Euthanasia of young pigs with carbon monoxide

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Anesthesiology
• Animal Welfare Science
• Comparative Medicine

Background:

• Carbon monoxide (CO) is used for animal euthanasia.
• Understanding CO administration methods is crucial for minimizing animal distress.
• Piglets are a common model for studying physiological responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of different carbon monoxide administration rates and combinations with nitrous oxide on excitation during euthanasia in piglets.
• To determine optimal methods for reducing signs of distress in pigs during CO euthanasia.

Main Methods:

• Thirty piglets were subjected to carbon monoxide euthanasia.
• CO was administered rapidly (5-10 minutes), slowly (45 minutes), or combined with nitrous oxide (15 minutes).
• Visual signs of excitation and unconsciousness were observed and recorded.

Main Results:

• Rapid CO administration led to severe excitation, often preceding unconsciousness.
• Slower CO administration resulted in less evident excitation.
• Combining CO with nitrous oxide further reduced excitation, with signs occurring after unconsciousness.

Conclusions:

• The rate of carbon monoxide administration significantly influences the degree of excitation observed during euthanasia in piglets.
• Combining carbon monoxide with nitrous oxide or using slower administration protocols may improve animal welfare by reducing distress.
• These findings can inform best practices for carbon monoxide euthanasia in swine models.