Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Today there are various methods to use when euthanizing horses. Earlier the use of free or captive bullet was the most common method, but in recent decades this has changed and chemical euthanasia is now considered the most common method. The chemical euthanasia has in Sweden been dominated by the use of barbiturates. Somulose® entered the market in the beginning of the 90’s as an alternative to previous chemical euthanasia. During the years that Somulose has been available on the market there have been reports, for example in The Veterinary Record, that Somulose® has not given a satisfactory euthanasia. Conversations with clinics show that it is not uncommon to exclude Somulose® because of the documented risk of non-effect and the concern about toxic side effects in humans due to waste. The purpose of this study was to, through a questionnaire, investigate Swedish veterinarian’s choice of method for euthanasia and their attitude towards Somulose®.
The survey showed that 78 % of the responding veterinarians used chemical methods, 20 % used physical methods and 6 % said they used a combination of methods (there was a possibility to choose several answers to each question). Among the veterinarians that answered the survey, 58 % stated that they use Somulose®, 27 % uses mainly pentobarbital vet APL and 30 % uses methods such as thiopental (Pentothal®Natrium) + pentobarbital vet APL (100 mg/ml), euthanasia after inducing anesthesia or another chemical method. Forty-six percent of the veterinarians stated that they had experienced non-satisfactory euthanasia by Somulose® and 26 % stated that a non-satisfactory result had occurred with other methods of euthanasia. The study shows that no method or substances are a hundred percent reliable. Among those who have had bad experiences half of the veterinarians continued to use Somulose®. In this survey statistically significant differences could not be found in the choice of method for euthanasia and the veterinarian’s experience, education, workplace or where in the country they were active.