Euthanasia

Question 1

what pH of abx gets best into the milk cistern and mammary tissues?

Answer 1

alkaline

Question 2

what are some of the considerations of FA therapeutics?

Answer 2

MO targets, cure type (symptomatic/support), penetration, cost, withdrawal, cascade, prevention for next time

Question 3

what does PSE stand for?

Answer 3

pale, soft exudative

Question 4

why should animals be relaxed in transport, lairage and slaughter to make better meat

Answer 4

chronic stress deplete glycogen stores

usually converted to lactic acid which ensure low pH and firm, dark meat. if lacking then meat becomes - PSE

Question 5

how to you assess dead?

Answer 5

rhythmic breathing
no heart beat
no jaw tone
no corneal reflex
fixed expression

Question 6

describe the phases of tonic, clonic and recovery post stunning

Answer 6

tonic = FL extended, HL retracted
clonic = kicking
recovery = if not 100% bled out to cause brain dead-ness

Question 7

what is the aim of stunning

Answer 7

to cause immediate unconsiousness - to be followed by cardiac and resp arrest

Question 8

methods of farm euthanasia?

Answer 8

pentobarb
Mg OD - only as a top up, NEVER on own as its horrid!
shoot - free bullet, captive gun. pithe after!

Question 9

shooting aim where on cattle?

Answer 9

bw lat canthus of eye and base of opp ear, just off midline

Question 10

shooting - aim where on pigs?

Answer 10

2cm above center of the eye. shotgun good as +++ pellets

Question 11

emergency on farm slaughter of equids, must have 2nd opinion of how many others

Answer 11

1 other vet

Question 12

what drugs are used in emergency euth of equids?

Answer 12

sedate
thiopentone
suxamethonium –> this combo prevents bad collapse. its a NM-blocker (stops lungs)
quinalbarbitone(brain) + LA(cardiac) (somulose) = given IV to kill

Question 13

how do you assess if dead (horses)

Answer 13

cyanosis, pupil reflex, pupil dilation, cardiac arrest

corneal reflex may cont for 3mins after collapse

Question 14

what sedative is contrac-indicated in emergency euth of horses?

Answer 14

xylazine - drags death out

Question 15

what paperwork is required for euth of horses?

Answer 15

ring insurance company - they might want PM etc
fill in passport - dont let into foodchain if has drugs
carcase disposal

Question 16

what is the negatives of using inhalation OD?

Answer 16

may cause hypoxia (and stress) before unconsciousness

Question 17

IV is the preferred route of injectable agents however, which is better cardiac or peritoneal injections after that?

Answer 17

cardiac - ONLY on GA/unconscious animals

Question 18

how slowly should somulose be given and why?

Answer 18

15 seconds

to prevent premature cardiac arrest (before unconscious)

Question 19

name some physical methods of euth

Answer 19

cervical dislocation
bullet
bolt
electrocution
pithing
exsanguination

Question 20

where to shoot on sheep/goats +-horns

Answer 20

top of head, above horn base, pointing towards nose

Question 21

where is a sensible place to shoot an animal

Answer 21

in front of a poo pile - somewhere it can bury into without ricocheting