In this brief guide, we will answer the query, “can you euthanize an animal?”. We will also talk about euthanizing animals and the ways of disposal of euthanized animals.
Can you eat a euthanized animal?
No, you cannot eat a euthanized animal because of many reasons, one being the medication that’s been used to euthanize the animals.
The chemical used will definitely be present in the deceased body of the animal and will be passed through to whoever consumes it.
Also, it is not safe to eat euthanized animals, since euthanization is done to put the really sick animals to sleep which means eating the sick animal will definitely have a dangerous health impact on humans and animals too.
What is euthanization of animals?
Euthanization of animals is a process in which the animal is put to death by withholding extreme medical measures. Incurable diseases or conditions is the main reason for opting for the euthanization of animals.
Euthanization is probably the most ethical and humane way of killing or speeding the death of the animal to relieve them from pain inflicted due to illnesses or accidents or old age.
The euthanization process is designed to cause minimal pain and stress to the animal involved.
The medication called pentobarbital is used to euthanize the animals, it is injected intravenously which first depresses the nervous system and eventually the cardiovascular activity.
Gas anaesthetics such as isoflurane and sevoflurane can also be used for smaller animals. This is done by placing the animals in a sealed chamber where high levels of gas are introduced.
The intracardiac or intraperitoneal injection is also acceptable when intravenous injection is not possible. In this process, the euthanasia drugs are directly administered into the heart chamber or body cavity.
What is used to euthanize animals?
Pentobarbital is used for the euthanization of animals which is administered intravenously to have an immediate effect to avoid pain and stress to the animal. The compound stops the heartbeat and thus the quick death.
For larger animals, shooting is also practised but is not the best way of euthanizing your beloved animal.
Gas anaesthetics such as isoflurane and sevoflurane can also be used for smaller animals. This is done by placing the animals in a sealed chamber where high levels of gas are introduced.
The intracardiac or intraperitoneal injection is also acceptable when intravenous injection is not possible. In this process, the euthanasia drugs are directly administered into the heart chamber or body cavity.
What are the reasons for euthanizing animals?
Everyone loves and adores the pets and animals they have at home or on farms. It is a tough decision to euthanize animals to end their life.
The reasons are valid and would end the suffering of the animal. Some of the reasons include the following.
- Incurable diseases or terminal illnesses like cancer or rabies
- If the pain is unbearable due to an accident or illness though it is not terminal.
- Behavioural issues are also one of the reasons to put the animals down, especially dogs who have caused bodily harm to others and are very aggressive and cannot be corrected.
- Not just the illness, the animals that cannot function and whose body is deteriorating due to ageing are also put through the process of euthanization.
- Lack of shelter or if the animal is left on the road without anyone to care for are also put down.
- Some animals are euthanized for research and testing purposes to avoid the pain inflicted during the dissection to prevent suffering after the test.
How long does the euthanization process take?
The peaceful death of the animal takes about 30 seconds after administering the medication intravenously.
Some vets prefer to give a dose of anaesthesia prior to euthanizing the animals to help them relax before they go to sleep to never wake up.
Is animal euthanization legal?
Euthanization of animals in the case of severe incurable diseases or conditions is completely legal.
The euthanization should be performed by registered vets or in the animal shelters with the facility for euthanizing the animals.
How to dispose of the euthanized animal?
The right way to dispose of the euthanized animal is to bury them or cremate the dead body. Many people prefer to take them home and cremate or bury themselves whereas some prefer to cremate or bury them at funeral homes for pets.
In some cases, the euthanized animals are sent to meat rendering facilities to be processed to be used in cosmetics, fertilisers, pet foods, gelatin, poultry feeds, and pharmaceuticals.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the query, “Can you euthanize an animal?”. We also talked about euthanizing animals and the ways of disposal of euthanized animals.
I hope you find this blog useful. If you have any questions, please let us know.
