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Severity

The severity is divided into four different levels

  1. Non-recovery meaning that the animal gets sedated before being exposed to the experimental procedure as well as the animal being put down while still being sedated. Therefore, the animal will only experience discomfort when being sedated. This is considered the mildest form of animal testing.
  2. The mild severity means that the animal is conscious during parts or the entire experiment but the degree of impact is not considered to be particularly harmful. Examples of this include blood tests and injections, introducing substances into the body.
  3. The moderate severity causes the animal to experience transient but moderate pain, suffering or distress. Examples of this includes testing  of drugs that gives moderate side effects, starvation in more than 48 hours (for rats) , chemotherapy or radiation, cancer that has an impact on the animal or restricted movement in an extended period of time.
  4. The severe severity means that the animal experiences a great amount of pain, suffering, distress or significant weakening. Examples of this include a vaccine test which can lead to death for some animals, radiation that destroys the animal’s immune system, electric shock, a prolonged restriction of movement or models with progressive lethal diseases.

Finding dead animals in their stables can occur. In such an event, the animal have by definition experienced a severe severity – unless the death of the animal is known for certain and it is possible to prove that the animal have experienced less severity.

Species and severity (Denmark 2022)

Species and severity

Non recovery

%

Mild (up to and including)

%

Moderate

%

Severe

%

Total

Mice

4.552

3,19%

50.428

47,88%

84.182

37.81%

3.617

1,63%

142.779

Rats

2.490

10,08%

10.994

44,51%

11.046

44,75%

166

0,67%

24.696

Guinea-Pigs

125

8,71%

1.005

70,15%

304

21,19%

1.434

Hamsters (Syrian)

100

61,35%

63

38,65%

163

Rabbits

4

0,13%

2828

93,39%

191

6,30%

6

0,20%

3029

Dogs

104

43,88%

133

56,12%

237

Other carnivores

1

100,00%

1

Horses, donkeys and cross-breeds

22

53,66%

19

46,34%

41

Pigs

1.128

4,76%

15.671

66,20%

6.664

28,15%

235

0,99%

23.698

Goats

21

100%

21

Sheep

10

20,83%

38

79,17%

48

Cattle

1241

84,07%

235

15,94%

1476

Prosimians

6

100%

6

Baboons

5

100%

5

Other mammals

63

53,85%

54

46,15%

117

Domestic fow

351

98,87%

4

1,13%

355

Other birds

378

91,98%

33

8,02%

411

Reptiles

31

36,05%

55

63,95%

86

Xenopus

480

100%

480

Other amphibians

27

18,12%

122

81,88%

149

Zebra fish

6.676

86,96%

918

12,77%

21

0,27%

7678

Sea bass

660

100%

660

Salmon, trout, chars and graylings

5935

44,02%

7281

54,01%

267

1,98%

13.483

Other fish

1224

78,11%

301

19,23%

42

2,68%

1567

Total

8.310

98.250

111.702

4.358

222.620

swipe

Species and severity (Denmark 2021)

Species and severity

Non recovery

%

Mild (up to and including)

%

Moderate

%

Severe

%

Total

Mice

3.185

2,31%

66.072

47,88%

65.702

47,61%

3.046

2,21%

138.005

Rats

1.172

4,59%

11.729

45,90%

12.486

48,87%

165

0,65%

33.349

Guinea-pigs

111

5,58%

1.482

74,43%

397

19,94%

1

0,05%

1.991

Hamsters (Syrian)

