
What diseases are cured by animal testing?
Oct 21, 2012 · Most animals are killed at the end of an experiment, but some may be re-used in subsequent experiments. Here is a selection of common animal procedures: Forced chemical exposure in toxicity testing, which can include oral force-feeding, forced inhalation, skin or injection into the abdomen, muscle, etc.
What are the pros and cons of animal testing?
Treatment of Animals. The use of animals in research and testing is strictly controlled, particularly regarding potential pain. Federal laws and regulations, including the Animal Welfare Act and the U.S. Public Health Service Policy regulate the alleviation and elimination of pain, as well as caging, feeding, exercise of dogs and the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates.
Why medical animal testing is good?
Mar 18, 2020 · Treatments for animals developed using animal testing also include pacemakers for heart disease and remedies for glaucoma and hip dysplasia. Animal testing has been instrumental in saving endangered species from extinction, including the black-footed ferret, the California condor and the tamarins of Brazil.
What is the purpose of medical testing on animals?
It was used in experiments with household products, pesticides, and drugs. Although these specific tests are not as commonly used today, they demonstrate the terrible treatment animals have faced. Today, many industries use animal testing for different products, including cosmetics, medications, household goods, and pesticides.

How are animals treated during cosmetic testing?
At the end of some tests, the animals are killed, normally by asphyxiation, neck-breaking or decapitation. Pain relief is not provided.
What do they actually do in animal testing?
Examples of animal tests include forcing mice and rats to inhale toxic fumes, force-feeding dogs pesticides, and dripping corrosive chemicals into rabbits' sensitive eyes. Even if a product harms animals, it can still be marketed to consumers.
Do they inject animals for animal testing?
Acute Toxicity Testing To determine the danger of a single short-term exposure to a product or chemical, the substance is administered to animals (usually rodents) in extremely high doses via force-feeding, forced inhalation, and/or eye or skin contact.
Is animal testing painful for animals?
Most animals experience only minimal pain or brief discomfort when they are used in research.
How are animals hurt during testing?
Experimenters force-feed chemicals to animals, conduct repeated surgeries on them, implant wires in their brains, crush their spines, and much more. After enduring these terrifying, painful procedures, animals are then usually dumped back into a cage without any painkillers.
How many animals are killed in animal testing?
Over 100 million animals are burned, crippled, poisoned, and abused in US labs every year. 92% of experimental drugs that are safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials because they are too dangerous or don't work.
What happens to animals after testing?
What happens to animals after the experiment? While some animals may be used again, or sometimes even adopted out, most animals are humanely euthanized. This is usually because certain information, such as organ samples, can only be taken after the animal is euthanized and the body subjected to further analysis.6 days ago
How much does animal testing cost?
For an unscheduled DNA synthesis, an animal test costs $32,000 USD, whereas a vitro test costs $11,000 USD (3). From these statistics, we see how animal testing costs more than testing for humans. It is absurd to know that a product that is designed for human use costs more in animal testing than human testing.
What percent of animal testing is successful?
Because animal tests are so unreliable, they make those human trials all the more risky. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has noted that 95 percent of all drugs that are shown to be safe and effective in animal tests fail in human trials because they don't work or are dangerous.
Can animal testing be humane?
There's no “humane” way to poison animals with chemicals or to infect them with deadly diseases like rabies to test the effectiveness of a vaccine; however, there are modern non-animal alternatives that work just as well—or better.
Should animal testing be banned?
The harm that is committed against animals should not be minimized because they are not considered to be "human." In conclusion, animal testing should be eliminated because it violates animals' rights, it causes pain and suffering to the experimental animals, and other means of testing product toxicity are available.
How can animal testing be stopped?
Ways You Can Help End Animal Testing – and Help Laboratory Animals. Buy Cruelty-Free Household Cleaning Products– Buy ONLY cruelty-free and natural cleaning products with the Leaping Bunny logo. See the companies that DO TEST on animals. Buy only household product companies that DO NOT TEST on animals.
How to stop animal testing?
With the help of our members and supporters, PETA campaigns globally to expose and end the use of animals in experiments. Some of our efforts include the following: 1 Conducting groundbreaking eyewitness investigations and colorful advocacy campaigns to educate the public 2 Pushing government agencies to stop funding and conducting experiments on animals 3 Encouraging pharmaceutical, chemical , and consumer product companies to replace tests on animals with more effective non-animal methods 4 Helping students and teachers end dissection in the classroom 5 Funding humane non-animal research 6 Publishing scientific papers on the superiority of non-animal test methods 7 Urging health charities not to invest in dead-end tests on animals
How many animals die in the US every year?
More than 100 million animals suffer and die in the U.S. every year in cruel chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics tests as well as in medical training exercises and curiosity-driven medical experiments at universities. Animals also suffer and die in classroom biology experiments and dissection, even though modern non-animal tests have repeatedly been shown to have more educational value, save teachers time, and save schools money. Exact numbers aren’t available because mice, rats, birds, and cold-blooded animals—who make up more than 99 percent of animals used in experiments—are not covered by even the minimal protections of the Animal Welfare Act and therefore go uncounted.
