Home / Animal Groups / Dogs & Cats Animal Group: Dogs & Cats Although dogs and cats represent less than 0.5% of all animals needed in research, they remain crucial to studies to alleviate serious conditions that affect both people and animals. Research with dogs has resulted in…
Fruit flies have helped to develop drugs designed to treat a range of diseases from skin infections and genetic disorders to pneumonia, and meningitis. Some of the recent research with fruit flies has focused on understanding Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, spastic paraplegia, cancer, obesity and insomnia.
Cancer is a complicated, devastating disease that has affected many lives. New cancer treatments are continually developed because cancer cells change and resist treatment. Other treatments may work for one kind of cancer, but not another. New drugs must be evaluated in animals before they can be given…
Pigs serve as invaluable models for understanding heart function, disease, and treatment due to their anatomical and physiological similarities with humans. Their resemblance aids research in nutrition, drug absorption, renal function, wound healing, and diabetic studies.
Ferrets, sharing anatomical and physiological traits with humans, are pivotal in research for various diseases like peptic ulcers, cystic fibrosis, and influenza, making them invaluable models in biomedical studies.
All nonhuman primates in research are provided access to enhanced care, including social, behavioral and nutritional enrichment. They often receive fruit and vegetables in addition to their traditional chow diet, and many times, the animals will receive treats like marshmallows. Proper enrichment is critical to ensuring the animals…
A family of research monkeys enjoy some Halloween pumpkins. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are provided both as nutrition and as enrichment. The monkeys like to break apart the pumpkins and pick out the seeds. It is a delicious and fun treat.
These are common marmosets in the lobby of the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. Dried fruit, grapes, peanuts and other "pocket treats" are provided by their caretakers. This helps provide enrichment and also facilitates the ability to do health checks and other routine care procedures.
Rhesus monkeys getting treats from their caregiver at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. Healthy treats can include peanuts, grapes, apple slices, etc. Positive reinforcement is used to train the monkeys to move to transport boxes. These boxes safely carry monkeys to procedure rooms for blood draws, ultrasounds, TB…
Environmental enrichment is an important part of caring for research animals. Research animals are provided with several types of enrichment to stimulate species-typical behaviors. These juvenile rhesus macaques are enjoying mini marshmallow treats. Interactions with their caregiver give them social and intellectual stimulation, while strengthening their bonds with…
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