The science of transitional states of consciousness is reviewed. Despite intensive study, determining the subjective experience of animals during transitional states of consciousness remains inherently limited. Until better assessment tools become available, behavior-based observations, such as loss of righting reflex/loss of posture, remain among our most useful guides to the onset of unconsciousness in animals. To minimize potential animal suffering and to ensure a truly unconscious state is unambiguously achieved, a state of general anesthesia relying on gamma amino butyric acid type A agonists or N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist agents continues to be a necessary component of the companion animal euthanasia process.

中文翻译：

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意识和安乐死的过渡状态科学。

审查了意识过渡状态的科学。尽管进行了深入研究，但是在确定意识的过渡状态期间确定动物的主观体验仍然固有地受到限制。在获得更好的评估工具之前，基于行为的观察（例如对正反射力丧失/姿势丧失）仍然是我们引起动物意识丧失的最有用指南之一。为了最大程度地减少潜在的动物痛苦并确保明确实现真正的无意识状态，依赖于γ-氨基丁酸A型激动剂或N-甲基-d-天冬氨酸拮抗剂的全身麻醉状态仍然是伴侣动物的必要组成部分安乐死过程。