it is unclear whether farming non-typical species within variable and often unregulated systems truly offers these benefits or outweighs the costs including animal welfare implications, public health concerns, and normalising or intensifying the consumption of wild animals. A previous study proposed a sentiocentric ethical decision-making framework for the farming of wild species. In the present study we invited academic ‘key informants’ with specialised knowledge about farming non-typical species to pilot the framework via an online survey using a species of their choice and requested their feedback on its strengths and weaknesses. Thirteen respondents applied ten different mammalian, reptilian, insect, and avian species to the framework, spanning all continents. Ultimately, the framework outcome for 11 appraisals was that the chosen species may be suitable for farming. However, erroneous responses were likely in places, and there was some uncertainty over definitions of framework terminology. We publish resultant amendments to the ethical framework to clarify meaning and suggest that it can be applied proactively or reactively by different stakeholders (e.g., governments, businesses, and NGOs). We reflect our informants’ views, acknowledging the need to solicit expertise from additional stakeholders (e.g., farmers) and the role of cultural significance and rural communities when considering farming non-typical species. Full article

This narrative conceptual review aims to examine how veterinary science intertwines with the different ontologies of resilience. As resilience has increasingly become an influential yet conceptually diverse framework, its different ontologies shape and are shaped by veterinary science thinking. This paper will begin with a brief overview of the origins of the resilience concept and its three major ontologies: engineering, psychological, and ecological resilience. Following these different ontologies, the paper then explores animal-level resilience, where engineering framings emphasise disease response and production stability, while welfare-oriented perspectives frame resilience in terms of the affective experience and the lived realities of animals. It then considers veterinary professional resilience, highlighting how emotional labour, workload pressures and structural constraints shape wellbeing across the profession. Finally, it analyses how veterinary science contributes to socio-ecological resilience through One Health approaches in public health, food systems and climate adaptation. Across these domains, resilience is often framed as a desirable attribute, yet it remains a value-laden concept that can obscure inequities or normalise preventable harms. This paper calls for critical, justice-oriented engagement with resilience to ensure it supports ethically grounded veterinary practice and promotes healthier, happier animals, more equitable systems, and sustainable professional environments. Full article

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) has emerged as an approach in modern animal production, integrating advanced technologies such as sensors, automation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to enable continuous, individualised monitoring of livestock and their environment. This review examines the impact of PLF technologies on three critical dimensions of livestock systems: productivity, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. PLF applications, including wearable and environmental sensors, automated feeding and milking systems, and video-based monitoring, allow for early detection of health and behavioural deviations, optimisation of feed efficiency, and improved reproductive and disease management. These technologies support proactive, data-driven decision-making that enhances productivity while promoting animal welfare and reducing the environmental footprint of livestock production. Despite these benefits, the adoption of PLF faces significant challenges, including high initial investment costs, technical limitations, system integration issues, data ownership and privacy concerns, and ethical considerations related to automation. Future research and policy efforts should focus on developing cost-effective, scalable solutions, standardised data frameworks, and supportive regulatory measures to enable equitable and responsible implementation across diverse production systems. By addressing these challenges, PLF offers a pathway towards more efficient, welfare-oriented, and environmentally sustainable livestock production, contributing to global food security and resilient agricultural systems. Full article

Veterinary students’ perceptions of animal welfare are shaped by both educational exposure and individual background, with direct implications for future clinical decision-making. This study evaluated 157 ninth-semester veterinary students enrolled in a Deontology and Veterinary Legal course at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain) across six academic years (2019/2020–2025/2026), excluding 2020/2021 due to pandemic-related teaching modifications. Participants completed a structured, previously published questionnaire assessing twelve common dog welfare issues on a 5-point Likert scale, subsequently grouped into five dog welfare dimensions. Students consistently prioritized overt and severe dog welfare concerns, including abuse or active cruelty, lack of treatment to prevent suffering, and malnutrition, while assigning lower importance to breed-related conditions and behavioral problems. Significant differences across academic years were identified for seven items and all dimensions, revealing temporal variability in dog welfare perception between cohorts. Gender and student background also influenced responses, with female and exchange students generally assigning higher scores to selected issues. These findings suggest that the perception of dog welfare is not static but varies between cohorts across academic years and is shaped by sociocultural factors. Strengthening veterinary curricula to address less visible and socially normalized dog welfare problems may be critical to ensuring comprehensive and ethically grounded professional practice. Full article

