Animal Welfare:
The Five Animal Welfare Needs
Before moving on to positive guinea pig welfare, firstly, I need to explain legal animal protection and the five animal welfare needs. Although legislation differs between countries, most countries have laws to protect animals. In England, UK (where I am based), the legislation which protects domestic animals is the Animal Welfare Act, 2006.
The Animal Welfare Act incorporates Five Needs, emphasising what must be provided for pets. The Act makes it a legal duty for owners to provide these five welfare needs of our pets, listed below:
A) Their need for a suitable environment.
B) Their need for a suitable diet.
C) Their need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns.
D) Any need they have to be housed, with or apart from, other animals.
E) Their need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
The five welfare needs are promoted by the Guinea Pig Alliance, comprised of UK animal welfare charities, who support the annual Guinea Pig Awareness Week, usually in September, which provides fun activities and resources for owners - see here. A Good Practice Code for Guinea Pig Welfare is currently being drafted in the UK. This will provide owners with guidance on guinea pig care. When available, I will provide a link to the Code, via this site. September 2024 saw the first Guinea Pig Welfare Forum take place in Birmingham, England, UK.
The Five Domains Model: Promoting Positive Animal Welfare
Although the Five Needs act as a start or a basis for protecting non-human animals, animal welfare as a science is constantly advancing concepts and animal welfare frameworks, such as the Five Domains Model (see work by David Mellor et al.), which now aims to consider species-specific needs, to promote positive conditions, not just prevent negative conditions. Eliminating suffering is an important step for pets, but if we really want to give animals a good life, then we need to consider positive aspects of their lives, which allow animals to thrive.
The Five Domains model accounts for both negative and positive states and is now widely used in different settings to assess how an animal's physical condition, its environment, and ability to express normal behaviours (Domains 1-4) contribute to or affect its mental health (Domain 5). There will be overlap between these domains. Mental health or status is also referred to as affective state, feelings or emotions. The figure below (adapted from Mellor et al. 2020) represents the physical domains linked to the animal's mental state, and therefore, the overall welfare status of an animal.
Application of the Five Domains Model to guinea pigs -
How negative conditions result in poor welfare status
Examples of negative conditions for guinea pigs under each of the physical domains (1-4) are shown in the figure below. These negative conditions result in negative feelings or affective states (domain 5), so guinea pigs experience poor welfare and they suffer.
Application of the Five Domains Model to guinea pigs -
Promotion of positive conditions results in positive welfare
If however, we provide positive conditions, within the physical domains 1-4, then guinea pigs will experience positive feelings/emotions (domain 5), so their welfare status will be good and they can enjoy life.
Using a nutritional factor (domain 1) as an example of positive welfare:
If we provide choice of water container, i.e., bottles and bowls, this encourages drinking of water, helping guinea pigs keep hydrated, especially in warm, dry conditions. Piggies will have their thirst satiated, remain hydrated, which aids in kidney and bladder health - the urinary system being a significant veterinary concern for guinea pigs. In addition, if water (or food) is kept clean, this helps prevent oral infection or gastro-intestinal problems, such as gut stasis. Satiated thirst and good health contributes to overall positive emotional status. By focussing on the promotion of positive conditions in each domain 1-4, we encourage positive guinea pig feelings and a positive welfare status.
When designing and setting up guinea pig accommodation, consider domains 1-4 to create appropriate homes, where nutrition, physical environment, health and behavioural interactions have been considered. This will help promote positive guinea pig mental health, whereby they can forage, have fun, relax and feel safe.