18

7,53%

220

92,05%

1

0,42%

239

Other rodents

12

100%

12

Rabbits

84

1,92%

4.200

96,11%

84

1,92%

2

0,05%

4.370

Cats

3

100,00%

3

Dogs

307

48,19%

326

51,18%

4

0,63%

637

Horses, donkeys and cross-breds

52

100%

52

Pigs

1.237

7,18%

3.863

22,43%

12.101

70,26%

21

0,12%

17.222

Goats

6

75%

2

25%

8

Sheep

14

34,15%

27

65,85%

41

Cattle

1624

85,56%

274

14,44%

1.898

Other mammals

6

21,43%

22

78,57%

28

Domestic fowls

1.438

93,74%

96

6,26%

1.534

Other birds

467

100,00%

467

Reptiles

91

59,09%

63

40,91%

154

Xenopus

740

100,00%

740

Other amphibians

21

15,11%

10

7,19%

105

75,54%

3

2,16%

139

Zebra fish

8.241

98,10%

145

1,73%

15

0,18%

8.401

Sea bass

2.475

89,61%

93

3,37%

194

7,02%

2.762

Salmon, trout, chars and graylings

2.405

27,44%

6.146

70,14%

212

2,42%

8.763

Other fish

836

34,28%

1.603

65,72%

2.439

Total

5810

106.079

99.904

3.664

215.457

swipe

Species and severity (Denmark 2020)

Species and severity

Non recovery

%

Mild (up to and including)

%

Moderate

%

Severe

%

Total

Mice

4.820

3,08%

80.300

51,24%

68.983

44,02%

2.602

1,66%

156.705

Rats

2.416

7,24%

17.419

52,23%

13.355

40,05%

159

0,48%

33.349

Guinea pigs

10

0,44%

2.120

94,26%

119

5,29%

2.249

Hamsters (Syrian)

108

97,30%

3

2,70%

111

Other rodents

Rabbits

50

2,13%

717

30,59%

1.572

67,06%

5

0,21%

2.344

Cats

6

100,00%

6

Dogs

499

84,72%

90

15,28%

589

Ferrets

Other carnivores

6.074

99,12%

54

0,88%

6.128

Horses, donkeys and cross-breeds

8

50,00%

8

50,00%

16

Pigs

688

7,80%

5.375

60,97%

2.683

30,43%

70

0,79%

8.816

Goats

24

88,89%

3

11,11%

27

Sheep

47

70,15%

19

28,36%

1

1,49%

67

Cattle

230

30,96%

501

67,43%

12

1,62%

743

Other mammals

10

27,78%

15

41,67%

11

30,56%

36

Domestic fowl

173

27,86%

448

72,14%

621

Other birds

401

100,00%

401

Reptiles

24

100,00%

24

Rana

792

100,00%

792

Xenopus

390

100,00%

390

Other amphibians

16

100,00%

16

Zebrafish

8.458

99,05%

81

0,95%

8.539

Other fish

7.031

17,67%

31.812

79,97%

938

2,36%

39.781

Total

7.994

130.227

119.742

3.787

261.750

swipe

Species and severity (Denmark 2019)

Species and severity

Non recovery

%

Mild (up to and including)

%

Moderate

%

Servere

%

Total

Mice

5.927

3,93%

83.063

49,53%

76.963

45,89%

1.746

1.04%

167.699

Rats

3.335

8,83%

16.630

44,02%

17.663

46,76%

149

0,39%

37.777

Guinea-Pigs

219

5,60%

3.196

81,68%

498

12,73%

3.913

Hamsters (Syrian)

6

100%

0

0

0

0

6

Other Rodents

32

96,97%

1

3,03%

33

Rabbits

39

1,69%

450

19,53%

1.811

78,60%

4

0,17%

2.304

Cats

1

100,00%

1

Dogs

296

78,10%

83

21,90%

0

0

379

Ferrets

Other carnivores

3.825

99,53%

18

0,47%

3.843

Horses, donkeys & cross-breeds

21

41,18%

30

58,82%

51

Pigs

1.118

12,94%

4.840

56,00%

2.594

30,01%

91

1,05%

8.643

Goats

51

100,00%

0

0

51

Sheep

2

11,11%

16

88,89%

18

Cattle

1.119

94,43%

54

4,56%

12

1,01%

1.185

Other Mammals

42

100%

0

0

42

Domestic fowl

779

61,39%

490

38,61%

1,269

Other birds

431

98,18%

8

1,82%

439

Reptiles

34

64,15%

19

35,85%

53

Rana

452

100%

452

Xenopus

390

99,74%

1

0,26%

391

Other Amphibians

69

95,83%

3

4,17%

72

Zebrafish

0

0

4.566

98,05%

29

0,62%

62

1,33%

4.657

Other fish

569

2,30%

8.697

35,15%

13.422

54,25%

2.054

8,30%

24.742

Total

11.209

128.955

113.738

4.118

258.020

swipe

Species and severity (Denmark 2018)

