Probably the cruellest and one of the largest industries in the world is the PMU industry (pregnant mares' urine). Premarin is the third largest selling drug on the earth (right behind Tylenol), bringing its single maker over one million dollars per year. Premarin is prescribed to alleviate symptoms of menopause. However, the production of this drug has cost the lives of over one million horses. To obtain the urine used in Premarin, mares are impregnated and confined for six months of their eleven month pregnancies, unable to turn around or lie down comfortably because of the small stalls, short chains and urine collection bags strapped to their bodies. This cycle of pregnancy and confinement continues every year until they are either barren or lame and they then are sold for slaughter. There are several alternatives making the cruelty completely unnecessary. The demand for Premarin is high and so are the number of suffering mares – approximately eighty thousand on about seven hundred various farms. Mares will normally live for twenty to thirty years. Most Premarin mares will last about five years. Every year one-quarter of the mares are sent to slaughter and replaced. The good news is that Premarin is the only menopause drug made with animal-derived oestrogen. Alternatives include Estratab, Estraderm, Estrace, Ortho-Est and Remifemin.
Premarin was invented by
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The
cruelty inflicted on these horses can be appalling. If you're interested
in learning more, see the links below.