Evaluation of Euthanasia Methods Using Injectable Agents in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Knutson, Kyra; Petritz, Olivia A.; Womble, Mandy; Lewbart, Gregory A.; Balko, Julie A.

doi:10.5818/jhms-d-21-00006

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Two respondents indicated that they had negative experiences with pentobarbital in GPO. While pentobarbital is a common and effective drug used in euthanasia due to its effects on the central nervous system and lethal cardiac effects, effective dosages and injection sites can vary among taxa [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Current Husbandry and Veterinary Care Practices of the Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) Using an Online Survey

Kirby

Balko

Goertz

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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Giant Pacific octopuses (Enteroctopus dofleini) (GPOs) are commonly housed in zoos or aquaria, and sedation, anesthesia, and/or euthanasia may be indicated for a variety of reasons. Despite this need, evidence-based data on best practices is limited and focuses on smaller or more tropical species. The objectives of this study were to survey the aquatic community regarding the husbandry and veterinary care of GPOs, with a specific focus on anesthetic and euthanasia protocols. A two-part web-based survey was distributed to four aquatic and/or veterinary email listservs. Individuals from fifty-two institutions participated in phase one. Results documented that 40 (78 percent) participating institutions currently house GPOs, with most housing one and nine institutions housing two to three GPOs. The median (range) habitat volume is 5405 (1893–16,465) L, and 78 percent of systems are closed. Of the institutions surveyed, 23 have anesthetized or sedated a GPO for nonterminal procedures, including wound care, biopsies, and hemolymph collection. Reported methods of sedation or anesthesia include magnesium chloride, ethanol, isoflurane, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), magnesium sulfate, benzocaine, and dexmedetomidine. Drugs or methods used for euthanasia include magnesium chloride, ethanol, mechanical decerebration, pentobarbital, isoflurane, MS-222, magnesium sulfate, benzocaine, potassium chloride, dexmedetomidine, and freezing. Reported observed side effects include ineffectiveness or inadequate sedation, inking, prolonged drug effects, and behavior changes. Survey data have the potential to guide the husbandry and veterinary care of GPOs and build the framework for future prospective studies on GPO sedation and anesthesia.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Current Husbandry and Veterinary Care Practices of the Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) Using an Online Survey

Kirby

Balko

Goertz

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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“…The other reported complications included "a secondary method of euthanasia was required" (3/7), "took an excessive amount of euthanasia solution" (1/7), and "other" (1/7) which was described as "heart stopped but muscle fasciculations and large muscle contractions continued for >30 min." A recent study evaluating euthanasia methods in leopard geckos (Euublepharis macularius) found that intracardiac pentobarbital resulted in rapid, smooth death following injectable anesthesia with alfaxolone [12]. However, other methods of euthanasia including intracoelomic pentobarbital and intracardiac lidocaine overdose resulted in either prolonged time to cardiac arrest or recovery at a later time, respectively [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent study evaluating euthanasia methods in leopard geckos (Euublepharis macularius) found that intracardiac pentobarbital resulted in rapid, smooth death following injectable anesthesia with alfaxolone [12]. However, other methods of euthanasia including intracoelomic pentobarbital and intracardiac lidocaine overdose resulted in either prolonged time to cardiac arrest or recovery at a later time, respectively [12]. This is consistent with the finding that although pentobarbital is an acceptable method of euthanasia in reptiles, route and dose may be crucial to inducing a rapid death, potentially due in part to reptiles' tolerance of prolonged hypoxemia as well as the fact that cessation of a heartbeat does not necessarily indicate cerebral death [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, other methods of euthanasia including intracoelomic pentobarbital and intracardiac lidocaine overdose resulted in either prolonged time to cardiac arrest or recovery at a later time, respectively [12]. This is consistent with the finding that although pentobarbital is an acceptable method of euthanasia in reptiles, route and dose may be crucial to inducing a rapid death, potentially due in part to reptiles' tolerance of prolonged hypoxemia as well as the fact that cessation of a heartbeat does not necessarily indicate cerebral death [12]. When possible, intracardiac pentobarbital following anesthesia may reduce the occurrence of complications in reptiles.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species

Keeney

Harrison

2022

JZBG

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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.

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Thermo-physiological changes and reproductive investment in a liolaemid lizard at the extreme of the slow–fast continuum

Stellatelli,

Bonavita,

Victorel

et al. 2024

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Gravid female lizards often experience reduced thermal preferences and impaired locomotor performance. These changes have been attributed to the physical burden of the clutch, but some authors have suggested that they may be due to physiological adjustments. We compared the thermal biology and locomotor performance of the lizard Liolaemus wiegmannii one week before and one week after oviposition. We found that gravid females had a thermal preference 1°C lower than that of non-gravid females. This was accompanied by a change in the thermal dependence of maximum running speed. The thermal optimum for locomotor performance was 2.6°C lower before oviposition than after. At relatively low temperatures (22 and 26°C), running speeds of females before oviposition were up to 31% higher than for females after oviposition. However, at temperatures above 26°C, females achieved similar maximum running speeds (∼1.5 m/s) regardless of reproductive stage. The magnitude of the changes in thermal parameters and locomotor performance of L. wiegmannii females was independent of relative clutch mass (clutches weighed up to 89% of post-oviposition body mass). This suggests that the changes are not simply due to the clutch mass, but are also due to physiological adjustments. L. wiegmannii females simultaneously adjusted their own physiology in a short period in order to improve locomotor performance and allocated energy for embryonic development during late gravid stage. Our findings have implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying life histories of lizards on the fast extreme of the slow-fast continuum, where physiological exhaustion could play an important role.

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Evaluation of Euthanasia Methods Using Injectable Agents in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Cited by 5 publications

References 30 publications

Characterization of Current Husbandry and Veterinary Care Practices of the Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) Using an Online Survey

Characterization of Current Husbandry and Veterinary Care Practices of the Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) Using an Online Survey

Euthanasia Complications in Non-Domestic Species

Thermo-physiological changes and reproductive investment in a liolaemid lizard at the extreme of the slow–fast continuum

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