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From: Bob Meyer <robert_meyer@ncsu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.pets,alt.folklore.urban,rec.pets.cats,alt.med.veterinary
Subject: Re: Euthanized pets being ground into pet food?
Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 14:10:34 -0700

Jennifer S. Mullen wrote:

> Crossposting to alt.med.veterinary [the topic is: Are the remains of
> euthanized animals used in making pet foods? And if so, is the residue left
> by the method of death harmful to animals who eat that food? Does any
> residue remain? Definitive answers please.]

Rendering produces a number of products, such as meat and bone meal and fats, that are frequently used as components of animal feeds. In 1985, it was roughly estimated that the disposal of euthanitized animals by municipal animal control facilities was approximately 40% by rendering, 40% by burial, and 20% by cremation; in larger metropolitan areas, the percentage of rendering for disposal was estimated to likely be higher, primarily for environmental and economic reasons (O'Connor et al., cited below).

Although there are methods of euthanasia that don't leave chemical residues (ie carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide), IV sodium pentobarbital (a DEA class II or class III regulated substance) is preferred for dog and cat euthanasia due to its rapid, smooth effect and minimal discomfort to the animal.

The numbers of unwanted pet animals euthanized each year are staggering. For example, in 1982-83 the city of LA euthanized 52,216 unwanted animals with sodium pentobarbital while in LA County, 76,375 unwanted animals were euthanized in the same time period, mostly with sodium pentobarbital. These animals were disposed of through rendering (O'Connor et al., cited below). In New York City, approx 56,000 animals were euthanized in 1983 with pentobarbital and rendered at a plant in New Jersey (O'Connor et al. cited below). O'Connor et al. concluded that pentobarbital does not degrade during rendering, but the likelihood of significant pentobarbital residues in rendered products is minimal.

Authors
O'Connor JJ. Stowe CM. Robinson RR. Title
Fate of sodium pentobarbital in rendered products. Source
American Journal of Veterinary Research. 46(8):1721-4, 1985 Aug. Abbreviated Source
Am J Vet Res. 46(8):1721-4, 1985 Aug. Abstract
The fate of pentobarbital through rendering was evaluated by following a group of euthanatized animals through a commercial rendering facility. Samples of material were collected at various points in the rendering process, and assays for pentobarbital were conducted by an ultraviolet spectrophotometric method. The results indicated that the pentobarbital, or a closely related analogue, survived rendering without undergoing degradation. The pentobarbital was distributed approximately equally between the meat and bone meal and tallow fractions. If pentobarbital-euthanatized animals are processed along with other raw materials throughout a day's production, the likelihood of significant residues being present in rendered products is minimal.

R.E. Meyer DVM, Diplomate ACVA