Swine
- Acceptable
- Sodium pentobarbital
- 50 mg/kg IV
- Controlled substance
- CO2
- Gradual filling of tank is preferable
- A lower concentration (30%) is less distressful for animals
- In some species, higher concentrations failed to cause death
- To effect
- No breathing, no heart beat/pulse, no response to toe/ear pinch for
at least 2 minutes
- Animal's activity should slow down, then stop
- Requires some other method of euthanasia to ensure death such as removal
of vital organ, exsanguination, or open chest
- Must use gas cylinder
- No residue
- Conditionally Acceptable
- Halothane, Isoflurane
- To effect
- No breathing, no heart beat/pulse, no response to toe/ear pinch for
at least 2 minutes
- Animal's activity should slow down, then stop
- Requires a hood/ventilation
- Toxic to personnel
- Pregnant persons should avoid
- Should be less than 2 ppm in room
- Equipment has to be maintained
- Should be cleaned after each use to ensure no odors left
- Precision vaporizers need to be serviced annually
- Machines checked for leaks
- Requires some other method of euthanasia to ensure death such as removal
of vital organ, exsanguination or open chest
- CO
- Very hazardous
- Special hazard training required
- Must have monitors for CO in room
- Chloral hydrate
- IV only after sedation
- May have aesthetically unacceptable reactions
- Gunshot
- Have to be highly skilled and properly trained
- Only done in jurisdictions that allow firearms
- Done outdoors, away from public and other animals
- Gunshot to neck or heart is unacceptable
- Electrocution
- Must be specifically trained
- Hazardous to personnel
- Not useful method for dangerous, intractable animal
- Animal should be unconscious by some method
- Aesthetically objectionable
- May not kill small animals (<5kg)
- Adjunctive methods
- Methods that are acceptable when used in conjunction with another method that
renders the animal unconscious first, prior to using the adjunctive method
- Potassium chloride
- Requires general anesthesia
- 1-2 mmol/kg
- Given IV or Intracardiac
- No withdrawal period
- Get a rippling of muscles and clonic spasms
- Exsanguination
- Requires sedated, stunned, or generally anesthetized animal
- Unacceptable
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