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Run time: 17 minutes

The Reality of Animal Testing

Medical Testing

Animal testing involves the use of live animals to test the safety and efficacy of products, including drugs, cosmetics, household products, and chemicals. This practice affects a wide range of species, each facing specific forms of suffering and exploitation. Below is a detailed look at what happens to dogs, cats, monkeys, mice, rats, and frogs in the animal testing industry and why it is considered outdated and ineffective.

Dogs

Dogs, particularly beagles, are used in toxicology tests, heartbreakingly, because of their docile nature. Typically, they’re kept in small, barren cages with no bedding, blanket, or toys and they have little to no social interaction or environmental enrichment. They’re not walked and they’re certainly never shown any kind of affection. So it’s little wonder that they resort to pacing around their tiny cage, as best they can, to relieve some of their boredom and misery, and gnaw at themselves in their distress. When they’re not left isolated, they are being brutally handled and subjected to procedures where they are force-fed chemicals, pesticides, and drugs to observe toxic effects. These poor dogs are then left to suffer after being dosed with toxic substances that cause severe reactions like hyper-salivation, trembling, vomiting and much worse, all before eventually being euthanized.

The main intent of injecting dogs with these substances is precisely that: euthanasia, so’s to examine the effects on their tissues and organs. The few that do somehow manage to survive multiple tests are “retired” and sometimes permitted to be put up for adoption, but many suffer from long-term health issues and psychological trauma that can never be undone.

Cats

Cats are frequently used in neurological and behavioral studies. These can involve invasive procedures like implanting electrodes in their brains or exposing them to painful stimuli. As you can imagine, these experiments cause immense suffering and distress. Historical cases have involved sewing cats’ eyes shut and deafening them to study sensory deprivation effects. It’s horrific, isn’t it?

Cats are kept in the same confined conditions as dogs, which completely fail to meet their complex behavioral and social needs, leading to significant stress and anxiety. They, too, quickly display neurotic behaviors, such as excessive grooming or self-harm.

Monkeys

Monkeys are used extensively in research due to their genetic similarity to humans. They are often restrained in chairs for long periods and subjected to painful and stressful procedures. Because of this, monkeys have been known to self-mutilate, rock back and forth, and vocalize incessantly due to the stress of confinement and experimentation.

Like all lab animals, monkeys are kept in often filthy, clinical cages that do not allow for any natural behaviors at all. Their isolation and deprivation of all that is green and natural results in severe psychological distress. Incidents of monkeys hanging themselves in restraint chairs just highlights the extreme suffering they endure. Unlike dogs and cats, monkeys cannot be retired or adopted. Very few are ever given sanctuary after experimentation.

Mice and Rats

Mice and rats are the most commonly used animals in laboratories and considered one of, if not the, most disposable. They’re kept in vastly overcrowded, barren cages, which frequently leads to cannibalism and other kinds of aggressive and neurotic behaviour.

They undergo a wide range of tests, including toxicology, cancer research, and genetic studies. These tests often involve force-feeding, exposure to toxic substances, and invasive surgeries. For example, the LD50 test determines the lethal dose of a substance by observing how much it takes to kill 50% of the test animals.

Frogs

Frogs are frequently used in physiological and biological research due to their unique regenerative abilities. Experiments can involve painful procedures like limb amputation and exposure to harmful chemicals, leading to significant suffering and high mortality rates.

Frogs are kept in tanks that do not replicate their natural habitats, causing stress and health issues due to poor water quality and inadequate care. Like other laboratory animals, frogs are usually euthanized after experiments for study.

Why Animal Testing is Outdated and Ineffective

Animal testing is not only cruel but also ineffective. Approximately 90% of drugs that pass animal tests fail in human trials. Animals and humans differ significantly in their anatomy, gene expression, metabolism, and immune systems. These differences mean that results obtained from animal testing typically do not translate to humans. For example, more than 80 HIV/AIDS vaccines that were successful in animal models failed in human trials. Similarly, stroke treatments that worked in animal models did not show benefits in human trials​. Studies have found that a staggering 87% of drugs that caused toxicity in humans had cleared animal testing, too.

