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What Happens to Animals After Testing?

By: Ian Murnaghan BSc (hons), MSc - Updated: 12 Feb 2024 | comments*Discuss
 
Animal Testing After What Happens

Many members of the public are interested in learning what happens to animals after they are used for testing to ensure they are treated humanely. In fact, those who work with these animals often share this sentiment.

Virtually everyone cares about the well being of animals and it’s important to make sure animals are ethically treated not only during testing but also afterwards. However, we first need to briefly look at what is happening to animals during testing before we can understand the decisions needed regarding animal welfare after testing.

Animals During Testing

You may already know that animals are used in testing for a variety of purposes. In more recent years, their use in cosmetics has been banned in many parts of the world. During testing, animals may receive anesthesia to control or eliminate pain they could potentially experience.

As expected, what will happen to an animal after testing depends on its health and viability after testing. Since many experiments conducted on animals are actually considered minimally invasive, these animals will be used again for testing purposes in another experiment. Such minimally invasive experiments can include the provision of blood or urine samples from the animal.

Where surgical procedures are involved, an animal may be euthanized after the experiment. For example, an animal may have tissues or organs removed for analysis after a treatment.

Many people do not realise that animals used in experiments are usually bred in captivity. These animals cannot simply be sent into the wild or into homes as they would not be able to cope and survive. While some people question why this does not occur, the reality is that it would not be humane to do so despite it seeming like an attractive option in theory.

Euthanizing Animals After Testing

For animals that must be euthanized after testing, this is done quickly and humanely to avoid any pain to the animals. There is a wide variety of methods used to euthanize animals after testing, depending on the animal.

Some animals are euthanized using a gas that is inhaled and results in rapid death. The animal may be put into a chamber where it will then inhale the gas. An example of a gas used is carbon monoxide.

Another method used to euthanize an animal after it is used for testing is a sedative or anesthetic. In fact, such methods are used in water to euthanize fish that have been used for animal testing.

There are other methods used that may sound rather barbaric but actually result in a very fast death for the animal. These methods involve physical force such as decapitation or breaking the animal’s spine. Often, this is the method of choice for smaller animals.

Yet another option is brain irradiation. This allows a researcher to still keep brain tissue while causing rapid death to the animal. Typically, this method of euthanization is appropriate for rodents. Although not widely used, gunshots are also used to euthanize animals after testing. Electrocution is used as well, particularly for larger animals such as cattle or sheep.

Common Misconceptions About Animals After Testing

A common misconception about animals after testing is that they can simply be released into the wild or adopted. For a variety of reasons, this would be far less humane than killing the animals. For instance, there are strict laws and regulations controlling the release of animals into the wild. When it comes to the idea of adoption, animals used for testing would not be able to cope with the home environment. Most animals used for testing are bred specifically for that purpose. Also, the injuries sustained from testing would make it unrealistic for them to be placed in a home.

Caring for Animals After Testing

There are, however, still some rare exceptions where it can be successful to place animals in a ‘home’ after testing. There is one ranch in particular that has accepted animals after laboratory testing. Animals accepted include sheep, pigs, dogs and cats. Such places, however, are a minority.

What Can You Do?

Members of the public continue to be concerned about what happens to animals – both during and after testing. What you can do is to stay up-to-date on news about animal testing to learn more about how these animals are treated.

Contrary to popular belief, most scientists and animal technicians care deeply about animals and want to ensure humane treatment during and after animal testing. These animals are used to find treatments to improve and save human lives. However, the animals’ well-being is also respected to the fullest extent possible. The small number of researchers who have brought a poor name to the area of animal testing are held accountable by members of the public – just like you – who write letters and campaign publicly against such treatment.

