Plus-Hex CLINICAL
Results
The results of this study ( Table 2 , page 30 ) showed that five of the seven guinea pigs displayed substantially more explorative behaviour when in the presence of the boar from their herd ; however , two participants showed less explorative behaviour . Taking all seven guinea pigs into consideration , an average of 1.8 times longer was spent exploring when the herd mate was present .
Discussion
The guinea pigs showed explorative behaviours for nearly twice as long in the presence of a herd mate compared with when a herd mate was not present . The genetic make-up of individuals and their early experience can have an effect on personality development [ 12 ] . Given the relatively small sample size of this study , which was conducted with a herd of domestic guinea pigs ( Figure 2 ) that had largely unknown early developmental periods , it is possible that the personality trait of ‘ boldness ’ in individuals may have affected the results ; however , this was not tested for in these subjects .
Figure 2 . The participants in the study ( including Rupert , pictured at home ) were a herd of domestic guinea pigs .
As the sample size for this research was limited , more widespread data gathering is needed to draw scientific conclusions and extrapolate results across the species . Such studies would ideally use laboratory animals , which would be less likely to have had genetic and environmental differences shape their personality . Ethical consideration of the impact on the animals versus the value of the research would need to be considered , thus ethical approval would need to be gained in order to use laboratory animals to replicate this study on a wider scale .
Research by Guenther et al . [ 13 ] with guinea pigs quantified personality traits such as ‘ boldness ’, which was tested by the approach to a novel item , and ‘ exploration ’, which was measured as time spent exploring an unfamiliar territory . Their research found that boldness scores in guinea pigs sharply decreased after sexual maturation , but exploration levels stayed the same . Their research encompassed only single-participant experiments , so it is possible the results would differ had they tested for boldness and exploration when the subjects were with their bonded conspecifics . As Guenther et al . [ 13 ] categorised boldness as a personality trait in guinea pigs , it should be considered a variable in this research .
The enclosure was not cleaned between its occupation by each participant , so it is possible that the scent and pheromones of previous herd mates may have had an effect on the subjects , particularly those that were tested last , as there was substantial scent from their herd mates in the experiment area by this time . However , the data do not indicate an increase or a decrease in explorative behaviour according to the order in which the subjects were tested .
It is also prudent to note that the likelihood of the subjects displaying explorative behaviour in the second phase of the experiment may have been impacted by the fact that the environment was somewhat familiar , as well as considering the presence of the herd mate .
While the participants used in this study live relatively harmoniously in a herd , there are individual relationships between members of the herd . The results of the study might have differed if the truly preferred bonded partner for each individual was used in the test environment , rather than the boar for all subjects . Research [ 6 ] that showed an overall preference for the male in the group among females influenced the decision to use the boar as the partner in this study ; however , it is possible that he was not the preferred guinea pig of all the subjects .
Different results may also have been obtained if the novel item had been something the subjects found particularly appetitive or aversive , rather than the items used , which were in part chosen for their simple and non-threatening appearance .
Conclusions
We know that housing patients with a companion can bring comfort and reduce stress , leading to better health and faster recoveries [ 14 ] . This research may highlight a specific advantage in relation to foraging and eating behaviours for guinea pigs when hospitalised ( Figure 3 , page 32 ).
Research in other mammal species showed a correlation between boldness in a novel-object test and increased risk-taking when foraging [ 15 ] . If we , as veterinary nurses , were to apply this to hospitalised guinea pigs , we can posit that increased explorative behaviour when presented with novelty will result in increased foraging behaviours when food is provided . We can use this knowledge to maximise the benefit of food as environmental enrichment . Increased foraging may also lead to a reduced incidence of hyporexia .
Volume 39 ( 4 ) • August 2024
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