Why Animals should not be injected with steroids?

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Animals and Steroids

Looking at the history and development of steroids , Berthold conducted experiments with testosterone , a natural steroid , in cockerels in 1849 Later , steroids were artificially developed in 1930 's by German scientists for legitimate medical purposes . In 1936 , testosterone was supplemented in experiments in castrated dogs to increase its body weight (Sharpe 02 . However , by the 1960 's several organizations had already banned their use , and initiated extensive drug testing policies ( Animals should not be injected with steroids because

they cause short term damage , long term health side effects and cause addictive behaviour in animals

Steroids are

any of a class of natural or synthetic organic chemical compounds characterized by a molecular structure of 17 carbon atoms arranged in four rings . In the parent structure (named gonane and referred to as the steroid nucleus , the carbon atoms are bonded by 28 hydrogen atoms There are three types of steroids . They are corticosteroids (hormones associated with the adrenal cortex , estrogens and Progestogens (female sex hormones ) and Androgens (male sex hormones Encyclopaedia Britannica 08

Steroids are used in animals as medicines for therapy , in animal testing experiments and for growth enhancement in animal husbandry Corticosteroid steroids have a potent effect on the immune system . In animals with arthritis or allergies , corticosteroids are used to relieve pain , inflammation and itching . Prednisone and Prednisolone (corticosteroids ) are among the most frequently used and abused drugs in veterinary medicines (Mitchell 20 . Testing effects of steroids in animals is done as part of animal experimentation where researchers use animal models to mimic human health problems and is a form of cruelty Use of anabolic steroids is often applied in animal husbandry for growth enhancement , reduction of rearing time and beneficial effects on the food conversion ratio , meat composition and texture

Low doses of steroids in animals at short periods of time can cause short term effects (Ward and Tony 312 . Most of the side effects associated with an effective minimum dose , short-term therapy are mild and species dependent and may resolve once therapy stops . The most common symptoms include increased water consumption , increased urination , increased appetite (weight gain , depression , hyperactivity panting , and diarrhea (Ward and Tony

Long term effects are caused due to prolonged usage of steroids Effects can be detected on the heart , skin , and eye , reproductive immune , metabolic , musculoskeletal , nervous and respiratory systems (Mitchell 8 . Changes in liver enzymes , white blood cell values and the thyroid can also be observed

Betablockers like Pronethanol and Propranolol administration in animals revealed an unacceptable number of side effects including heart failure . Shortly after long term clinical trials in a certain (Alderley Park ) strain of the laboratory mouse produces cancer of the thymus gland . Moderate to high doses caused rats to collapse and dogs to vomit severely (Sharpe . Corticosteroids are widely used in veterinary medicine due to their potent effects on the immune system . They can prove to be dangerous to pregnant mice and rabbits . In some strains of mice...