Species and severity

Non recovery

%

Mild (up to and including)

%

Moderate

%

Servere

%

Total

Mice

8.963

5,04%

112.121

63,00%

55.007

30,91%

1.880

1.06%

177.971

Rats

2.951

7,92%

18.554

49,77%

15.396

41,30%

379

1,02%

37.280

Guinea-Pigs

229

8,61%

2.340

88,00%

90

3,38%

2.659

Hamsters (Syrian)

104

35,62%

187

64,04%

1

0,34%

292

Other Rodents

13

100,00%

13

Rabbits

199

6,39%

436

13,99%

2.477

79,49%

4

0,13%

3.116

Cats

3

100,00%

3

Dogs

244

65,95%

122

32,97%

4

1,08%

370

Ferrets

Other carnivores

3.249

97,07%

98

2,93%

3.347

Horses, donkeys & cross-breeds

173

95,58%

8

4,42%

181

Pigs

1.658

21,69%

3.075

40,23%

2.805

36,70%

105

1,37%

7.643

Goats

13

100,00%

13

Sheep

11

14,10%

67

85,90%

78

Cattle

1.850

92,55%

149

7,45%

1.999

Other Mammals

26

89,66%

3

10,34%

29

Domestic fowl

878

38,46%

1.405

61,54%

2.283

Other birds

531

94,99%

28

5,01%

559

Reptiles

57

36,77%

98

63,23%

155

Rana

809

100%

809

Xenopus

1.350

97,19%

39

2,81%

1.389

Other Amphibians

94

100,00%

94

Zebrafish

114

4,26%

2.462

91,97%

20

0,75%

81

3,03%

2.677

Other fish

7.147

60,12%

4.299

36,16%

442

3,72%

11.888

Total

14.125

155.583

82.231

2.909

254.848

swipe

Species and severity (Denmark 2017)

Species and severity

Non recovery

%

Mild (up to and including)

%

Moderate

%

Servere

%

Total

Mice

14.205

8,65%

91.230

55,58%

57.566

35,07%

1.136

0.69%

164.137

Rats

6.015

15,62%

15.073

39,15%

17.177

44,62%

233

0,61%

38.498

Guinea-Pigs

317

10,76%

2.368

80,35%

260

8,82%

2

0,07%

2.947

Hamsters (Syrian)

3

1,06%

269

95,39%

10

3,55%

282

Other Rodents

3

100,00%

3

Rabbits

165

6,75%

520

21,29%

1.749

71,59%

9

0,37%

2.443

Cats

Dogs

8

3,74%

152

71,03%

54

25,23%

214

Ferrets

4

100,00%

4

Other carnivores

229

22,13%

773

74,69%

33

3,19%

1.035

Horses, donkeys & cross-breeds

119

100,00%

119

Pigs

1.713

29,52%

2.104

36,26%

1.967

33,90%

19

0,33%

5.803

Goats

1

100,00%

1

Sheep

16

24,24%

40

60,61%

10

15,15%

66

Cattle

48

1,31%

3.392

92,25%

237

6,45%

3.677

Other Mammals

28

100,00%

28

Domestic fowl

172

36,91%

294

63,09%

466

Other birds

369

90,44%

39

9,56%

408

Reptiles

139

48,10%

52

17,99%

98

33,91%

289

Rana

4

100%

4

Xenopus

60

21,05%

225

78,95%

285

Other Amphibians

47

100,00%

47

Zebrafish

1.467

92,44%

120

7,56%

1.587

Other fish

245

1,57%

9.577

61,37%

5.584

35,78%

200

1,28%

15.606

Total

22.871

127.013

86.303

1.762

237.949

swipe

Species and severity (Denmark 2016)

