Physiologic and behavioral evaluation of CO euthanasia of adult dogs.
Pure CO was used to euthanatize 18 dogs. During the procedure, physiologic parameters: EEG, ECG, arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and cortisol values were monitored. Behavioral manifestations were also noted. The EEG modifications indicated a cortical voltage increase followed by rapid cerebral death. Higher heart and respiratory rates during EEG modifications indicated stress, and arterial blood pressure decreased significantly (P = less than 0.05) at the same time. Serum cortisol values were already high before the euthanasia process. Based on these observations, a precise time could not be set for unconsciousness. A gray zone, during which vocalization and agitation occurred for approximately 20 to 25 s, was 3 to 8 s in 10 dogs. These behavioral manifestations could still occur in the conscious phase.
D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001926:Brain Death; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000662:veterinary; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D012119:Respiration; D014828:Vocalization, Animal
D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D006854:Hydrocortisone