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How to choose the most humane way of euthanasia? Discover the best way to euthanize animals!
Animal euthanasia (euthanasia, derived from Greek, meaning "good death") is the act of killing animals in a humane way, usually by injecting drugs. This practice is mainly performed when the animal is facing an incurable and particularly painful disease, or when resources cannot continue to support the animal's life and for use in laboratory testing procedures. Choosing the appropriate euthanasia method can help reduce an animal's pain and discomfort and protect its dignity in the final stages of its life.
Euthanasia methods can be mainly divided into pharmacological methods and physical methods. The selection of these methods must be based on the principle of causing minimal pain and discomfort.
Main methods of euthanasia
There are many methods of euthanasia that are considered humane. Here are some of the main methods:
Intravenous anesthetic
Intravenous anesthetics can cause animals to rapidly lose consciousness, followed by respiratory and cardiac arrest. This process is usually completed within 30 seconds, and some veterinarians will use a two-stage operation. The first injection is a sedative to make the animal more comfortable in the future, and the second injection is used for euthanasia. This method allows the owner to say goodbye to the animal while it is still alive without affecting the animal emotionally.
Gas anesthetic
If the animal is small, gas anesthetics such as isoflurane and sevoflurane can be used for euthanasia. The animal will be placed in a sealed chamber and injected with a high concentration of anesthetic gas. While carbon dioxide can also be used to euthanize wild animals, the suffering it causes remains controversial, especially when used alone.
Cervical vertebra dislocation
Cervical dislocation is an old and infrequently used method of euthanasia for small animals that, when performed correctly, provides minimal suffering to the animal. However, this method requires considerable skill on the part of the operator, otherwise it may cause suffering to the animal.
Intracardiac or intraperitoneal injection
For situations where intravenous injection is not possible, euthanasia drugs such as pentobarbital can be injected directly into the heart or abdominal cavity. This method is considered fairly humane by law, as long as it is performed while the animal is sufficiently sedated or unconscious.
Shooting
For large animals, shooting is a method of euthanasia. Performed in a proper manner by professionals, it can result in instant death of the animal. This approach, if executed correctly, is relatively low risk.
Reason for euthanasia
There are many reasons for choosing euthanasia, including:
- Terminal illness, such as cancer or rabies.
- A condition that is incurable but causes significant suffering.
- The loss of body functions caused by old age affects the quality of life.
- Behavioral problems often cannot be solved, such as aggressive behavior in animals.
- Lack of care or resources.
In the opinion of animal welfare organizations, euthanasia is a necessary option in certain circumstances and is usually performed in shelters. Does having such a choice mean that humans have a more humane responsibility towards animals?
Legal status
In the United States, many state laws require intravenous injection as a necessary method for euthanized animals. The law stems in part from Georgia's 1990 Humane Euthanasia Act, which for the first time curbed the widespread use of other methods, such as gas chambers.
Handling the remains after euthanasia
Many pet owners choose to honor their pets’ lives by having them cremated or buried after euthanasia. Some facilities also provide professional animal burial services, while for other animals the remains are usually sent to a local landfill.
So, when it comes to animal euthanasia, do you think there should be more education and understanding to promote the development of humane options?
