To read about the differences in humans and rodents, go to this page.
To read about the differences in humans and dogs, go here.
THALIDOMIDE
Thalidomide was marketed as a safe tranquilizer for pregnant women, proven safe by years of testing on animals.
However, this "safe" drug resulted in more than 10,000 grossly deformed human babies worldwide.
PENICILIN
If penicilin had been judged by its toxidity on guinea pigs, it might never have been used on man.
ASPIRIN
A drug used to relieve pain in humans, give your dog or cat an aspirin and it could die.
CHLOROFORM
Used succesfully for decades in human surgery, but poisonous to dogs.
IMURAN
Causes birth defects in rats but not in humans.
ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES
In humans, oral contraceptives increase the risk of fatal blood clots, but in dogs they prolong blood clotting times.
MECLAZINE
Drug used for travel sickness, causes birth defects in rats, but safe for humans.
STRYCHNINE
Strychnine has no effect on monkeys, chickens and guinea pigs, even in amounts which would put an entire human family into convulsions.
If you want to know more about this subject, click on the links at the top of this page.