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Animal testing is wrong do you know how many animals die a year and what we have little people who protests like come on people.......!!! LET"S MAKE ANIMAL KILLERS GO TO JAIL!!! I am oly a 7th grader and I think this is wrong
STOP ANIMAL TESTING - 12-Feb-24 @ 9:21 PM
uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh daddy chillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
daniel matat - 13-Jan-24 @ 11:47 PM
animal testing is wrong. also, what’s up with all the weird comments saying ‘daddy’ and stuff. wtf?
poop - 25-Apr-22 @ 6:44 PM
All laboratories who test animalsmust Close
Anty - 29-Dec-20 @ 3:28 PM
This article is beyond fabricated. How someone can sit behind a screen and type out an entire article glorifying and sugar coating the inhumane abuse and torture that those animals endure is mind blowing. I pray that the writers and editors that have put this piece together never have to endure the hardships those poor animals encounter in those labs. We are at the point in society where we are far beyond a need for animal testing, as there are so many more options out there. Anyone who can avidly defend animal abuse by means of "science" has proven once again that humans do not deserve the beauty of nature and all it's creatures. They are living, breathing, creatures, not lab toys.
Beth - 6-Dec-20 @ 10:57 PM
In 2004, the FDA estimated that 92 percent of drugs that pass preclinical tests, including “pivotal” animal tests, fail to proceed to the market.38 More recent analysis suggests that, despite efforts to improve the predictability of animal testing, the failure rate has actually increased and is now closer to 96 percent. The main causes of failure are lack of effectiveness and safety problems that were not predicted by animal tests.40 Usually, when an animal model is found wanting, various reasons are proffered to explain what went wrong—poor methodology, publication bias, lack of preexisting disease and medications, wrong gender or age, and so on. These factors certainly require consideration, and recognition of each potential difference between the animal model and the human disease motivates renewed efforts to eliminate these differences. As a result, scientific progress is sometimes made by such efforts. However, the high failure rate in drug testing and development, despite attempts to improve animal testing, suggests that these efforts remain insufficient to overcome the obstacles to successful translation that are inherent to the use of animals. Too often ignored is the well-substantiated idea that these models are, for reasons summarized here, intrinsically lacking in relevance to, and thus highly unlikely to yield useful information about, human diseases.
Dr. Spencer Reid - 2-Dec-20 @ 1:35 AM
I entirely disagree with all animal experiments. They are archaic and hideously cruel. They cannot express pain like humans and their systems are different to ours. We would not ead dog or cat food or any other pet food. Very little that humans eat is good for animals. There's a starter. What is perhaps a bigger crime is that the experiments are carried out with very little being told to the public. Monkeys go mad confined in cages. Dogs are fed gruel. Having so many different animals in one place is contrary to nature. Knowing that all living things are different with similarities, inevitably, tells us that the idea is outdated. The latest news on Corona virus used the term trials instead of experiments to divert attention from what really goes on. Most are ineffective and more money gets wasted in the process. Human trials have been tried and proved a success. This should be the way forward.
Adam - 25-Nov-20 @ 12:03 PM
'Many people do not realise that animals used in experiments are usually bred in captivity. These animals cannot simply be sent into the wild or into homes as they would not be able to cope and survive.' They may not survive in the wild, and some animals may be too maimed - but there would be a significant number that could be candidates for adoption. It is rather a blanket statement that 'they would not cope with home life'. Many ex-lab animals have been adopted successfully. Some may require effort to rehabilitate, but if people are willing to try then why not? In the US the law has been changed to allow adoption of 'retired' lab animals and many are adopted including rats. The same ocurrs in other countries such as Italy. Again, I was reading how rats are rehomed after they are finished with in the lab. Rats in labs get used to human contact - and are often well socialised? This established idea, that the animals wouldn't cope with home life, is rather convenient - saves the hassle of rehoming and allays the conscience. Accepting that some animals could be rehabilitated and that there are people willing to make the effort - makes things a little messy. But other countries have progressed to this level. Sadly, the UK is lagging behind.
