Effects of anesthetics and foster mother experience on survival rate of cesarean derived, foster suckled rat pups

Pregnant rats were anesthetized with carbon dioxide or a ketamine/xylazine combination prior to euthanasia and cesarean section. Another group of pregnant rats was allowed to deliver their litters normally. Litters from all groups were placed with experienced or inexperienced foster mothers. There did not appear to be any significant difference in survival rates of pups fostered to experienced mothers when comparing the three groups. Survival rates for pups fostered to inexperienced mothers were lower than those for pups fostered to experienced mothers.

[Electrocution of foxes; an ethically acceptable method?]

The routine practice of electrocution of foxes by the Fox final apparatus was observed. The measured current was an average 0.31 (+/- 0.01 s.d.) A, the voltage 111.2 (+/- 18.7) V and the stunning time 3.0 (+/- 0.3) seconds (n = 40). The EEG (electroencephalogram) and the ECG (electrocardiogram) were recorded in 12 foxes. The current was initially applied for 1 sec. Ten foxes showed a general epileptiform insult (= unconscious) which was interrupted by a heart fibrillation, based on the EEG and ECG traces. Two foxes showed a general epileptiform insult while the heart fibrillation was incomplete. These two foxes recovered again. After the second stunning with a duration of about 3 seconds the heart fibrillation was complete in these animals. In the EEG and ECG experiments the voltage was on average 110.0 (+/- 7.9) V, the current 0.40 (+/- 0.11) A and the stunning time 1.1 (+/- 0.3) seconds (n = 12). The observations of the method in practice and the EEG and ECG measurements suggest that electrocution of foxes by the Fox final apparatus is a quick and effective method if the current delivery is at least 3 to 4 seconds.

Helping people adjust to the death of a pet

Recently the bond that exists between people and their pets and its impact on physical and mental health have become topics of interest. This descriptive study examines the provision of social work services in a veterinary hospital to individuals who are distressed about a pet's illness or death and considers the implications of this kind of service delivery for social work.

Physiologic and behavioral evaluation of CO euthanasia of adult dogs

Pure CO was used to euthanatize 18 dogs. During the procedure, physiologic parameters: EEG, ECG, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and cortisol values were monitored. Behavioral manifestations were also noted. The EEG modifications indicated a cortical voltage increase followed by rapid cerebral death. Higher heart and respiratory rates during EEG modifications indicated stress, and arterial blood pressure decreased significantly (P = less than 0.05) at the same time. Serum cortisol values were already high before the euthanasia process. Based on these observations, a precise time could not be set for unconsciousness. A gray zone, during which vocalization and agitation occurred for approximately 20 to 25 s, was 3 to 8 s in 10 dogs. These behavioral manifestations could still occur in the conscious phase.

[Use of CO2 euthanasia cabinet for experimental animals (author's transl)]

The process of CO2 euthanasia on mouse, rat, guinea pig and rabbit was observed using a CO2 euthanasia cabinet. The cabinet was filled with CO2 gas and the caged animal was placed into the cabinet. These animals quietly collapsed and their respiratory movement ceased within 25--225 seconds. A-V block was the first arrhythmia recognized on ECG in all cases. The arrhythmia recorded on ECG included complete A-V block, A-V dissociation, ventricular escape rhythm, atrial fibrillation, ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation. It could be concluded that euthanasia was satisfactorily performed on these species by means of the CO2 euthanasia cabinet.

Electrophysiologic studies of a combination of secobarbital and dibucaine for euthanasia of dogs

A combination of secobarbital and dibucaine was compared with secobarbital and with dibucaine, given IV, for euthanasia of dogs. The secobarbital-dibucaine combination was the most effective, as determined by latency to electrical silence of the EEG and ECG, as well as by visual observation of the behavior of the animal. The combination product produced a quiet and rapid death, according to all electrophysiologic changes that were monitored, whereas the barbiturate resulted in prolonged myocardial activity. Dibucaine alone is not desirable for use for euthanasia.