Species and severity

Non recovery

%

Mild (up to and including)

%

Moderate

%

Servere

%

Total

Mice

13.594

8,75%

95.897

61,75%

42.968

27,67%

2.238

1.82%

155.291

Rats

6.576

14,09%

24.409

52,29%

15.258

32,68%

439

0,94%

46.682

Guinea-Pigs

326

10,67%

2.577

84,33%

151

4,94%

2

0,07%

3.056

Hamsters (Syrian)

20

13,16%

129

84,87%

3

1,97%

152

Other Rodents

4

100,00%

4

Rabbits

92

3,96%

385

16,56%

1.842

79,23%

6

0,26%

2.325

Cats

18

100%

18

Dogs

18

6,77%

97

36,47%

144

54,14%

7

2,63%

266

Ferrets

2

100%

2

Other carnivores

210

36,27%

365

63,04%

4

0,69%

579

Horses, donkeys & cross-breeds

319

100,00%

319

Pigs

1.693

21,24%

3.867

48,52%

2.369

29,72%

41

0,51%

7.970

Goats

6

100,00%

6

Sheep

29

78,38%

8

21,62%

37

Cattle

15

0,71%

1.985

94,08%

110

5,21%

2.110

Other Mammals

9

16,36%

45

81,82%

1

1,82%

55

Domestic fowl

100

5,77%

1.422

82,10%

210

12,12%

1.732

Other birds

353

94,64%

20

5,36%

373

Reptiles

204

77,86%

58

22,14%

262

Xenopus

9

16,07%

47

83,93%

56

Other Amphibians

23

76,67%

7

23,33%

30

Zebrafish

3.308

100%

3.308

Other fish

10

0,02%

31.785

65,41%

15.534

31,97%

1.262

2,60%

48.591

Total

22.662

166.746

79.219

4.597

273.224

swipe

Species and severity (Denmark 2015)

Species and severity

Non recovery

%

Mild (up to and including)

%

Moderate

%

Servere

%

Total

Mice

13.720

8,81%

91.134

58,53%

49.452

31,76%

1.387

0,89%

155.693

Rats

5.596

11,51%

22.929

47,15%

19.828

40,77%

279

0,57%

48.632

Guinea-Pigs

321

12,15%

2.100

79,46%

222

8,40%

2.643

Hamsters (Syrian)

172

100,00%

172

Other Rodents

86

100,00%

86

Rabbits

255

15,29%

327

19,60%

1.082

64,87%

4

0,24%

1.668

Cats

59

100

59

Dogs

2

1,15%

161

92,53%

11

6,32%

174

Other carnivores

766

86,46%

120

13,54%

886

Horses, donkeys & cross-breeds

120

100,00%

120

Pigs

1.071

10,12%

7.372

69,69%

2.006

18,96%

130

1,23%

10.579

Goats

11

100,00%

11

Sheep

25

53,19%

22

46,81%

47

Cattle

105

18,92%

450

81,08%

555

Other Mammals

2

5,26%

36

94,74%

38

Domestic fowl

1.826

75,86%

523

21,73%

58

2,41%

2.407

Other birds

4

0,91%

417

95,21%

16

3,65%

1

0,23&

438

Reptiles

233

87,92%

32

12,08%

265

Rana

Xenopus

64

100,00%

64

Other Amphibians

2

7,69%

24

92,31%

26

Zebrafish

2.450

96,84%

80

3,16%

2.530

Other fish

50

0,29%

6.904

39,87%

10.135

58,52%

229

1,32%

17.318

Total

21.256

137.077

83.910

2.168

244.411

swipe
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