Trixie 61011 Running wheel, plastic, ø 28 cm (Assorted)

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Veillette, M.; Guitard, J.; Reebs, S.G. (2010). "Cause and possible treatments of foot lesions in captive Syrian hamsters ( Mesocricetus auratus)". Veterinary Medicine International. 2010: 951708. doi: 10.4061/2010/951708. PMC 2896862. PMID 20613965. Keeney, B.K., Meek, T.H., Middleton, K.M., Holness, L. F. and Garland, T., Jr., 2012, Sex differences in cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB1) pharmacology in mice selectively bred for high voluntary wheel-running behavior, Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 101: 528-537. In rodents, voluntary exercise is almost always measured by the use of wheels. This makes running wheels the tool of choice in research on the effects of exercise and voluntary activity on metabolism, obesity, and pain. [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] a b c Reebs, S. G.; St-Onge, P (2005). "Running wheel choice by Syrian hamsters". Laboratory Animals. 39 (4): 442–451. doi: 10.1258/002367705774286493. PMID 16197712. S2CID 21311908.

Despite seeming like a fairly simple item, hamster wheels come in various designs and styles. Here’s what you need to know before purchasing. Size of Your Hamster Blue Cross is one of the UK’s leading animal charities established over 125 years ago, they recommend the following hamster wheel sizes for different species: Hamsters are protected by The Animal Welfare Act, it makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met. These include the need: Kandasamy, R., Calsbeek, J. J., & Morgan, M. M. (2016). Home cage wheel running is an objective and clinically relevant method to assess inflammatory pain in male and female rats. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 263, 115-122.

Garland, T., Jr., H. Schutz, M. A. Chappell, B. K. Keeney, T. H. Meek, L. E. Copes, W. Acosta, C. Drenowatz, R. C. Maciel, G. van Dijk, C. M. Kotz, and J. C. Eisenmann. 2011. The biological control of voluntary exercise, spontaneous physical activity and daily energy expenditure in relation to obesity: human and rodent perspectives. Journal of Experimental Biology 214:206-229. Most plastic wheels tend to be incredibly squeaky and noisy, and given hamsters can run up to 6 miles in one day, the endless rattling can soon become a living hell. Belke, T.W., and Wagner, J.P. 2005. The reinforcing property and the rewarding aftereffect of wheel running in rats: a combination of two paradigms. Behavioral Processes 68: 165-172.

Sherwin, C.M., 1998, The use and perceived importance of three resources which provide caged laboratory mice the opportunity of extended locomotion, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 55: 353-367. a b c Sherwin, C.M., 1998, Voluntary wheel running: A review and novel interpretation, Animal Behaviour, 56: 11–27 Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz (TVT) recommends wheels should be at least 20cm (8") for dwarf hamsters and at least 30cm (12") for Syrian hamsters, since smaller diameters lead to permanent spinal curvatures, especially in young animals. They also recommend a solid running surface because rungs or mesh can cause injury. [33] As well as classically helping your hamster improve health, balance and agility, this wheel is made from 100% wooden material, creating an incredibly smooth motion unlike plastic, reducing the likelihood of annoying noises.Hamsters are protected under The Animal Welfare Act and there is a good argument that small hamster wheels should be banned. In addition, Hamster cages which are too small to fit an adequate sized wheel should also be banned. To make it worse, hamsters are nocturnal creatures too, which means you can often say goodbye to sleep and hello to midnight marathons. Reebs, S.G.; Maillet, D. (2003). "Effect of cage enrichment on the daily use of running wheels by Syrian hamsters". Chronobiology International. 20 (1): 9–20. doi: 10.1081/CBI-120018329. PMID 12638687. S2CID 21925891. Aschoff, J., Figala, J., and Poppel, E. 1973. Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) measured with two different techniques. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology 85: 20-28.