We didn’t ask the cow
Dr Andrew Robson discusses the moral implications of using animals in studies primarily benefiting humans.
In the late 18th century, a dairymaid noticed something remarkable: those who contracted cowpox didn’t seem to get smallpox. In 1796, Edward Jenner put this to the test. After early trials
on cows, he injected a young boy with material from a cowpox lesion. The result? The first successful vaccination and eventual eradication of smallpox. This was a major milestone and the beginning of modern medicine.
But the cow’s story, like so many animal stories in science, is rarely told.
Behind many of our greatest medical breakthroughs are animals. In comparative oncology, where cancer is studied as it naturally occurs in animals like dogs, we gain insights that benefit both species. This is not about lab rats in cages, but pets with names and families living lives of their own.
As someone who treats these animals and supports many of these studies, I often sit with the quiet discomfort of it all. This article is not a call to arms. It’s a personal reflection; an invitation to consider the cost, the benefit, and our responsibilities.
The lives that heal
I have had the privilege of treating animals enrolled in cancer trials. Some respond beautifully. Others do not. Each one brings us closer to understanding, to easing pain, to maybe one day preventing this terrible disease.
As a veterinarian, I know that many of the treatments we use today, for both humans and animals, exist because animals played a part. Whether it’s a drug trial, an imaging technique, or surgical intervention, we owe much of our progress to the quiet participation of animals. It’s a debt I don’t carry lightly.
And yet, I still reach for paracetamol when I have a headache. I encourage the vaccination of animals and humans. I still use the tools medicine has gifted us – tools built, in part, on the backs of animals who had no say. It’s a hard truth. But it’s not without hope.
Not tools, but fellow travellers
In comparative oncology, animals aren’t injected with cancer. Scientists and veterinarians work with animals who naturally develop cancer, animals who are already sick, already needing care. Trials are built on the idea that helping them helps us too. This is not exploitation, but rather a partnership.
Still, we must be cautious. We must guard against the slow drift into viewing animals as mere tools. They are not. They have lives of their own. And in recognising their contributions, we must also recognise our role, not as masters, but as custodians.
Animal welfare laws, ethical review boards, and veterinary oversight exist to protect these animals. And they are improving. One cornerstone of animal welfare is the concept of the Five Freedoms, which outline the basic rights every animal should have: freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury or disease; freedom to express normal behaviour; and freedom from fear and distress.
These form the backbone of most animal welfare legislation and institutional standards globally. But there is always more to do. The future of medicine must be one where compassion for all life, not just human life guides our decisions.
Where do we go from here?
I don’t have a clear answer. This isn’t an easy topic. But I believe we can honour the lives that make our medical progress possible, not just by saying thank you, but by continually striving to do better. Part of that effort includes adhering to the internationally recognised Three Rs principle: replacement, reduction, and refinement. That means wherever possible, we replace animal models with alternatives; we reduce the number of animals used to the minimum required for meaningful data; and we refine procedures to minimise pain, distress, and suffering. These aren’t just academic ideals; they’re a moral compass, helping us navigate this complicated terrain with greater sensitivity and care.
For those of you reading this who are living with cancer: please know that you’re not alone. That every treatment you receive is the result of centuries of hard-won knowledge, often shared across species lines.
And for those of us in medicine: may we never forget the weight of that knowledge. May we carry it with humility.
Because in the end, progress without compassion is not progress at all.
MEET THE EXPERT
Dr Andrew Robson, a veterinarian based in Mpumalanga, holds a Master of Science Degree and has a special interest in companion animal health and well-being. Passionate about improving pet health and fostering the human-animal bond, he is also a proud dog dad.
Header image by Freepik
