The overwhelming majority of animals used in research are rats and mice.
It is estimated that 90% of the animals used for research and testing are rats and mice.
They are used to screen promising drug treatments for diseases such as hypertension, various kinds of
cancer, and spinal cord injury; as hosts for viruses; and to test products for toxicity. Specially bred
mice now are being used to determine how specific genes function.
Dogs, cats, and primates combined account for less than 1% of all the animals used in research. This research has made many important contributions to human health, as well as leading to healthier lives for these and other animals.
DOGS: The cardiovascular and respiratory systems of dogs are similar to those of human beings. Dogs have been used to study heart disease and to develop drug treatments and surgical procedures, including coronary bypass surgery, pacemaker implantation, heart valve insertion, and angioplasty. Dogs have also been used for transplant research and research on how to overcome immune system rejection.
CATS: The neurological system of the cat is very much like that of human beings. A great deal of information has been collected about how cats’ sensory systems work. Cats are used in research on the transmission of visual information from the eye to the brain, hearing disorders, and brain and spinal cord injuries.
PRIMATES: Non-human primates were used in research on Rh disease, which affects babies whose blood type differs from that of their mothers. Baboon research led to a new technique now being tested in humans that allows cancerous bone marrow cells to be removed without destroying healthy ones. Monkeys are used to test drugs to combat malaria, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injuries.