In Eileen's previous message to you on this issue she suggested that others may also be in position to provide perspective.  I was unable to at the time, and now find that I'm too late: Eileen has related the concerns that are commonly held within the veterinary community quite well.

 

That is, small animals may be difficult to inject without placing the handler at risk of needle stick accidents, physiologic realities may limit the effectiveness of certain injectable agents, and excited or agitated larger animals place both the handler and the animal at risk due to their emotional state.  In all of these situations euthanasia by an approved inhalable agent in an approved closed chamber operated by a trained technician is both safer and more humane.

 

 

 Steven L. Halstead, DVM, MS
Equine, Companion Animal and Swine Programs
Michigan Department of Agriculture
Animal Industry Division

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>>> "Eileen Liska" <eliska01@comcast.net > 09/14/04 01:47PM >>>
9/14

Hi ,

Finally getting back to you on the gas euthanasia question. I discussed this at length with the Director of MHS Clinics.
On the whole he concurs with the opinion I shared with you from the animal  rights vet (DVM VanKoevering).

In 99% of cases, the most humane method is intravenous injection with sodium  pentobarbital.  However, Dr.Fisher says that many wild animals, exotic  animals, and highly aggressive or agitated animals would have to be placed in a squeeze cage in order to get the needle into them (as they cannot be held down by people).  In such cases, with them moving around in the cage even with confinement, they can get poked multiple times and that only raises the stress and fear levels.  For such animals, being placed alone in a dark, quiet chamber with the gas cooled and pumped in slowly is far more humane for them.  The other cases where a gas chamber, or for small animals a glass container, is more humane would be animals that have health issues that inhibit the ability of their circulatory system to absorb the sodium pentobarbital quickly enough.

When the MDA Comm. the MHS and I participate in starts re-writing the state law on euthanasia (it's on our "To Do" list), I will be sure that we
dramatically update andstrengthen the language so people cannot use chambers routinely anymore (or barrels with monoxide piped in, or gun shot).  This has been a big concern to us for a long time.

Make sure you stay involved in our legislative work so you will know when we start working on this reform.

Eileen