health watch

Researchers are testing a groundbreaking vaccine to prevent cancer in dogs. About 800 dog owners have volunteered their healthy canine companions for a clinical trial. The pets will receive either the vaccine or a placebo and will undergo regular checkups to monitor for tumors.

Researchers spent more than a decade developing the drug in hope it could stave off all forms of cancer. 6 million dogs are diagnosed with cancer annually.

If the vaccine works, it could save tens of millions from an untimely end. And since dogs and humans develop similar cancers, researchers are optimistic the vaccine could ultimately be used for people.

Eradicating cancer with a single shot sounds like science fiction. Impeding this research are animal rights activists who believe it is a disaster for pets and people.

Americans love pets. More than 60 million families have dogs and 47 million cats.

Our pets’ health relies on medicines developed by humane research in animals.

Several vaccines can prevent cats from developing feline leukemia virus that kills 85% of cats in 3 years of diagnosis.

New anti-inflammatory drugs can enable dogs with arthritis which afflicts one in five dogs to move with less pain.

Without clinical trials, none of these advances would have been possible.

Many researchers are pet owners.

Consider Dr. Jessica Quimby, a veterinary scientist at Ohio State University who loved barn cats growing up in Wisconsin. She is uncovering ways to help cats with kidney disease. It afflicts about 10% of cats over 10 years old. Quimby has spent 10 years analyzing how an anti-depressant for humans might help cats with failing kidneys boost their appetites and live longer.

Researchers aim to find the first non-invasive diagnostic test for feline infectious peritonitis, a fatal disease that kills kittens.

Others are testing a compound derived from marijuana to treat epilepsy in dogs without the side effects of sedatives. Such studies can also help humans.

A report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed that medicines used to protect pets from fleas and ticks could actually help humans fight Zika and malaria. Research on brain tumors in dogs could soon yield insight into human brain tumor treatments.

Despite its impressive history of producing cures for all sorts of diseases, critics claim animal research is unnecessary.

Not true. Animal research has already saved, and will continue to save, millions of pets’ lives. Without animal research, how many of our cats would be dying prematurely of leukemia? Or how many of our dogs would be unable to run and play because of debilitating arthritic pain?

Cats and dogs are family members. To ensure that they live long, happy lives, pet lovers must support animal testing.

Matthew R. Bailey is president of the Foundation for Biomedical Research.