|
Agents
|
Classification
|
Mode of
action
|
Rapidity
|
Ease of
performance
|
Safety
|
Species
suitability
|
Efficacy
and comments
|
| Blow to head |
Physical damage to brain |
Direct concussion of brain tissue |
Rapid |
Requires skill, adequate restraint, and
appropriate force |
Safe |
Young pigs < 3 weeks old |
Must be properly applied to be humane
and effective |
| Carbon dioxide (bottled gas only) |
Hypoxia due to depression of vital
centers |
Direct depression of cerebral cortex,
subcortical structures and vital centers; direct
depression of heart muscle |
Moderately rapid |
Used in closed container |
Minimal hazard |
Nonhuman primates, free ranging
wildlife |
Effective, but time required may be
prolonged in immature and neonatal animals |
| Carbon monoxide (bottled gas only) |
Hypoxia |
Combines with hemoglobin, preventing
its combination with oxygen |
Moderate onset time, but insidious so
animal is unaware of onset |
Requires appropriately maintained
equipment |
Extremely hazardous, toxic and
difficult to detect |
Nonhuman primates, free ranging
wildlife |
Effective, acceptable only when
equipment is properly designed and operated |
| Cervical dislocation |
Hypoxia due to disruption of vital
centers |
Direct depression of brain |
Moderately rapid |
Requires training and skill |
Safe |
Poultry, birds, lab mice, and rats
(< 200 g) or rabbits (<1 kg) |
Irreversible. Violent muscle
contractions can occur after cervical dislocation |
| Chloral hydrate |
Hypoxia from depression of respiratory
center |
Direct depression of brain |
Rapid |
Personnel must be skilled perform IV
injection |
Safe |
Horses, ruminants and swine |
Animals should be sedated prior to
administration |
| Decapitation |
Hypoxia due to disruption of vital
centers |
Direct depression of brain |
Rapid |
Requires training and skill |
Guillotine pose potential employee
injury hazard |
Laboratory rodents, small rabbits,
birds, some fish, amphibians, and reptiles (latter 3
with pithing) |
Irreversible. Violent muscle
contraction can occur after decapitation |
| Electrocution |
Hypoxia |
Direct depression of brain and cardiac
fibrillation |
Can be rapid |
Not easily performed in all
instances |
Hazardous to personnel |
Used primarily in foxes, sheep, swine,
mink (with cervical dislocation), ruminants, animals
<5 kg |
Violent muscle contractions occur at
same time as loss of unconsciousness |
| Gunshot |
Hypoxia due to disruption of vital
centers |
Direct concussion of brain tissue |
Rapid |
Requires skill and appropriate
firearm |
May be dangerous |
Large domestic and zoo animals,
reptiles, amphibians, wildlife, cetaceans (<4 meters
long) |
Instant unconsciousness, but motor
activity may continue |
| Inhalant anesthetics |
Hypoxia due to depression of vital
centers |
Direct depression of cerebral cortex,
subcortical structures, and vital centers |
Moderately rapid onset of anesthesia;
excitation may develop during induction |
Easily performed with closed container;
can be administered to large animals by means of a
mask |
Must be properly scavenged or vented to
minimize exposure to personnel |
Nonhuman primates, swine |
Highly effective provided that subject
is sufficiently exposed |
| Nitrogen, Argon |
Hypoxia |
Reduces partial pressure of oxygen
available to blood |
Rapid |
Use closed chamber with rapid
filling |
Safe if used with ventilation |
Cats, small dogs, birds, rodents,
rabbits, other small species, mink, zoo animals,
nonhuman primates, free ranging wildlife |
Effective except in young and neonates;
an effective agent, but other methods preferable |
| Penetrating captive bolt |
Physical damage to brain |
Direct concussion of brain tissue |
Rapid |
Requires skill, adequate restraint, and
proper placement of captive bolt |
Safe |
Dogs, rabbits, zoo animals, reptiles,
amphibians, free ranging wildlife |
Instant loss of consciousness but motor
activity may continue |
| Pithing |
Hypoxia due to disruption of vital
centers, physical damage to brain |
Trauma of brain and spinal cord
tissue |
Rapid |
Easily performed, but requires
skill |
Safe |
Some ectotherms |
Effective, but death not immediate
unless brain and spinal cord are pithed |
| Thoracic compression |
Hypoxia and cardiac arrest |
Physical interference with cardiac and
respiratory function |
Moderately rapid |
Requires training |
Safe |
Small to medium sized free ranging
birds |
Apparently effective |
Emergency Information
