Weekly Assignment:
What is each of the following and what is the function of each?
IACUC
AAALAC
AALAS
Give the definition – in your own words - of the following:
The Animal Welfare Act
Specific Pathogen Free
Strain
Transgenic
List 2 significant diseases of each of the following:
1. Mouse
2. Rat
3. Guinea pig
4. Hamster
5. Ferret
6. Rabbit
7. Non-human primate
Weekly Discussion
The AVMA publishes its guidelines on euthanasia. Here is a link for your review. Please review at least 2-3 species and the AVMA's acceptable euthanasia methods for that given species. Tell us what you found and if surprised you or not. Do you think any methods should be removed or added?
While I know it's a needed topic to cover and fully understand, I found it most difficult to read, when it came down to reading about methods. For the large farm animals, the physical methods are most necessary due to being food but, yikes! I found that shooting is most common, as is the captive bolt. Super upsetting to me but, euthanasia itself is a struggle if my beliefs so I'm trying to remain objective. I wasn't aware of how finfish are euthanized but, the immersion method is interesting. I mean, it's water so it's a bit trickier I guess. I'm not sure on what I could say "should" be removed since again, I have moral issues with it in general. I do see a benefit in being able to humanly end suffering so, any method that can be used in this way is obviously the best. I feel that having guidelines, helps keep people in check and has helped build the bridge when it comes to personal pets and their vets as well as all those sweet babies without a voice to speak for them. I could go on.... But I won't 😉
I have to agree with you regarding the methods for large animals. Unfortunately yes they are necessary but I agree it's still surprising reading about it and its details. One thing I realized while reading that same part was that the animal regardless of the method they seem to be rather fast and minimal to no pain suffered. Maybe it's just the details that really make us think twice.
@americaramirez1923 for me, it's that, as well as the issue in general, of "taking a life". I struggle to even make the decision for my own pets. Ugh. I am glad, however, that guidelines and such are put into place, making it at least less barbaric.
@shenanigan.pouliot I can only imagine if there where no guidelines, the regulations really make the stage of taking life better in the long run for both humans and animals.
Over the 2 years I have worked in this filed I thought I has an over all understanding of what euthanasia was. The AVMA guidelines really help me get the true understanding of what euthanasia really is about. There is so much more to euthanasia than I actually thought to be honest, for example I had no idea there was an oral dose to euthanasia but it states that the effects and administration have disadvantages. The guidelines started to talk about cervical dislocation and even going as far as decapitation, mentioning it has been used for years on mice, small birds and even poultry. To be honest I thought they they did use this now a days. For some reason I would always relate any euthanasia with drugs, Euthasol. The one method that really surprise me would be electrocution.
I thought it was neat, making a pop that put the gorilla down. I also didn't know about the oral rout