2. Bovine Euthanasia Flashcards
What is the biggest difference between slaughter and euthanasia?
Animals are eaten after they are slaughtered
Define: Euthanasia
The intentional causing of a painless and easy death to a patient suffering from an incurable or painful disease
What are examples of reasons for euthanasia?
Irreparable fracture, severe trauma
Inability to stand or walk
Advanced cancer
Advanced infectious disease
Debilitating or toxic condition
What is important to consider when euthanizing?
Human safety
Animal welfare
Practicality
Skill required
Cost
Aesthetics
What are the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia guidelines?
Minimize stress and anxiety prior to unconsciousness
Rapid (and complete) unconsciousness
Cardiac/respiratory arrest
Death
Compare “brain dead” versus death
Brain dead: completely unconscious and no chance of return to consciousness
Death: vital functions cease (heart, lungs); tissues die when oxygen depleted
What are mechanisms for euthanasia?
Drugs that directly depress CNS and neurons vital for life function
Physical disruption of brain activity (consciousness vs midbrain centers)
Agents that induce unconsciousness followed by induction of hypoxia
Define: “Acceptable” Euthanasia Techniques
Consistently produce a humane death when used as the sole means of euthanasia
Define: “Acceptable with Conditions” Euthanasia Techniques
May require certain conditions to be met to consistently produce a humane death
May be greater potential for human error or safety hazard
Methods may not be well documented in the literature
May require a secondary step to ensure death
AVMA Guidelines for “Acceptable with Conditions”
Methods considered to be equivalent to “acceptable methods” when criteria for application of a method can be met
Define: “Adjunctive” Euthanasia Techniques
Methods that should not be used as the sole method of euthanasia, but could be used with others to bring about euthanasia
Define: “Unacceptable” Euthanasia Techniques
Methods deemed inhumane under any conditions
Methods that were found to pose substantial risk to the human applying the technique
Examples of “Acceptable” Euthanasia Techniques in Cattle
Barbiturates and barbituric acid derivatives
Examples of “Acceptable with Conditions” Euthanasia Techniques
Gunshot
Penetrating captive bolt with adjunctive methods (penetrating and non-penetrating captive bolt with adjunctive methods appropriate for calves)
Pros and Cons of Barbiturate Overdose
Animal welfare and aesthetics: ideal agent
Cost: high
Practicality: controlled substance
Carcass disposal: can’t be used in food/food product animals
Pros and Cons of Gunshot to the Brain
Animal welfare: ideal
Cost: inexpensive
Skill: required
Safety: big concern
Aesthetics: not great
Firearm regulations
Brain diagnostics
What are the safety concerns of gunshot euthanasia?
Safety of operator
Safety off workers
Firearm safety training
Exit from skull
Concrete, ricochet, etc
What are tips for safe and successful use of gunshot euthanasia?
Avoid explosion of the gun barrel (never hold firearm to skull directly)
Shoot from close range (2-3ft)
Hold perpendicular to skull to avoid ricochet
Direct bullet path toward foramen magnum
What are extended bolts intended to offer?
1 step euthanasia without the need for use of an adjunctive method
Pros and Cons of Captive Bolt Gun
Cost: inexpensive
Animal welfare: ideal, but must be followed by death-inducing agent
Skill: required
Aesthetics
Brain diagnostics
Contact with animal: restraint
Safety: some concern
Can be used in enclosed facilities
What do captive bolt guns cause? What continues?
Animal will be brain dead
Completely unconscious, cannot regain consciousness (higher brain centers destroyed)
Other functions may continue (agonal breathing, spinal reflexes, noxious stimuli response)
What are adjunctive methods?
Potassium chloride and magnesium sulfate (can never be used as sole method, can only be used in unconscious animals)
Physical methods (second shot, exsanguination, pithing)
Advantages to potassium chloride and magnesium sulfate IV injections?
Risk to predators/scavengers from KCl or MgSO4 residues is low
Cons of Exsanguination
Disturbing for onlookers
Biosecurity concerns