The use of rat tickling to improve animal welfare

AIT 2023 -- Tickling is increasingly recognised as an effective means of improving laboratory rat welfare through mimicking natural play habits. After review of all the material that was available through the NC3Rs who promote this welfare initiative, it was felt that this initiative could have a positive impact on the stress levels of the rats used for inhalation studies at the Labcorp Huntingdon site, acclimatising them to the procedure more successfully while improving their general welfare.