Animal testing plays a vital role in veterinary treatments and modern science technology. In the US, lab testing and procedures are carried out on animals; moreover, it is widespread.
Researches and experiments are done on every animal such as guinea pigs, mice, rabbits, and dogs too. Dog’s DNA is close to human DNA cells, so researchers prefer dog testing more often. But why are beagles used in Lab experiments and testing more than any other breed?
Beagles are the most common breed used for lab experiments, research, and animal testing because of their submissive behavior and medium size. The characteristics that make beagles an ideal pet is also the reason for making them victims for lab experiments around the world.
Why Beagles?
Beagles are known as a convenient breed to execute testing and experiments on. They trust humans and are comfortable around them. In addition to it, Beagles are affectionate, which makes it easier for the researchers to carry out experiments.
Beagles have obedient temperaments, making them the most favourable breed for research and trials. Their submissive, behavioural personality and physical traits are an ideal choice of breed for the laboratory. Also, they are relatively small-sized dogs as compared to other breeds.
Experimenting on different types of breeds isn’t favourable as researchers look for standardized results along with streamlined processes. Besides, Beagles have good-sized litters when it comes to breeding. During pregnancy, female Beagles go through fewer or no complications.
Beagles are used in lab experiments and testing for a very long time, approximately hundreds of years ago. This was executed to recognize the flow of blood movement and interactions of the organs in a dog’s body.
According to Thomas M. Villalpando from Ipetguides, “Beagles have been used in lab experiments and testing for a very long time, approximately hundreds of years ago. This was executed to recognize the flow of blood movement and interactions of the organs in a dog’s body.”
The typical product experimented on beagles or other animals is new medications. Every medication has a side effect, and this needs to be recorded for scientific trials. The motive of carrying out these medical and drug trials on Beagles first is to understand clinical safety and biological process.
In the late 1950s, the University of Utah, the USA, used beagles in their Atomic Energy Commission-funded tests. More than 7,000 beagles were killed in these experiments.
These trials on Beagles allow the researchers to study the probability of drugs working on specific illnesses. Also, regulate the unforeseen side effects of the medications. The drug or experiment information is documented before trying these drugs and clinical trials on humans.
Where do researchers obtain Beagles from?
Companies are allowed to perform testing and experiments on various breeds. Mostly the dogs used in research are purpose-bred by companies or sellers that purely sell to laboratories. Beagles are sold to research institutions when they are just one year old. Apart from other breeds, testing levels are quite high when it comes to Beagles.
There are two types of animal dealers.
Class A dealers: Class A dealers facilitate the use of Beagles for the sole purpose of selling to laboratories. Beagles are bred explicitly for the use of lab testing and experiments.
Class B dealers: Class B dealers are funded by medical universities or government funding. But a few years back in the US, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) banned government funding to such dealers.
Therefore, nowadays, the only and common source for laboratories is Class A dealers.
Different Kinds of Testings done on Beagles
Various types of medications, experiments, and trials are carried out on Beagles. Before any drugs, chemicals, or medicines are made available in the market, it is relentlessly experimented with and tested on dogs like Beagles.
Medical research may include:
For Surgeries
Many medical colleges still use cats, dogs, and other animals for dissection. A healthy dog or cat is subjected to invasive medical procedures; this is called terminal surgery labs. After the surgery, the animal is allowed to heal before putting them down.
Beagles are also tested for surgeries like kidney transplants, coronary bypass surgeries, and pacemaker implants. This is done to study the working of foreign body materials in the dog’s body and later in the human body via clinical trials.
Human Drugs
Drugs and vaccinations are sometimes tested of dogs before allowing them for human clinical trials, so study possible adverse effects. Failed experiments can harm the human body. Pharmaceutical drugs are force-fed or injected into the dog’s body. These drugs can act as a slow poison to them.
According to researches, 92% of the time, drugs, or medical procedures pass animal testing but fail during human clinical trials.
Household Products
The usage of household products by humans increases by almost 1000 times every year. Before these household products are available to humans, they are rigorously tested on Beagles. The drug is applied to a patch of shaved skin or added to their food or water to study if there are any ill effects.
Final Thoughts
Such practices leave traumatic effects on the beagle’s mind. But they are equally adorable and lovable. If they survive these experiments, they end up in rescue shelters. Please, if you can, then please don’t reject such dogs if you get a chance to adopt them. They deserve love and a good life more than anyone else.