In veterinary education, many exercises are performed on animals. Palpating the mucosa of the Ruminoreticulum in ruminants is a necessary preparatory exercise for future surgery. However, there are legal and ethical obligations to reduce the use of animals and improve animal welfare. This can be achieved using 3D models and simulators. To allow students to practice palpating the goat’s forestomach, a simulator is being developed. The aim of the present study was to produce replicas of the mucosal surface of the Ruminoreticulum for the inner lining of this simulator. Two methods were applied and compared: 3D printing and surface casting. For 3D printing, computed tomography-based virtual templates were created and printed after appropriate post-processing. For the surface cast, a negative mold of the mucosal surfaces was created using epoxy resin. The positive mucosal cast was then created using silicone. The results showed a clear advantage of surface casting compared to 3D printing. The virtual templates and 3D prints lacked fine anatomical structures. In contrast, the surface casting method yielded detailed replicas of the mucosal surfaces of Rumen and Reticulum, including even finer anatomical structures. Since the silicone casts also allowed for haptic differentiation of mucosal formations, they can be considered a suitable inner lining for the planned simulator. Full article

In this review, we aimed to condense data on mammalian models of experimental infection with species of the genus Sporothrix, the causal agent of sporotrichosis, using the PRISMA methodology to search in three electronic databases: PubMed, Lilacs, and Web of Science. We analyzed the mammals used and the criteria that determine the course of the infection, including inoculum size and route of inoculation, the host’s immune status, and the fungal species employed, as well as information on ethical principles and criteria for determining the pathogenicity/virulence of the fungal species used, and presented a scoring system to be used in experimental infection studies in animal models alongside clinical parameters to assess the humane endpoint and provide reliable results while respecting animal welfare. Our results demonstrated that most articles described mice as mammalian models for experimental sporotrichosis. Over half of the articles cited an intermediate inoculum, ranging from 10⁶ to 10⁷ cells/mL. Subcutaneous is the inoculation route described in 27.71% of the articles, followed by intraperitoneal and intravenous routes, with 25.30% and 21.08%, respectively. Seventy-nine point five-two percent of the studies used immunocompetent models, 9.04% used immunosuppressed animals, and 10.84% included both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed animals. We also observed that Sporothrix schenckii was the most widely used species, considering both the entire period (1900–2024: 77.11%) and the period after the description of new species (2008–2024: 56.47%). Animal welfare conditions were poorly detailed in all articles. Only four studies reported a humane endpoint to terminate the experiment, and one presented consideration of the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, and Refine). A few articles mentioned the most significant criteria grouped to evaluate the pathogenicity/virulence of the fungal species studied. Full article

Animal welfare in farmed animals is increasingly being identified as an integral part of ethical meat production; yet in most developing nations, including Ghana, little attention is being paid to this area of interest. The demand for chicken meat and egg products in Ghana has also increased because of rapid urbanisation and development; hence, public perception of poultry welfare is paramount in policy formulation and development in Ghana. This study investigates public perception of poultry welfare in Ghana, particularly laying hen farming. The study used a cross-sectional study and surveyed 1275 respondents aged 17 and older in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale by collecting data in-person, and the questionnaire was administered using tablets or mobile devices. The study found that 69.1% of respondents poorly perceived farmed animal welfare, while 30.9% positively perceived farmed animal welfare in Ghana. There was a significant difference in perception levels among respondents in Accra and Kumasi, and those in Tamale, where respondents in Tamale indicated a slightly positive perception compared to those in Accra and Kumasi. Furthermore, 53.7% of respondents supported state intervention in farmed animal welfare, while 52.0% showed reluctance to pay a premium price for cage-free and free-range egg production in Ghana. Full article

