Euthanasia

Occasions arise when a goat has become seriously injured or permanently debilitated and the humane procedure is to alleviate the animal’s suffering by euthanasia. This is a controversial subject and is one which commonly evokes outrage from animal rights groups. Putting an animal to sleep can be traumatic experience for the owner as well as for the animal. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends the following techniques as being humane methods of euthanizing goats:

    Intravenous drug overdose with barbiturates

  1. General anesthesia followed by injection of potassium chloride.
  2. Penetrating captive bolt

The following methods are “conditionally acceptable” for euthanizing goats:

  1. Sedation followed by intravenous Chloral hydrate
  2. Gunshot
  3. Electrocution

Lethal overdosing with barbiturates or other anesthetic agents is as humane a method as can be performed. Done correctly the animal becomes unconscious and then its heart and lungs stop all activity. Appropriate drugs given intravenously are required and generally this will require a veterinarian. Drugs used to euthanize animals remain in the carcass and will be fatal if ingested by scavengers (birds of prey, coyotes, etc.). It is critical that these carcasses be disposed of in such a way that the carcass does not end up in the food chain.

Captive bolt gunCaptive bolt guns have the advantage over guns that there is no projectile which can damage people or other objects. Used correctly, the application of a captive bolt to the head of the animal renders it instantly senseless. However, although the animal is brain dead and no longer has sensation it still will thrash around for varying periods of time. Sedation prior to captive bolt or gunshot will alleviate this problem.

Electrocution across the brain will render an animal temporarily unconscious. Death occurs when the electricity is strong enough to stop the animal’s heart or when other methods are used to insure that the animal doesn’t awaken. Sedation prior to electrocution is recommended.

Methods of euthanasia which are listed as inhumane include:

  1. Drowning
  2. Air embolism
  3. Blows to the head
  4. Stunning
  5. Cyanide
  6. Exsanguination
  7. Injected household solvents
  8. Hypothermia.

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