Search our 3Rs resource library

Use the filters below to narrow down our resources to those relevant to your role, the model you are interested in, or by topic area. Filters are best used by combining two or more to narrow down the results.

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134 results

Housing and husbandry: Rat

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory rat.

Guidance

A rat accepting a treat, in this case a cereal cheerio snack, from a technician. The rat sits on top of a housing box within a cage (the lid is open). The technician is reaching in with a gloved hand, and the black and white lister hooded rat is reaching up to take the treat.

Rat playpens

The positive impact playpens have on laboratory rat welfare, and guidance on how to set one up in your institution.

Guidance

A tall cage which has been used to create a rat playpen. There are three different tiers with ladders to allow the rats to climb up between each one. A number of white rats can be seen moving between the different levels. Enrichment and play objects are available on each level including an cardboard box that used to hold laboratory gloves, coloured balls, tubes, a wheel and a raised platform on the top level with some bedding material.

Housing and husbandry: Guinea pig

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory guinea pig.

Guidance

White guinea pigs in floor pen. Each enclosure holds around three to five guinea pigs and is separated with clear perspex partitions so the animals can see each other. Each enclosure has a silver box to create shade and shelter. The floor is covered in sawdust and straw.

Sharing and archiving of GA mice

Guidance document on opportunities to reduce and refine the use of GA mice through cryopreservation and sharing.

Guidance

The front cover of the "Sharing & archiving of genetically altered mice" document on a green background.

External link

Environmental monitoring for rodent health surveillance

A webinar exploring how environmental monitoring can replace the use of sentinel animals for monitoring mouse colonies for the presence of pathogens.

Webinar and video

Webinar title slide: Environmental monitoring for rodent health surveillance

Housing and husbandry: Hamster

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory hamster.

Guidance

Two hamsters in a cage. The floor is covered in sawdust. One hamster is towards the right hand side, the other is in the middle, emerging from a cardboard tube (enrichment). Both hamsters are red and light brown in colour.

External link

Non-aversive handling of mice: the evidence base

The evidence supporting the use of tunnel and cup handling to improve animal welfare and scientific outcomes (presented at AALAS 2021).

Webinar and video

Webinar title slide: Non-aversive handling of mice, the evidence base

Grimace scale: Rat

Details of the Rat Grimace Scale, including a poster for display in laboratory rooms and corridors.

Hard copy | Tool

Screenshot of the top third of the rat grimace scale poster showing the orbital tightening facial action units

Grimace scale: Mouse

Details of the Mouse Grimace Scale, including a poster for display in laboratory rooms and corridors.

Hard copy | Tool

Screenshot of the top third of the mouse grimace scale poster showing the orbital tightening facial action units

External link

Using microfluidics to eliminate surgical embryo transfer in mice

10 years of CRACK IT webinar: An IVF micro microfluidic device for non-surgical embryo transfer to generate transgenic mice.

Webinar and video

Housing and husbandry: Dog

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory dog.

Guidance

Four dogs in a pen, interacting and showing amicable social behaviour. The two dogs in the background are nose to nose. In the foreground one dog is on his back with legs in the air, a second dog can be seen sniffing him from the side.

Malocclusion in mice

Information and resources on malocclusion in mice to improve welfare within a research setting.

Guidance | Hard copy

One mouse exhibiting healthy teeth and another exhibiting unhealthy, maloccluded teeth

External link

Malocclusion in mice: Spot the signs and take action

A video to be used for training and education, to improve mouse welfare within a research setting.

Webinar and video

Cover slide for the malocclusion in mice training video

Training on the 3Rs

A video resource for introductory training on the 3Rs aimed at in vivo researchers and animal technicians.

E-learning | Webinar and video

Cover slide for the 3Rs training webinar. The title of the talk is seen in white text on a blue background - The 3Rs: Their definition, application and importance to your work.

Rat tickling

Resources on rat tickling and how it can be used to promote positive human-animal interactions.

Overview

A white rat in a clear plastic cage with wooden shavings, being tickled by a gloved hand.

Blood sampling: Dog

Non-surgical approaches for sampling blood in the dog.

Guidance

Two beagles in the arms of a seated animal technician, with an icon of a needle and syringe on a yellow background in the corner of the image.

Blood sampling: Rabbit

Approaches for sampling blood in the rabbit, covering non-surgical and terminal techniques.

Guidance

Two white rabbits in an enclosure, one of which is standing on top of a shelter, with an icon of a needle and syringe on a yellow background in the corner of the image.

Blood sampling: Hamster

Approaches for sampling blood in the hamster, covering non-surgical, surgical and terminal techniques.

Guidance

Close up of a golden hamster in a cardboard tube in its home cage, with an icon of a needle and syringe on a yellow background in the corner of the image.

Rat tickling: Certification

An online course created allowing you to become certified in the correct rat tickling technique.

E-learning

A white rat being tickled by an ungloved hand. The rat is lying on its back on sawdust within its cage.

Blood sampling: Pig

Approaches for sampling blood in the pig, covering non-surgical and surgical techniques.

Guidance

A piglet standing next to a sleeping adult pig, with an icon of a needle and syringe on a yellow background in the corner of the image.

Blood sampling: Guinea pig

Approaches for sampling blood in the guinea pig, covering non-surgical, surgical and terminal techniques.

Guidance

Close up of a white guinea pig with black and orange patches in its home cage, with an icon of a needle and syringe on a yellow background in the corner of the image.

Blood sampling: Marmoset

Approaches for sampling blood in the marmoset, covering non-surgical and terminal techniques.

Guidance

Two marmosets in an outdoor enclosure, with an icon of a needle and syringe on a yellow background in the corner of the image.

Housing and husbandry: Ferret

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory ferret.

Guidance

Ferrets in a cage. You can see multiple examples of environmental enrichment including a hammock, red plastic ball, cardboard tubes and nesting boxes.

Blood sampling: General principles

Principles to help minimise stress and discomfort in laboratory animals when taking blood samples.

Guidance

Five needles with empty syringes on a pale blue background