Social Housing and Enrichment Guideline
Revision Date: March 15, 2023
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Guide, states that, “Appropriate social interactions among members of the same species (conspecifics) are essential to normal development and well–being”. Social housing of social research animals is the default housing environment at the University of Toledo. Single housing of social species must be justified based on experimental requirements. DLAR veterinary staff may also require individual housing of animals due to medical concerns.
The IACUC considers the following as exceptions that do not require prior or ongoing approval from the IACUC:
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- Demonstrated incompatibility within social groups, as determined by veterinarian. The aggressive nature of individual animals/sex/strains may justify single housing. This incompatibility would be noted if fighting or trauma to cage mates is observed.
- Breeding, such as pregnant female or female with a litter or stud males housed individually when designated for breeding (when documented due to strain/species),
- Veterinary concerns, such as short term (less than 1 week) recovery from surgical manipulation.
Justification for a variance from communal housing for reasons other than those noted above must be submitted for review and approval by the IACUC as part of a new or continuing application or via an amendment. Individuals from species that are not socially housed should be provided with additional enrichment. If single housing is required, it should be limited to the minimum period necessary.
Male Mice and Fighting
- Male mice are often aggressive and are not considered social.
a. Male mice may be housed together only when shipped from a vendor/other institution in compatible groups, when co-housing occurs at the time of weaning, or before 4 weeks of age.
b. Once a male mouse is removed from a group housing cage (for breeding, fighting, or experimental procedures), he may not be returned to a cage with other male mice. - Consequence of not following this guideline:
a. Should any previously separated animals, which are not covered by an IACUC approved exemption, be housed back together by the investigator and/or lab members, and be found by the animal care staff, the mice will be separated, and the IACUC will be notified.
b. The situation will be handled according to the IACUC Standard Operating Procedure for Handling Allegations of Non-Compliance.
Environmental enrichment
The Guide states: “The primary aim of environmental enrichment is to enhance animals’ well-being… according to species-specific characteristics”. The availability of suitable enrichment devices and practices within the primary enclosure aids in achieving this goal. All research animals at The University of Toledo will receive environmental enrichment unless an exception has been approved in writing by the IACUC. Enrichment materials or practices must be designed and applied in accordance with The Guide, in order to enhance the opportunities for the animals to express species specific behavior.