Which countries have banned animal testing?
In fact, a number of countries have implemented bans on the testing of certain types of consumer goods on animals, such as the cosmetics-testing bans in the European Union, India, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, and elsewhere.
How many stories are there in "without consent"?
Experimenters have tortured animals in laboratories throughout history. “ Without Consent ,” PETA’s interactive timeline, features almost 200 stories of twisted experiments, including ones in which dogs were forced to inhale cigarette smoke for months, mice were cut up while still conscious, and cats were deafened, paralyzed, and drowned. Visit “ Without Consent ” to learn about more harrowing animal experiments throughout history and how you can help create a better future for living, feeling beings.
What is open records law?
State open-records laws and the U.S. Freedom of Information Act can be used to obtain documents and information from state institutions, government agencies, and other federally funded facilities, but private companies, contract labs, and animal breeders are exempt.
How does the public fund animal experiments?
Through their taxes, charitable donations, and purchases of lottery tickets and consumer products, members of the public are ultimately the ones who—knowingly or unknowingly—fund animal experimentation. One of the largest sources of funding comes from publicly funded government granting agencies such as NIH. Approximately 47 percent of NIH-funded research involves experimentation on animals, and in 2020, NIH budgeted nearly $42 billion for research and development. 15,16 In addition, many charities––including the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, and countless others—use donations to fund experiments on animals. One-third of the projects funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society involve animal experimentation. 17
What is the BMJ?
A high-profile study published in the prestigious BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal) documenting the ineffectiveness and waste of experimentation on animals concluded that “if research conducted on animals continues to be unable to reasonably predict what can be expected in humans, the public’s continuing endorsement and funding of preclinical animal research seems misplaced.” 28
How long does it take for a drug to be approved?
The average length of time from target discovery to approval of a new drug is about 14 years.
How can human health and well-being be promoted?
Human health and well-being can also be promoted by adopting nonviolent methods of scientific investigation and concentrating on the prevention of disease before it occurs , through lifestyle modification and the prevention of further environmental pollution and degradation.
What animals are not protected by the Animal Welfare Act?
1. 95% of animals used in experiments are not protected by the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which excludes birds, rats and mice bred for research, and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles and most fish. [ 1] [ 2] [ 3] 3. Chimpanzees share 99% of their DNA with humans, and mice are 98% genetically similar to humans.
How are mice and chimpanzees similar?
Chimpanzees share 99% of their DNA with humans, and mice are 98% genetically similar to humans. [ 9] All mammals, including humans, are descended from common ancestors, and all have the same set of organs (heart, kidneys, lungs, etc.) that function in essentially the same way with the help of a bloodstream and central nervous system. [ 17] Because animals and humans are so biologically similar, they are susceptible to many of the same conditions and illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. [ 18]
How many animals were used in research?
797,546 animals were used for research, testing, teaching, experimentation, and/or surgery in US states, DC, and Puerto Rico in 2019, according to an Apr. 30, 2021 USDA report. Explore the data by state, species of animal, and types of testing.
Why are animals important?
Animals are used to develop medical treatments, determine the toxicity of medications, check the safety of products destined for human use, and other biomedical, commercial, and health care uses. Research on living animals has been practiced since at least 500 BC. Proponents of animal testing say that it has enabled the development ...
What is animal research?
Animal research has contributed to major advances in treating conditions such as breast cancer, brain injury, childhood leukemia, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, and more, and was instrumental in the development of pacemakers, cardiac valve substitutes, and anesthetics. [ 10][ 11][ 12][ 13] Read More.
How long do mice live?
Laboratory mice, for example, live for only two to three years, so researchers can study the effects of treatments or genetic manipulation over a whole lifespan, or across several generations, which would be infeasible using human subjects. [ 29][ 9] Mice and rats are particularly well-suited to long-term cancer research, partly because of their short lifespans. [ 30]
When testing medicines for potential toxicity, the lives of human volunteers should not be put in danger unneces answer
It would be unethical to perform invasive experimental procedures on human beings before the methods have been tested on animals, and some experiments involve genetic manipulation that would be unacceptable to impose on human subjects before animal testing. [ 19] The World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki states that human trials should be preceded by tests on animals. [ 20]
Why is animal testing important?
This topic is important because people have forgotten how our actions negatively impact animals. Animal testing is cruel and needs to stop, because it has far too many damaging consequences for animals, humans and the environment. Animal testing has been around for many years and has served a variety of purposes.
What is the Draize test?
A second notable event in the history of animal testing was when John H. Draize created the Draize Test, which is used on the skin and eyes of animals, such as rabbits, to test the effects of a product. Another example is the LD-50 (Lethal Dose-50) test, which was created in the mid 1900s. LD-50 is used to determine the maximum dosage ...
