Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How to tell if my pet is healthy and happy?
By Clark, J D et al.·Published in Laboratory animal science·1997·Department of Medical Microbiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Animal well-being. IV. Specific assessment criteria.
Plain-English summary
This research discusses how we can evaluate the well-being of animals by looking at several important factors. These include their overall health, any signs of illness, and how well they perform in their daily activities. The study highlights that animals can experience changes in their body chemistry when they face stressful situations, which can affect their immune system. Additionally, observing an animal's behavior and preferences can provide valuable insights into their well-being. Overall, the findings suggest that long-term exposure to stressful conditions can lead to physical changes in some tissues.
Abstract
A number of factors have potential use as indicators of animal well-being. Classic and practical criteria for assessing animal well-being are a combination of general health status, clinical signs of disease, and performance. Numerous regulatory mechanisms and systems are responsible for many neurochemical and endocrine changes in response to arousing and stimulating events. Neuroendocrine changes associated with aversive stimuli have been implicated in modulation of immune responses. Animal behavior and preference, which can be observed directly and noninvasively, can be useful in assessment of well-being. Aversive conditions, especially longer term, can cause morphologic and pathologic changes in some tissues.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9433694/