SweetP - 27-Sep-20 @ 10:51 AM
We must find a humane way to live our lives. The idea of torturing (however "kindly") a living being is cruel and wrong. A rat is a sheep is a dog is a boy is a girl. All feel the same pain. All want to live.
Sharon Azar - 6-Jul-20 @ 9:31 AM
Rats are awesome, I have pet rats and they are so great, just like dogs and cats. They are so smart and sweet and they deserve respect just like other animals.
Rattielove - 1-Apr-20 @ 11:09 AM
Stop killing innocent animals!! There are plenty of guilty prisoners on death row. Start using them for yourbarbaric experiments!!
Queen Bee - 25-Feb-20 @ 6:39 PM
Is animal testing inhumane and cruel? Of course. But for example, let's say that someone has diabetes and the only way to find a cure is to make that person take the insulin or whatever cure. If the experiment is deadly they know because it will kill you but then we know that it's successful because you lived to tell it another day. Do you want to kill a cute little puppy or do you want to take the risk.
arodez - 29-Jan-20 @ 1:37 AM
I know for a fact ferret rescue facilities along the US East Coast were overwhelmed with ferrets that had survived flu vaccine testing (most survived). It even said as much on rescue websites. So euthanasia is not the only option for lab animals, even those bred for that purpose. I wish more people would step up & question this and ask local rescues to approach local labs.Scientists, especially younger ones, often develop feelings for the animals in their care and are happy for any opportunity to give their charges a second chance.
Kat - 6-Dec-19 @ 8:35 PM
yall crazy talkin bout using humans to do the testing on , we can simply use simulators or cells , something of that matter
sid - 5-Dec-19 @ 2:40 PM
I think we should test everything on just rats. Nobody likes them and they're disgusting like unwiped rumps.
PEN15 - 26-Nov-19 @ 3:42 PM
I totally agree with torturing serial killers & child molesters being used for painful experiments instead of innocent animals that haven't caused pain or abuse to anyone else and don't deserve it. Living in a desolate cage watching others being tortured terrified of 'your turn ' over & over your whole life esp without anesthetic is horrific & needs to be stopped ! Reasearch needs to be shared worldwide on line & done humanely & only when it IS vital... how many rabbits need burning chemicals in their eyes we already know burns for example! As far as monkeys & other mammals strapped into antiquated torture racks so they can't squirm away from the pain to save a few penny's for anesthetic is inexcusable . If you are in a postion to witness or stop such atrocity please have the compassion to bring it to light in your facility & stop it ! If not please sign everything you can to do your part. Donna Nadeau
Donna - 10-Oct-19 @ 2:31 PM
Why don't we just use humans. Lots of People in prison could be the source. That would eliminate animal testing. Products used by humans tested on humans. Simple.
Bennie - 25-Sep-19 @ 1:24 PM
In experimental animals under anesthesia will KCl infusion according to protocol be humain in the previous five yesr interval?
Cobus - 14-Sep-19 @ 9:01 PM
why do people need cosmetics anyway? all this is happening due to greed of those establishing companies and due to consumers who have no common sense.
gm - 28-Jul-19 @ 7:32 AM
This article seems to say that it's ok to do testing and kill dogs because they are "bred" for this purpose and can't function in a real home. I have rescued many dogs from breeding facilities that are selling the puppies for pets. They use the argument that the parents are just like livestock. These dogs when rescued from cruelty and cages are able to bepets. If you have never seen a traumatized dog come alive when they become pets then you may not understand. I strongly disagree that pets bred for laboratories cannot become pets and need killed.
Teri - 9-Jul-19 @ 8:43 PM
can we just take a moment to think about us being those poor animals?
u will never know :) - 6-Jun-19 @ 9:43 AM
I can't believe companies do this!!! Such a disgrace!!! LETS MAKE A STAND AND JOIN A CRUELTY FREE PROGRAM!
RayRay - 30-May-19 @ 11:07 PM