The slaughter of pregnant pigs raises legal, ethical, and animal welfare concerns in pig production. Relevant information for this overview was compiled from research identified through searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using defined combinations of search terms related to pregnancy, slaughter of sows, fetal age, gestational stage, and prevalence. No lower time limit for publication year was predefined; publications published up to 2025 were considered. Regulations vary widely between countries, with some specifying clear restrictions for animals in late gestation, while many provide no stage-specific limits. Reasons for culling include economic pressures, management practices such as unrecognized pregnancies and mixed-sex housing, and health or welfare issues. In Europe, the prevalence of sows being pregnant at slaughter ranges from 1.5% to 13%, with most fetuses being in the first or second trimester and a small proportion in the final trimester. In Africa, prevalence is higher and more variable, ranging from 9% to 36.14%, with a larger share of fetuses in mid to late gestation. Data from America is limited, reporting prevalences between 5.9% and 13.5%. The comparability of prevalence estimates is limited due to high heterogeneity and differences in study design. Fetal age can be assessed using metric or non-metric methods, applied either postmortem or in vivo (for example, ultrasonography). Variations in study design, methodology, and population characteristics restrict direct comparability. For legal enforcement and veterinary inspection, reliable fetal age assessment is important, and updated fetometric reference values could contribute to a more consistent interpretation of fetal age. Full article

The rapid increase in companion animal ownership has intensified the demand for innovative tools that support animal health and overall welfare. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), has emerged as a promising approach in veterinary medicine. However, its application beyond clinical diagnostics, especially in behaviour and personality assessment, remains fragmented and insufficiently integrated into routine practice. This systematic review aims to synthesise current knowledge on AI-based applications in companion animal care, with a focus on behavioural monitoring, personality prediction, and welfare-related challenges. Following PRISMA guidelines, a structured literature search was conducted in the Scopus and PubMed databases from 2020 to 2025. In addition, grey literature sources were searched to capture relevant non-peer-reviewed data. A total of 115 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Eligibility criteria included studies applying AI methods (machine learning or deep learning) to companion animals (dogs, cats, and exotic pets), while studies on humans, farm animals, or without AI methods were excluded. Due to the heterogeneity of included studies, no formal risk of bias assessment was performed, and results were synthesised narratively. The findings indicate that AI applications are most advanced in diagnostic imaging and clinical decision support, where data availability and methodological maturity are highest. In contrast, AI-based approaches for behaviour and personality prediction remain limited, particularly in cats and exotic companion animals, largely due to small, heterogeneous datasets, potential bias, and a lack of external validation. Emerging technologies such as wearable sensors, computer vision, and multimodal data integration demonstrate substantial potential for continuous behavioural monitoring and early detection of welfare-related issues in real household environments. Nevertheless, significant challenges persist, including data heterogeneity, limited model explainability, ethical considerations, and the absence of regulatory frameworks specifically addressing AI-based veterinary applications. Overall, this review highlights a substantial gap between the technical potential of AI and its current readiness for widespread application in companion animal behaviour and welfare assessment. Future research should prioritise large-scale and standardised data collection, cross-species validation, and interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure that AI-driven tools effectively support veterinary decision-making, animal welfare, and the well-being of owners. Full article

