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What constitutes a "good" death? (3)
- minimal pain
- minimal distress
- acceptable to witness
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What are the 3 goals for euthanasia?
- rapid unconsciousness
- cardiac and respiratory arrest
- permanent loss of cerebral function
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What are the criteria for euthanasia agents? (14)
- ability to induce loss of consciousness and death without pain, distress, anxiety, or apprehension
- minimal time required to induce loss of consciousness
- reliable
- irreversible
- safe for personnel
- compatibility with animal purpose or intent
- compatible for subsequent evaluation/ exam
- emotional effect on observer
- drug availability and human abuse potential
- compatibility with species, age, and health status
- ability to maintain equipment in proper working order
- safest for predators/ scavengers should carcass be consumed
- legal requirements for jurisdiction
- environmental impact of method of disposal of remains
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In all situations the animals should be monitored to... (3)
- establish loss of consciousness
- ensure unconsciousness persists until death occurs
- identify evidence of pain or distress
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How is verification of death performed? (3)
- inaudible, non-palpable pulse or respiration
- lack of reflexes
- rigor mortis
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What are 3 modes of action to induce death?
- hypoxia
- direct CNS depression necessary for life
- physical disruption of brain activity and destruction of vital neurons
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What is the MOA of hypoxia-inducing inhalants?
rapid exposure to high concs of an oxygen-displacing agent reaching adequate levels in the alveoli
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What are the pros of using inhalants for euthanasia? (3)
- useful in patients <7kgs
- minimal handling required
- used as a sole agent or as part of a 2 step
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The time to unconsciousness with inhalants is dependent on... (3)
displacement rate, container volume, and concentration delivered
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Induction of paralysis (lack of respiration) resulting in ________ is NOT ACCEPTABLE in ____________.
hypoxia; awake animals
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What anesthetic inhalant agents are approved for euthanasia? (5)
- halothane
- isoflurane
- sevoflurane
- enflurane
- desflurane
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What non-aneshtetic inhalant agents are approved for euthanasia? (2)
- carbon dioxide
- carbon monoxide
- [this is conditionally acceptable because personnel must have additional training to use these humanely]
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What is the mechanism of action of carbon dioxide?
directly depresses the cerebral cortex, subcortical structures, and the myocardium
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Use of CO2 as euthanasia agent is suitable for...
- most lab animals, rabbits, amphibians, fish, some reptiles, swine
- [approved for dogs and cats but not recommended for routine use for them]
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What are the pros (4) and cons (6) of using CO2 as a euthanasia agent?
- Pros: rapid depressant, analgesic, anesthetic; accessible; inexpensive, non-flammable; does not accumulate in tissues
- Cons: burrowing animals and fish have high tolerance; reptiles breathe too slowly; can cause mucosal irritation; animals may struggle; heavier than air, necessitating chamber fill; slow
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What is the mechanism of action of CO as a euthanasia agent?
competitively binds hemoglobin, preventing oxygen binding
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What are pros (4) an cons (2) of CO as a euthanasia agent?
- Pros: CO induces rapid loss of consciousness without pain; odorless gas; hypoxia is insidious; death is rapid
- Cons: safeguards necessary for personnel; combustible gas
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What are acceptable routes for administration for CNS depressant euthanasia agents?
- IV, oral, intraosseous
- WITH ANESTHESIA/ SEDATION: introperitoneal, intracardiac, intrarenal, intrasplenic, intrahepatic
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What is the mechanism of action of barbituates?
- target organ is the brain--> severe depression of the medullary respiratory and vasomotor centers
- inhibits release of Ach, NE, and glutamate (decreases brain metabolic rate and oxygen consumption)
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What are the pros (6) and cons (5) of barbituates as euthanasia agents?
- Pros: rapid CNS depressant, smooth induction, minimal discomfort, relatively inexpensive, multiple routes of delivery, available
- Cons: IV for best results, requires trained personnel, controlled substance, agonal breath, persists in carcass (requires proper disposal)
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What are physical methods of brain disruption for euthanasia?
- [conditionally acceptable] captive bolt, gunshot, cervical dislocation, decapitation
- [only as adjunct to other agents/ methods] electrocution, microwave irradiation, stunning, pithing, exsanguination
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What are the pros (4) and cons (5) of penetrating captive bolt?
- Pros: rapid, approved for food animals, approved for slaughter, does not chemically contaminate tissues
- Cons: requires restraint and accuracy, aesthetically displeasing, exaggerative muscle activity may follow unconsciousness, maintenance of equipment, brain matter destroyed
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What are the pros (2) and cons (3) of gunshot as euthanasia method?
- Pros: instantaneous loss of consciousness, minimal stress/ handling
- Cons: unpleasant to watch, misfires danger to operator, target may be a challenge at a distance
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What are the pros (4) and cons (3) of cervical dislocation for euthanasia?
- Pros: rapid, uncontaminated tissue, approved for research, birds/ mice/ immature rats/ rabbitsÂ
- Cons: requires training, unpleasant to watch, presence of electrical activity in brain is controversial
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What is the mechanism of action of potassium chloride?
induction of sudden cardiac death alteration in sodium and potassium channels, resulting in the inability of the cells to repolarize
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What are the pros (3) and cons (3) of potassium chloride as a euthanasia agent?
- Pros: acceptable to use ONLY with anesthesia, not a controlled substance, carcass less toxic to scavengers
- Cons: NOT approved for awake animals, clonic muscle spasm after injection, saturated solutions necessary for large animals
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What is the condition for use of potassium chloride for euthanasia?
ONLY WITH GENERAL ANESTHESIA
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