"Also by the way, if you want human testing instead of animal testing, you know how much more inhumane that is compared to animal testing, or at least equal. We're animals too, it changes nothing, except more guilt of killing a fellow equal person to those who say animals are equals too. Its not like the results change that much, animal testing is very accurate compared to humans, and also if you want prisoners to be tested on, they're as helpless as animals and is basically almost like sending them off to death row, as they will likely die. So if you agree with death row, or sending humans to be tested on, you are still a hypocrite." - LiterallyTheTruth I would have to disagree with this because with human testing it is always voluntary and the humans get paid in return. But with animal testing, they don't get anything back. Although I completely agree that it should not be done on criminals and that it would be the same as cp which is inhuman. Also "LiterallyTheTruth" said that animal testing is very accurate which is completely false. 92% of animal testing provides wrong information because other spieces of animals and human's bodies function differently, health is affected when an animal sees an other animal being tortured, ect. So its not even the best method(and its completly wrong and inhuman)
sam - 26-May-19 @ 12:52 AM
"Also by the way, if you want human testing instead of animal testing, you know how much more inhumane that is compared to animal testing, or at least equal. We're animals too, it changes nothing, except more guilt of killing a fellow equal person to those who say animals are equals too. Its not like the results change that much, animal testing is very accurate compared to humans, and also if you want prisoners to be tested on, they're as helpless as animals and is basically almost like sending them off to death row, as they will likely die. So if you agree with death row, or sending humans to be tested on, you are still a hypocrite." - LiterallyTheTruth I would have to disagree with this because with human testing it is always voluntary and the humans get paid in return. But with animal testing, they don't get anything back. Although I completely agree that it should not be done on criminals and that it would be the same as cp which is inhuman. Also "LiterallyTheTruth" said that animal testing is very accurate which is completely false. 92% of animal testing provides wrong information because other spieces of animals and human's bodies function differently, health is affected when an animal sees an other animal being tortured, ect. So its not even the best method(and its completly wrong and inhuman)
sam - 26-May-19 @ 12:50 AM
i am working on a project for school and my topic is animal testing i would be so happy if you could help me answer some questions. my question is how has animal testing changed over time
Gianna - 24-May-19 @ 7:29 PM
Animalsshouldn't be tested on because of the fact that they feel emotions and pain as any other human so why not just test in on humans if you need living creatures for research I bet you there'd be a lot of people willing to do it for money but the animals don't even get anything in return like the rest of their lives being free from any issues(like they live on with food and water and do what they want).
oof - 22-May-19 @ 5:50 PM
reasons why animal should be tested on first of al animal testing has contributed to many lives saving and provide cures and treatment for human disease. we can't use any other thing than animals because they check the safety of products destined for human use by testing it from animals
Dr.convee - 15-May-19 @ 9:11 PM
Keep in mind that these test could've been on a human.
Person - 16-Apr-19 @ 5:00 PM
This is it true, 92% of products tested on animals fail when tested on humans. There are cheaper, more effective, and more efficient alternatives to cosmetic testing. If you want to know what these animals go through on a daily basis, watch a video, and if you have any soul or compassion you will never support a company that uses animal testing again. It’s pretty straight forward, the animals we eat suffer tremendously, the products we By have been formed by suffering. I’m a vegan because I’ve seen things that many of us don’t, THE REALITY. Take an animal you love, and imagine the most cruel, disgusting experiments being done to them, now multiple that by 100 billion: that’s why I became vegan. If you buy meat from a factory farm, or buy detergent that’s come from animal testing, you are supporting animal cruelty, there is no way around it. Go and watch the reality, you will never look at yourself the same again, I GUARANTEE IT
BluesFan16 - 16-Apr-19 @ 4:15 PM
Animal testing is cruel and wrong. Most tests fail so why do people do the tests anyway. There is one test where they would break a beagals jaw and than pull out all of their teeth to try a new dental implants even though they don't have the same shaped jaws as us.
DezzyRae - 19-Mar-19 @ 1:53 PM
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