The use of animals in biomedical research and university teaching remains socially sensitive, shaped by ethical concerns, regulations, and public expectations. While animal models are still essential for basic and translational research, society increasingly demands transparency, strong welfare protections, and the development of alternative methods. This study investigated Spanish university students’ attitudes toward the use of animals in basic research, translational research, and educational settings, and examined their acceptance of different species for addressing human health problems. It also assessed how sociodemographic variables, personality traits, empathy, and anthropomorphism relate to these views. The sample included 653 students, predominantly women, heterosexual, and urban residents. Most participants supported the use of animals in research, whereas opinions regarding teaching uses were more divided. Attitudes toward the use of laboratory animals consistently differed by gender and field of study, with men and students in science-related disciplines showing higher acceptance. Of the psychological variables assessed, only anthropomorphism showed moderate negative correlations with support for the use of laboratory animals across all contexts. Species strongly influenced attitudes: companion animals generated the most opposition, primates and livestock elicited mixed responses, and rodents, invertebrates, and aquatic species received the highest support. Overall, students generally accept animal use but vary substantially by species, gender, and academic background. Full article

Animal welfare has become an increasingly prominent attribute in global food markets, embedded within sustainability narratives, quality claims, and ethical branding strategies. However, the proliferation of animal welfare claims has not always been matched by equivalent improvements in on-farm welfare outcomes. This paper conceptualises animal welfare washing (AWW) as a systemic phenomenon in animal-based supply chains, whereby welfare narratives, standards, and certifications create the appearance of ethical production without delivering measurable improvements in animal welfare. Drawing on the interdisciplinary literature from animal welfare science, sustainability studies, trade governance, and food policy, this conceptual essay examines how AWW emerges from the interaction of industrial farming systems, fragmented public and private regulations, trade incentives, and information asymmetries. The analysis shows that AWW undermines ethical commitments to animals, regulatory credibility, and food quality governance. Welfare claims frequently operate as credence-based quality signals, despite weak links to verifiable welfare outcomes. Together, these conditions enable symbolic compliance and regulatory arbitrage across global value chains. As a result, genuinely higher-welfare producers face distorted competition, while consumers encounter diminishing trust in sustainability labels. It is argued that addressing AWW requires a shift toward outcome-based measurable welfare standards, stronger enforcement, improved integration with food quality regulation, and trade-compatible governance frameworks that reward performance rather than symbolic claims. By situating AWW within broader sustainability and trade dynamics, this paper advances debates on ethical food governance. Full article

Dog bite incidents constitute significant public health, animal welfare, and economic concerns with substantial physical and psychological consequences for victims. Despite legislative responses, research indicates that breed-focused interventions are ineffective in reducing dog bite risk. Human behaviour, caregiving practices, and environmental context all play central roles in the expression of human-directed canine aggression. Current methods of assessing dog bite risk remain largely unstructured, dog-centred, and reliant on subjective judgement and provocative behavioural testing. These approaches exhibit limited predictive validity and poor reliability, and are vulnerable to bias, raising serious concerns for public safety, judicial fairness, and animal welfare. Comparable challenges in human violence risk assessment led to the development of an evidence-based structured professional judgement (SPJ) assessment framework, which combines empirical risk factors with individualised case formulation and dynamic risk management. An SPJ framework for dog bite risk would ensure the systematic consideration of empirically supported static and dynamic risk factors relating to the dog, caregivers, and related environmental conditions, while supporting the development of targeted risk reduction strategies. Conclusion: Developing an SPJ approach offers a more scientifically grounded, ethically defensible, and prevention-focused method for managing dog bite risk, with potential benefits for public safety, animal welfare, and professional practice. Full article

