Euthanasia

Question 1

What is good euthanasia?

Answer 1

To avoid pain and distress, the techniques used should cause immediate loss of consciousness followed by cardiac and respiratory arrest (which ultimately results in permanent loss of brain function and thereby death)

Question 2

What should a healthy animal be?

Answer 2

• Free from pain and distress
• Able to walk / balance
• Able to eat and drink for maintenance
• Free from discomforting, inoperable, tumours
• Able to breathe without difficulty
• Able to pass urine and faeces without difficulty or incontinence
• Owner able to cope with nursing / medicating

Question 3

What should be considered with euthanasia?

Answer 3

1. what is best for the animal
2. the wellbeing of your client
3. financial constraints
4. dealing with your own conscience
5. the degree to which you are attached to the animal
6. your pride

Question 4

What are methods of euthanasia?

Answer 4

• Injectables - pentobarbitone
• Shoot - free-bullet gun
• captive gun + pithing if not for human consumption

Question 5

Where would you stun different animals?

Answer 5

• Cow = 2cm lateral of midline, cross from lateral canthus to base of horn
• Sheep = hornless = centre on top of head
• horned/ goat = behind ridge of horns
• Pig = 2cm above eyes aiming up slightly
• from behind from ear to opposite eye