ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Volume 13 | Issue 16 (August 2023)

Equine Gunshot Euthanasia: Creation of a 3D-Printed Model with Integrated Sensors for Training.

Animals (Basel). August 2023;13(16):.

Noel Dybdal¹, Molly Horgan², Lais Costa³, Eric Davis⁴, Steven Lucero⁵, Samantha Nieves⁶, Valerie Quiroz⁷, Kirsten Weberg⁸, John E Madigan⁹

¹ International Animal Welfare Training Initiative, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.; ² Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.; ³ International Animal Welfare Training Initiative, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.; ⁴ International Animal Welfare Training Initiative, One Health Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.; ⁵ Translating Engineering Advances to Medicine (TEAM) Lab, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.; ⁶ Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.; ⁷ Translating Engineering Advances to Medicine (TEAM) Lab, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.; ⁸ Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.; ⁹ Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Abstract

Challenges and issues related to the use of pentobarbital euthanasia and disposal of animal remains within the US have recently been reviewed. Environmental and public health challenges increasingly necessitate consideration of alternative methods such as gunshots, an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) "acceptable with conditions" method, for the humane euthanasia of horses. A recent study reported a correctly aimed gunshot provides a humane option for euthanizing horses. However, although aiming guidelines exist, studies examining bullet trajectories in animals euthanized by gunshot have reported that inadequate disruption of the brain is a serious welfare issue. Here, we report the development and production of a portable, reusable, equine gunshot euthanasia training model. Using 3D printing, an anatomically accurate model of an equine head has been developed, with external aiming landmarks and equipped with integrated laser sensors and LED eyes. The laser sensors are embedded in two specific anatomical tracts (pons and medulla) with aiming paths associated with the aiming landmarks to train correct aiming angle. The LED eyes are linked to the laser sensors to provide instant feedback on aiming accuracy. When a beam from a commercially available blue training gun laser travels along the correct aiming path and strikes the sensor inside the head, the lights in the model's eyes go out and there is an audible signal, providing immediate feedback on the accuracy of the shot. The model facilitates the training of veterinary personnel and first responders in successful gunshot euthanasia, providing instantaneous feedback on the likelihood of a shot causing immediate, humane death in a live animal.

Keywords

equine euthanasia; equine welfare; gunshot euthanasia; humane endings;

Article Tools:

Medline

Email to me

Archives Highlights:

Use of surgical lasers in small animal dermatology
This article covers the basics of lasers, including discussion of both diode and CO2 lasers. It also discusses several skin diseases and/or conditions in which lasers are commonly used.

Evaluating Communication Training at AVMA COE-Accredited Institutions and the Need to Consider Diversity within Simulated Client Pools.
Participating institutions summarized their communication curricula: 18 (85.71%) used simulated clients (SCs). Over 55% of these did not track SC demographic data or social identities; among institutions that did track, SCs were primarily monolingual English-speaking (77%), non-disabled (94.2%), white (90.4%), non-Hispanic/Latinx (98.6%) women (57%) over age 56 (64%). Sixteen institutions agreed with the statement "I do not feel that our SC pool is adequately diverse."

Role of autopsy imaging in veterinary forensic medicine: experiences in 39 cases.
Among the 39 cases, 28, 6, 3, 1, and 1 involved cats, dogs, rabbits, a ferret, and a pigeon, respectively. The major autopsy imaging (Ai) findings included skull and rib fractures, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, diaphragmatic hernia, and abdominal rupture. The leading causes of death, determined comprehensively via Ai and pathological reports and drug test results, included traumatic impact, blood loss, poisoning, suffocation, tension pneumothorax, starvation, and drowning, all of which have been strongly suspected to indicate animal abuse by humans.

Head and dental injuries among farriers and hoof care practitioners: A nationwide survey in Switzerland.
Head/face injuries were more frequently reported by farriers than hoof care practitioners (60.6% and 20.7%, respectively). The rate of dental injuries, mainly related to a horse kick, was 11.1% and 1.9% among farriers and hoof care practitioners, respectively. Negligence in wearing mandatory eye protection was reported by 37.5% of respondents.

Toxicity of House Plants to Pet Animals.
This review article describes in detail the most common and popular indoor poisonous plants grown in Europe, the mechanisms of action of their active substances and clinical signs of the respective poisonings. This manuscript is supplemented with rich photographic documentation of these plants not found in similar articles, and also includes a description of the treatment of individual types of poisoning.