Despite increasing efforts by the scientific community to raise awareness of breed-related health problems through educational campaigns, public information initiatives, and veterinary outreach programmes, brachycephalic dog breeds remain highly popular. As the number of brachycephalic dogs increases, the prevalence of associated health problems rises accordingly. Ethical and animal welfare considerations appear to play a limited role in breed selection. In German-speaking regions, extensive educational efforts have been undertaken in recent years to address the issue of so-called torture breeding, defined as intentional selection for extreme phenotypic traits that impair health, reduce welfare, and cause chronic suffering, particularly in brachycephalic breeds. The aim of this study was to determine the underlying reasons for the decision to buy and keep a brachycephalic dog. Although the veterinary profession is already improving education and communication, this qualitative study intended to find new starting points for targeted education against animal suffering and to explore the sociological background of the ownership of such dogs. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews with people with brachycephalic dogs were conducted throughout Switzerland (n = 16). The focus was on the animal–human relationship. The interviews were defined by systematically applied guidelines for the design of the interview process, while still allowing maximum openness (all possibilities for expression). The transcribed interviews were coded and analysed according to the Kuckartz methodology, which allows us to set certain focal points of analysis and to structure them according to codes. The results of this study indicate that, although awareness of torture breeding is present within the broader population, owners of brachycephalic dogs frequently rely on individualised arguments and rationalisations. These typically involve emphasising the perceived health, functionality, or exceptional characteristics of their own animal (e.g., claims that their dog is “healthy” or not affected by breed-related problems), thereby distancing their personal ownership experience from the general welfare concerns associated with the breed. This psychological pattern can be interpreted as cognitive dissonance, in which contradictory beliefs are harmonised through selective perception or re-evaluation. The results also show that brachycephalic dogs offer a very strong projection surface: their owners assign them a variety of social roles that go beyond the classic animal–human relationship—for example, as a substitute for children, a romantic partner, or a best friend. This qualitative study provides differentiated insights into the attitudes and motivations of owners of brachycephalic dogs and illustrates that traditional awareness campaigns have not been sufficient to effectively change problematic breeding practices and ownership patterns. In order to develop long-term effective solutions, interdisciplinary cooperation is therefore needed—for example, between veterinary medicine, animal welfare, communication science, psychology and law. In addition to individual education, new, target-group-specific communication strategies and consistent legal regulations are needed to protect animal welfare in the long term. This study is intended to serve as a catalyst for a broader ethical and social debate on the keeping of torture breed dogs. Full article

Background: Local delivery after resection of high-grade glioma, particularly glioblastoma (GBM), aims to increase intratumoral drug exposure while limiting systemic toxicity. The only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved implantable intracranial chemotherapy is the carmustine (1,3-bis[2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea; BCNU)-impregnated polyanhydride wafer (Gliadel wafer), indicated for newly diagnosed high-grade glioma and recurrent GBM. More than two decades of clinical use and randomized data show that intracavitary chemotherapy is feasible and confers a modest survival benefit in carefully selected patients. Nevertheless, Gliadel wafer has not altered the overall poor prognosis of GBM because of biological resistance to nitrosoureas, constrained brain-parenchymal pharmacokinetics, and device-related adverse effects. Objective: The aim is to synthesize clinical and preclinical evidence defining the current limitations of Gliadel wafer and to outline strategies for next-generation local delivery systems, with emphasis on GBM within the broader high-grade glioma setting. Methods: A narrative review of randomized and observational clinical studies, pharmacokinetic studies, and preclinical investigations evaluating Gliadel wafer and potential next-generation local delivery systems in GBM and other high-grade gliomas was performed. Results: The literature delineates key limitations of Gliadel wafer: short diffusion distances and burst-weighted carmustine release, high tumor cell resistance to carmustine due to heterogeneity, and device-related side effects. Emerging approaches to address these limitations include (i) multidrug systems with synergistic effects against GBM cells; (ii) advanced biomaterials that enable controlled and sustained release; and (iii) targeted agents with minimal off-target effects. Testing newer generations of local drug-delivery systems in more predictive translational models, such as patient-derived organoids and spontaneous large-animal glioma models, is essential to maximize the translatability of preclinical studies to human studies. However, broader adoption of spontaneous large-animal glioma models is constrained by ethical oversight, animal-welfare considerations, cost, and limited availability compared with rodent platforms. Conclusions: Next-generation local drug-delivery systems should include multiple synergistic tumor-selective drugs that can be released in a controlled, sustained manner deep into the residual tumor. Preclinical testing of these systems should be conducted in clinically relevant animal models that are more translatable than those used in early Gliadel wafer studies. Full article