Well, I haven't really worked out the entirety of how to do this blog. So for the moment, I will use it to jot down some topics for my final project:
1. Why have rats been used as test subjects in medical studies that help humans; and more importantly, why has none of that knowledge come around and been applied in the veterinary profession to help rats?
2. Can cell and genetic material be altered using holograms? Are there any practical health applications in the works or currently being used?
3. What is autism? What are the types of autism seen in children?
Hello Debra,
ReplyDeleteFirst I have to say...I love rats too!! They are such great pets, so smart and with so much personality. Plus, I love how most people are totally freaked out by them!! I've had several...Master Splinter, Pig, Cow, and Chicken.
I really like your ideas for your paper. Your first question is very interesting. I see very few pet rats at work (I'm a vet tech), and typically if they are ill, there isn't much we can do for them. I never considered why it was that vets in general cannot offer them better care. I always assumed it was because of their short life span.
I also have a great interest in autism. I am considering that as a topic for my paper as well.
I really look forward to reading more of your blog posts!
-Carly
Dear Carly:
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I adore meeting other rat lovers! Yes, this has been a question I've asked a number of vets: "So many rats have given their lives and/or their quality of life to research for the improvement of human health. Since so much research has been done on rats, no matter for what reason, why is it that the information doesn't, in turn, help them? Why don't veterinarians learn more about helping rats? (I'm a certified vet tech and veterinary homeopath, too, Carly; and I would tell my Colorado vet what the proper treatment for ill conditions was; I would demand the correct medicine (which they would give me; I SO wish the vets here on the East Coast would do the same!), I would buy books on rats and rat health for the vets, yet they all laughed at me and told me 'rats are totally replaceable, especially with their short life spans'. Isn't that horrible? Though their lifespans are brief, they give SO much that they give us as much as a long-lived dog.
Our professor nixed my idea of researching anything about animals, which was sad, as I have been able to do animal research at Kaplan in other classes before. I guess she doesn't understand that researching them helps US. Perhaps that will change in the future. So, since I work with autistic children (and have so much to learn about them!), I guess I will work on that topic. What are you choosing?
Thanks SO MUCH for the comment! Let's stay in touch! In the meantime (if I can figure it out), here are more photos of my current female rats (I usually keep males, but at present I have only 3 females. They are the bomb like the boys, but in a different, motherly way).
Good luck and thanks again!
Debra
Hi Debra - I didn't realize you were looking at animal testing for the benefit of humans as a topic. I think that could probably work, although autism is a great topic as well.
ReplyDeleteDear Barb:
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to do is to find out why all these wonderful creatures, such as rats, are utilized to aid in developing treatments, etc. for humans, but why the information gained NEVER goes 'back into' veterinary medicine. I've asked vets, one of whom laughed at me and said, 'It's just a rat; they are so replaceable!' (My other rat-loving friends here will just LOVE reading this). But, why not? So many have sacrificed their lives for us; why don't we humans, who are to be the caretakers of the Earth and her children, utilize that same info to help those who've helped us so?
Is that easier to understand?
By the way, LOVE your photo!