A New Method for On-Farm Euthanasia with Animal Welfare Considerations

Objective: Euthanasia of animals is a highly stressful situation for veterinarians and may be source of ethical dilemmas; also, it is very difficult to decide “which technique is more appropriate for the given situation”? The aim of this study was to describe a new humane method for on-farm euthanasia. Design: Pilot clinical trial. Animals: thirteen animals including three horses, six sheep and four goats were nominated for euthanasia. Procedures: After induction of anesthesia by combination of xylazine-acepromazine and ketamine, according to Modified Glasgow Coma Scoring System, unconsciousness of all animals was established. Then, 4-12 mL lidocaine was injected intrathecally, and quality of death, vital signs and electrical activity of heart were assessed subsequently. Results: The results suggest that direct application of lidocaine on medullary region of CNS after induction anesthesia may causes loss of consciousness, respiratory arrest, bradycardia, atrioventricular block and finally cardiac arrest. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Results showed that this method can be considered as an inexpensive, rapid and humane way to end an animal’s life.