Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species
There are very few studies describing euthanasia complications in non-domestic species. The goal of this study was to survey veterinarians to determine what complications may commonly occur during the euthanasia of non-domestic species. An online survey was sent to seven professional organization li...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/4/45 |
| _version_ | 1797456784695230464 |
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| author | Caitlin Hepps Keeney Tara M. Harrison |
| author_facet | Caitlin Hepps Keeney Tara M. Harrison |
| author_sort | Caitlin Hepps Keeney |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There are very few studies describing euthanasia complications in non-domestic species. The goal of this study was to survey veterinarians to determine what complications may commonly occur during the euthanasia of non-domestic species. An online survey was sent to seven professional organization listservs containing veterinarians most likely to practice on non-domestic species. Forty-one cases of euthanasia complications were reported. The most common taxa reported were mammals, (23/41, 56%), followed by avian (8/41, 20%), reptile (7/41, 17%), and fish (3/41, 7%). Most animals were reported to have been anesthetized prior to euthanasia (28/41, 68%). The most common method of euthanasia was pentobarbital (27/41, 66%). The reported euthanasia complications included “took an excessive amount of euthanasia solution” (12/41, 29%), “heart would not stop” (9/41, 22%), “animal awoke at a later time” (4/41, 10%), “a secondary method of euthanasia was required” (4/41, 10%), and “other” (12/41, 29%). This study reports complications that can occur during the euthanasia of non-domestic species. The concept of dysthanasia, a euthanasia with an undesirable outcome, has not been previously discussed in the context of zoo, wildlife, aquarium, and exotic pet practice. Strategies to reduce dysthanasia from both animal and human perspectives are explored, including alternative euthanasia techniques, principal-based euthanasia, and mental health implications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:12:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-537d8c9f21fa455e81161fc1fa437eeb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-5636 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:12:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
| spelling | doaj.art-537d8c9f21fa455e81161fc1fa437eeb2023-11-24T16:04:49ZengMDPI AGJournal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens2673-56362022-11-013461662310.3390/jzbg3040045Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic SpeciesCaitlin Hepps Keeney0Tara M. Harrison1Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27607, USADepartment of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27607, USAThere are very few studies describing euthanasia complications in non-domestic species. The goal of this study was to survey veterinarians to determine what complications may commonly occur during the euthanasia of non-domestic species. An online survey was sent to seven professional organization listservs containing veterinarians most likely to practice on non-domestic species. Forty-one cases of euthanasia complications were reported. The most common taxa reported were mammals, (23/41, 56%), followed by avian (8/41, 20%), reptile (7/41, 17%), and fish (3/41, 7%). Most animals were reported to have been anesthetized prior to euthanasia (28/41, 68%). The most common method of euthanasia was pentobarbital (27/41, 66%). The reported euthanasia complications included “took an excessive amount of euthanasia solution” (12/41, 29%), “heart would not stop” (9/41, 22%), “animal awoke at a later time” (4/41, 10%), “a secondary method of euthanasia was required” (4/41, 10%), and “other” (12/41, 29%). This study reports complications that can occur during the euthanasia of non-domestic species. The concept of dysthanasia, a euthanasia with an undesirable outcome, has not been previously discussed in the context of zoo, wildlife, aquarium, and exotic pet practice. Strategies to reduce dysthanasia from both animal and human perspectives are explored, including alternative euthanasia techniques, principal-based euthanasia, and mental health implications.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/4/45euthanasiaeuthanasia complicationzoo euthanasiawildlife euthanasianon-domestic |
| spellingShingle | Caitlin Hepps Keeney Tara M. Harrison Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens euthanasia euthanasia complication zoo euthanasia wildlife euthanasia non-domestic |
| title | Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species |
| title_full | Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species |
| title_fullStr | Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species |
| title_short | Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species |
| title_sort | euthanasia complications in non domestic species |
| topic | euthanasia euthanasia complication zoo euthanasia wildlife euthanasia non-domestic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/3/4/45 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT caitlinheppskeeney euthanasiacomplicationsinnondomesticspecies AT taramharrison euthanasiacomplicationsinnondomesticspecies |