Modern Alternatives
Advances in technology have led to the development of humane, cost-effective, and accurate non-animal testing methods, such as:

• Organ-on-chip: Microchips lined with human cells to simulate human organs, allowing researchers to study drug effects and disease mechanisms.

• 3D Bioprinting: Using human cells to create 3D tissues and organs for testing drugs and treatments.

• Computer Models: Sophisticated computational models that predict human responses to drugs based on existing data.

Inefficiency and Expense
Animal testing is time-consuming and expensive, often taking years and millions of dollars to complete. This inefficiency diverts resources away from potentially more effective and humane research methods. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has acknowledged that these outdated methods impede medical innovation by wasting time and resources on tests that do not predict human outcomes accurately.​

Environmental Impact
The facilities required for animal testing consume vast amounts of energy and produce significant waste, contributing to environmental degradation. The incineration of animal bodies and disposal of chemical waste also pose environmental hazards.​

Shampoo

Make Up and Skincare Products

Cosmetic Testing

Skin and Eye Irritation Tests

These tests involve applying cosmetic products or ingredients to the shaved skin or eyes of rabbits, guinea pigs, or mice to assess potential irritation or damage. Animals are often immobilized to prevent them from scratching or rubbing the tested areas.

Dermal Penetration Tests

To determine how a substance penetrates the skin, chemicals are applied to the shaved skin of animals. After a specified period, the animals are euthanized, and their skin is analyzed.

Acute Toxicity Tests

Also known as LD50 (Lethal Dose 50%) tests, these involve administering a substance to animals to determine the dose that causes death in 50% of the test subjects. Animals can suffer from seizures, convulsions, and paralysis before they die.

Sensitization Tests

These tests assess whether a substance causes an allergic reaction. Chemicals are repeatedly applied to the skin or injected under the skin of animals, leading to possible severe allergic reactions and inflammation.

So What’s The Alternative?

Transitioning to a cruelty-free lifestyle might seem daunting at first, but with so
many resources and alternatives available now, it's never been easier. Simply look
out for the leaping bunny logo on products to ensure they are cruelty-free. It is
just worth noting that, just because something is labeled cruelty-free, even if it has
the leaping bunny logo, it isn’t necessarily vegan too, which, of course, still means
there is suffering involved, so please be sure to check that it says both.

Helpfully, Cruelty-Free Kitty is one site that provides a huge list of over 1,249 cruelty
-free and vegan brands, so you don’t have to spend ages searching the web
yourself.

Choosing cruelty-free and vegan doesn't mean breaking the bank, either—most of
Superdrug's own products and The Body Shop's items are vegan and cruelty-free.
And for a touch of luxury, nearly all of Lush's products are vegan and cruelty-free, as well.

And you might wonder, "What difference does it make if I buy cruelty-free products? I’m just one person." This scepticism is common, but remember that social change is driven by individuals. Each time you choose a cruelty-free alternative, you contribute to a growing movement that pressures industries to move away from animal suffering. The increasing availability of vegan and cruelty-free options is proof that this shift is happening. Eventually, we will see a society where cruelty-free products are the norm, and animal-tested items are few and far between. You can play a real part in making that happen even sooner.

And you’re not missing out, because cruelty-free and vegan products are just as effective and enjoyable. From skincare to makeup, to vitamins and herbal remedies, there are countless alternatives that work just as well, if not better.

Now, when it comes to medication, we must acknowledge that vulnerable people need it to survive, and they shouldn’t feel guilty about that. The definition of veganism is that it aims to avoid animal harm as far as practical as possible, and, if it cannot be avoided without risking one’s mortality, then that certainly qualifies as going beyond what is possible. But equally, that one thing shouldn’t be a deterrent to pursuing an otherwise cruelty-free lifestyle. Every choice we make is worthwhile for the animals.

It is worth considering that living a vegan lifestyle can drastically reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, like bowel disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes, as well as certain types of cancers and heart disease. Books like ‘The China Study’ and documentaries like ‘Forks over Knives’ and ‘What The Health’ prove this. For additional information on how a vegan lifestyle can benefit your overall health, head over to our ‘Health Concerns’ tab.

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