News about Animal welfare

The Parrot–Owner Relationship and Problem Behaviors in Parrots

This study investigates 1) the relationships between companion parrots and their human owners and 2) the associations between the relationships and potential welfare-related problems.

Ethicists’ commentary on navigating options when clients refuse care due to cost

Ethical question of the month, May 2023 You provide ambulatory veterinary services for pets. You are contacted by the local animal welfare enforcement agency to perform an at-home euthanasia of a dog that was recently…

Conference: Aquaculture Europe 2023

RASOPTA will be strongly represented at the Aquaculture Europe conference (https://aquaeas.org/) on 18-21 September in Vienna by 5 or 6 ESRs presenting their work.

Number cruncher calculates whether whales are acting weirdly

We humans can be a scary acquaintance for whales in the wild. This includes marine biologists tagging them with measuring devices to understand them better. These experiences can make whales behave erratically for a…

Refurbishment of breeding unit 10-4 in the Panum Building

AEM is in collaboration with Campus Service (CAS) planning a much needed renovation of the breeding unit at 10-4 in the Panum Building which will commence April 2024. Prior to that the unit needs to be vacated. AEM will…

Number cruncher calculates whether whales are acting weirdly

We, humans, can be a scary acquaintance for whales in the wild. This includes marine biologists tagging them with measuring devices to understand them better. Now, University of Copenhagen researchers have figured out…

Ethicists’ commentary on Cooperation in the veterinary field and emergency care practices

Ethical question of the month, April 2023 On a Friday morning, a patient is presented with a mild fever and has been acting depressed for a few days. Radiographs reveal a pointed, metallic foreign body lodged in the…

Perceptions of the rabbit as a low investment ‘starter pet’ lead to negative impacts on its welfare

This paper shows that many rabbits live in unsuitable conditions, and owners who perceive rabbits as low investment ‘children’s pets’ are more likely to not provide recommended resources.

Ethicists’ commentary on weighing owner and veterinarian judgments on the best course of treatment

Ethical question of the month, March 2023 A client contacts you after a distressing incident in an emergency clinic with her 8-year-old English bulldog. The dog has some respiratory compromise typical of the breed but…

A critical review of animal-based welfare indicators for polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in zoos

This review provides an overview of current valid and promising welfare indicators along with identified gaps in knowledge, relevant for the provision of a methodology for assessing and monitoring welfare of captive…

Qualitative Behaviour Assessment for zoo-housed polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

This study aimed to assess the ability of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) to discern emotional state in zoo-housed polar bears, and further to investigate its validity through associations to behavioural and…

Research project metformin

Celebrating 1½ year of intensive research within atrial fibrillation and effect of metformin. Now data analyses are next step.

Various ways towards animal product limiting - practical and social engagements in dietary change

This paper explores how people engage in the practicalities of animal product limiting and how they communicate about the dietary changes they are making in interpersonal interactions.

Ethicists’ commentary on hierarchies of animal “value”

Ethical question of the month, January 2023 A recent media article on the needs of chimpanzees that are “so closely related to humans” caused me to reflect that people, including veterinarians, tend to ascribe more valu…

Assessing welfare risks in unowned unsocialised domestic cats in Denmark based on associations with low body condition score

Paper on welfare risks in unowned unsocialised domestic cats in Denmark based on associations with low body condition score. Published open access in Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica.

Ethicists’ commentary on medicine for geriatric zoo animals

Ethical question of the month, December 2022 In zoo animal medicine, the timing of humane euthanasia for quality-of-life issues is an ethical challenge. Should we engage in “therapeutic relentlessness” on captive wild…

Ethicists’ commentary on fabricating the cause of death

Ethical question of the month, November 2022 Veterinary pathologists regularly encounter numerous cases in which a diagnosis cannot be determined. In one such case, a healthy, indoor-only, 12-year-old, neutered male,…

Change in transfer and breeding instruction forms and reviewing the department’s SOPs

Please read the information here.

Power shutdown at the Biocenter

The power shutdown applies to the entire basement in building 2. It will affect ventilation and other installations in animal facility, including lights (electronic board 2.01.AB). If the shutdown gives rise to…

Mapping of initiatives to prevent inherited diseases and exaggerated phenotypes in dogs

Report on initiatives to prevent inherited diseases and exaggerated phenotypes in dogs. Funded by the Danish Knowledge Centre for Animal Welfare, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

Construction work near the Biocenter - Test piloting performed

The piloting will begin on Monday Janurary 30th, and it is expected to last approx. 10 working days. AEM is still in dialogue with the contractor, and should you experience any irregularities, you are very welcome to…

Construction work near the Biocenter - Test piloting

As mentioned, the construction work involves driving 32 steel piles into the ground during the month of February. A meeting with the contractor and the Maintenance Department was held yesterday due our concern for the…

Danish milk consumers are critical of advanced breeding methods in dairy production

Danish milk consumers are critical of advanced breeding methods in dairy production, but only 1 in 5 is unwilling to drink milk from dairy cows bred with semen derived from such methods Lund, T.B., Sandøe, P., Secher,…

Construction work near the Biocenter

There is a risk that this type of construction work may be noisy and can sometimes produce low-frequency vibrations. For further details, please see the attached letter from the construction management (in Danish only).…