Which countries have banned animal testing?
Norway has stopped the use of new animal-tested products, but pharmaceuticals and drugs that were already on shelves will remain. Israel is the third country to ban cosmetics, toiletries, detergents and other products that involved animal testing.
When was animal testing first used?
According to Emma Lloyd, “The first observations of significance to modern science were made in the 1600s, when William Harvey used animals to observe and describe the blood circulatory system” (2008).
Is animal testing bad for the environment?
In addition to the unnecessary harm the animals face, animal testing is also bad for people and the environment. Every year, millions of animals used in testing are discarded.
What is animal waste?
The animal waste is contaminated with toxic or hazardous chemicals, viruses, and infectious diseases. Incineration is one of the most common methods for disposal in U.S. laboratories. When companies incinerate animals and supplies, the process emits gases and fine particulate matter into the air.
Is the Animal Welfare Act a federal law?
In some cases this is true. Animals are protected, by an act called the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which is a federal law that regulates the treatment of animals in research and exhibition . However, animals such as rats, mice, fish and birds are not protected by the AWA.
What is NVSL testing?
Confirmatory testing through USDA’ s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (N VSL) is required for all animals except domestic cats and dogs from state, territorial, local, and tribal jurisdictions that have previously confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs. Top of Page.
How long does it take for a virus to show symptoms?
Humans with COVID-19 often have symptoms that appear 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Like people, some animals with SARS-CoV-2 infection are asymptomatic, while others may present with a combination of respiratory or gastrointestinal illness.
What animals are used in labs?
There are more than 115 million dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, and other mammals that suffer and die each year, but 80 percent of the lab animals used – mice, rats and birds – are not protected by the Animal Welfare Act, and therefore are not counted. For research and teaching labs, animals are merely disposable tools.
What are some alternatives to animal testing?
Successful alternatives include the use of human volunteers, cell and tissue cultures, synthetic membranes, statistics, scanning technologies, and computer models.
Why do we use animal testing?
Departments and agencies under the federal government use animal testing to predict how new chemicals and technologies might affect humans and/or the environment.
What is the Department of Interior?
The Department of the Interior (DOI) uses animal experiments to improve fish and wildlife resource management. The Department of Transportation (DOT) conducts research on safe transport of potentially hazardous material and its effect on living creatures.
How much does animal testing cost?
Many critics of animal research also cite the pain and suffering research animals may undergo. Animal testing costs taxpayers $14 billion annually.
When was the first animal experiment?
Experimentation on animals is ancient. The earliest examples dating to the 4th century BC , when animals were dissected to study their anatomy and practice surgeries prior to attempting the procedures on humans.
Do government agencies use animals in testing?
A number of departments and institutions regulated by the United States Federal Government make use of animal testing in their facilities. U.S. Agencies use animals in testing for many of the same reasons public organizations and private companies do.
What is biomedical research?
Biomedical research in universities and academic institutions account for a large percentage of experiments using animal test subjects. In academia, ethics of animal research and viability of testing are constantly under question.
How many animals are used in cosmetics?
More than 500,000 animals are used in cosmetic research. 250 U.S. companies have petitioned the federal government to put an end to unnecessary cosmetics animal testing. 39 countries have banned the use of cosmetics animal testing altogether. Animal testing is not a legal requirement for cosmetics approval.

Millions of Animals Suffer and Die in Testing, Training, and Other Experiments
Taxpayer and Health Charities’ Dollars Fund Experiments on Animals
- Animals are also used in toxicity tests conducted as part of massive regulatory testing programs that are often funded by U.S. taxpayers’ money. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Toxicology Program, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are just a few of the government agencies that subject animals to crude, painful tests. The feder…
A Century of Suffering
- Experimenters have tortured animals in laboratories throughout history. “Without Consent,” PETA’s interactive timeline, features almost 200 stories of twisted experiments, including ones in which dogs were forced to inhale cigarette smoke for months, mice were cut up while still conscious, and cats were deafened, paralyzed, and drowned. Visit “Without Consent” to learn about more ha…
What You Can Do
- Each of us can help prevent animal suffering and deaths by buying cruelty-free products, donating only to charities that don’t experiment on animals, requesting alternatives to animal dissection, demanding the immediate implementation of humane, effective non-animal tests by government agencies and corporations, and calling on our alma maters to st...
Animal Experiments Are Wasteful and Unreliable
Funding and Accountability
Oversight and Regulation
Alternatives to Animal Testing
History of Animal Testing
- PETA created “Without Consent”—an interactive timeline featuring almost 200 stories of animal experiments from the past century—to open people’s eyes to the long history of suffering that’s been inflicted on nonconsenting animals in laboratories and to challenge people to rethink this exploitation. Visit “Without Consent” to learn more about harrow...
You Can Help Stop Animal Testing
Animal Testing Facts and Figures
References