Introduction
How many animals do you think are used for experiments each year? In the US, that answer is an estimated 26 million. Animals are used for testing not only in the United States, but also other countries around the world. Animal testing not only impacts animals before testing, but also during and afterwards.
Living Conditions in Labs
Animals that are used for experiments are kept in labs, in conditions that some people in the United States question. For one thing, animals in labs are kept in steel cages, with either scraps of paper at the bottom or nothing at all. The cages are so small that the animals hardly have any room to move. These animals are always alone, plus, the cages are mostly empty and do not simulate the animal’s natural habitat.
The lack of environmental simulation causes animals to do unusual and unnatural things such as pacing, rocking, bouncing, somersaulting, swaying from and to side, biting parts of their own bodies, pulling their ears and tossing their heads back and forth. Also, an organization called PETA took pictures and videos of animals hurting themselves from fear. After this was posted, the director of that lab was charged with multiple animal cruelty offenses.
The lack of environmental simulation causes animals to do unusual and unnatural things such as pacing, rocking, bouncing, somersaulting, swaying from and to side, biting parts of their own bodies, pulling their ears and tossing their heads back and forth. Also, an organization called PETA took pictures and videos of animals hurting themselves from fear. After this was posted, the director of that lab was charged with multiple animal cruelty offenses.
Types of Tests
Animals are used for many different types of tests that can be harmless or more severe. There are many countries that use animals for experiments. Most of these experiments are used to test medicines or cosmetics. Around 26 million animals are used for testing in the US every year.
Some experiments performed on animals are small, and when they are finished the animals will return to their cages to be tested on again. These small tests include things like taking blood or urine samples.
Other experiments are more severe. These tests are usually surgical and include examples such as removing tissues or organs from the animal. After these experiments, an animal would have to be put down before it suffers too much.
Other experiments performed on animals may be tests for skin irritation, skin sensitization, eye irritation, and toxicity of substances through mouth, skin and inhaling.
Some experiments performed on animals are small, and when they are finished the animals will return to their cages to be tested on again. These small tests include things like taking blood or urine samples.
Other experiments are more severe. These tests are usually surgical and include examples such as removing tissues or organs from the animal. After these experiments, an animal would have to be put down before it suffers too much.
Other experiments performed on animals may be tests for skin irritation, skin sensitization, eye irritation, and toxicity of substances through mouth, skin and inhaling.
During Experiments
There are various methods that are used to test animals and also to control them during tests. Depending on the test taking place, some animals are held down by clamps, machines or other scientists. Additionally, dogs may wear muzzles and tubes and machines may be entered into an animal as part of the test.
Most animals are given anesthesia to relieve them of pain, but on a negative side, sometimes they are not and the animal would scream in pain.
Some experiments require the scientists to cut into an animal’s body. In one experiment, cuts were made in the sides of two mice, one normal and one an ob/ob mouse. The two mice were sewed together to share a bloodstream.
Most animals are given anesthesia to relieve them of pain, but on a negative side, sometimes they are not and the animal would scream in pain.
Some experiments require the scientists to cut into an animal’s body. In one experiment, cuts were made in the sides of two mice, one normal and one an ob/ob mouse. The two mice were sewed together to share a bloodstream.
After Experiments
After some tests, animals can be put back in their cages, but most animals never see their cage again. In fact, after most experiments, an animal must be killed before it suffers. These animals are euthanized quickly so that they do not experience too much pain. There are many methods to kill the animals that usually depend on the animal itself.
Some animals are killed by using toxic gases. The animal would usually be put into a closed of area so that it could insufflate the gas quickly. Another way of killing an animal would be to put it to sleep using a sedative. A sedative is a pill or sort of tranquilizer that would put the animal to an eternal sleep.
There are also other ways that are more cruel and even seem uncivilized but still provide the animal with a hasty death. These other methods use physical force and may be things such as decapitation or breaking of the spine. These methods are often used on smaller animals.
Another method is shocking the brain. By doing this, researchers can kill the animal quickly while keeping brain tissue for more research. This method is usually used for rodents.
Some more options would be gunshots or electrocution. Gunshots are less common and electrocution is usually used for large animals.
Some animals are killed by using toxic gases. The animal would usually be put into a closed of area so that it could insufflate the gas quickly. Another way of killing an animal would be to put it to sleep using a sedative. A sedative is a pill or sort of tranquilizer that would put the animal to an eternal sleep.
There are also other ways that are more cruel and even seem uncivilized but still provide the animal with a hasty death. These other methods use physical force and may be things such as decapitation or breaking of the spine. These methods are often used on smaller animals.
Another method is shocking the brain. By doing this, researchers can kill the animal quickly while keeping brain tissue for more research. This method is usually used for rodents.
Some more options would be gunshots or electrocution. Gunshots are less common and electrocution is usually used for large animals.
Conclusion
Animals that live in labs are strongly impacted before, during and after tests. Animal testing helps many companies and scientists test things that they want to be sure are safe. It may be a safe way to test products and medicines, but many people feel that animals deserve more freedom.