Beaulieu A, Reebs S G
Département de Biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada.
Lab Anim. 2009 Jan;43(1):85-90. doi: 10.1258/la.2008.007088. Epub 2008 Nov 10.
The present study investigated the effects of bedding material (pine shavings versus beta chip) and running wheel surfaces (standard metal bars versus metal bars covered with a plastic mesh) on the occurrence of wounds on the paws of male and female Syrian (golden) hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus. Four groups of 10 males and 10 females were each assigned to one of the following treatments: pine/no mesh, pine/mesh, chips/no mesh and chips/mesh. Each hamster paw was observed at 1-3-day intervals for 60 days. A total of 1-3 wounds, separate in time, developed on the paws (mostly the hind ones) of almost all animals. Wounds appeared as small pinpricks, cuts or scabs, mostly on the palms. Females ran 15% less than males, yet their front paws were more commonly affected and their wounds tended to last longer. Hamsters with plastic mesh inside their wheels took longer to develop wounds but once they appeared, the wounds were larger and lasted longer. Hamsters on pine shavings developed fewer wounds and had more wound-free days. Hamsters kept running at high levels and many wounds did not heal during the study, suggesting a need for veterinary intervention.
本研究调查了垫料（松木刨花与β片材）和跑轮表面（标准金属条与覆盖塑料网的金属条）对雄性和雌性叙利亚（金黄）仓鼠（金仓鼠，Mesocricetus auratus）爪子伤口发生情况的影响。将四组，每组10只雄性和10只雌性仓鼠分别分配到以下处理之一：松木/无网、松木/有网、片材/无网和片材/有网。每隔1 - 3天观察每只仓鼠的爪子，持续60天。几乎所有动物的爪子（主要是后爪）上总共出现了1 - 3处不同时间形成的伤口。伤口表现为小针孔、切口或结痂，大多出现在掌心。雌性仓鼠的跑动比雄性少15%，但其前爪更易受影响，且伤口往往持续时间更长。跑轮内有塑料网的仓鼠形成伤口所需时间更长，但一旦出现伤口，伤口更大且持续时间更长。使用松木刨花的仓鼠形成的伤口更少，且无伤口的天数更多。仓鼠持续高水平跑动，且在研究期间许多伤口未愈合，这表明需要兽医干预。
