30 The decision to euthanize an animal is often made because the animal has incurable disease or uncontrollable pain. Such decisions are personal and emotional. Almost all drugs used for anesthesia have the capability of producing death, if a sufficient amount is administered. Anesthesia offers the advantage of producing total unconsciousness before cardiopulmonary arrest and the elimination of brain electrical activity. See American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines on Euthanasia (www.avma.org). I Euthanasia is the act of inducing loss of consciousness and death without causing pain, distress, anxiety, or apprehension. The method used should result in cardiac and respiratory arrest and the loss of brain function. A Death is defined as the cessation of all vital functions of the body including heartbeat, breathing, and brain activity B Euthanasia often requires that the animal is sedated or physically restrained 1. Acceptable methods consistently produce a humane (showing compassion or benevolence; inflicting the minimum of pain) death when used as the sole means of euthanasia 2. Conditionally acceptable methods are those techniques that might not consistently produce humane death by the nature of the technique or because of a greater potential for operator error a. Some conditionally acceptable methods involve greater risk for personnel b. Conditionally acceptable methods require training to ensure they are performed safely and humanely 3. Unacceptable methods are those techniques deemed inhumane under any condition or methods that pose an unacceptable risk to those applying the technique D In many species, capturing and immobilizing the animal for euthanasia may cause aesthetically unpleasant responses 2. Avoidance or aggressive behavior 3. Immobility (the animal may be frozen with fear) 4. Urination and defecation, evacuation of anal sacs 6. Skeletal muscle tremors, spasms, or shivering E Selection of a method of euthanasia depends on many factors: 2. Type of physical restraint required and available a. Anesthetized or unconscious animals may not require restraint b. The location of the animal may prevent the application of some methods c. Consideration should be given to moving an animal to a private space or facility with appropriate equipment 3. Owner preference, public perception 4. Experience, skill, number of available trained personnel, and degree of risk 5. Number of animals to be euthanized F Sedation or the administration of depressant drugs (e.g., α2-agonists, opioids) is recommended before the administration of euthanizing drugs 1. The aesthetics of euthanasia are improved 2. Operator safety is enhanced particularly if the animal is excitable or vicious 3. Euthanasia in most large animals involves the induction of recumbency G Pain perception requires a functional cerebral cortex and subcortical structures; pain-provoking stimuli in an unconscious animal may evoke reflex motor or sympathetic activity but the animal may not experience pain H Stress is defined as the effects of physical, physiologic, or emotional factors (stressors) that induce an alteration in homeostasis or adaptive state I Personnel who routinely perform euthanasia must have appropriate certification, training, and experience in humane restraint of the species of animal to be euthanized to ensure that pain and distress are minimized I Euthanizing agents include gaseous, chemical, and physical (e.g., mechanical, electrical) methods of producing death (Table 30-1) TABLE 30-1 Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia by Species IP, Intraperitoneal; IV, intravenous.
Euthanasia
Overview
General Considerations
Euthanasia Methods
Species
Agent and Method
Dose
Dog
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV
Inhalant anesthetics†
Overdose until effective
Cat
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV
Inhalant anesthetics†
Horse
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV
Potassium chloride or magnesium sulfate concurrent with anesthesia
1-2 mmol/kg rapid IV or intracardiac administration
Ruminant
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV
Potassium chloride or magnesium sulfate concurrent with anesthesia
1-2 mmol/kg rapid IV or intracardiac administration
Swine
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV
Carbon dioxide
30%
Camelid
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV
Rabbit
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV
Inhalant anesthetics†
Overdose until effective
Rodents and other small mammals
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV, IP if necessary
Inhalant anesthetics†
Overdose until effective
Bird
Barbiturates*
100 mg IV, IP
Inhalant anesthetics†
Mink, fox, and other mammals produced for fur
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV, IP
Inhalant anesthetics†
Overdose until effective
Reptile
Barbiturates*
Sodium pentobarbital 60-100 mg/kg IV, IP
Inhalant anesthetics† (in appropriate species‡)
Overdose until effective
Amphibian
Barbiturates*
Sodium pentobarbital 60-100 mg/kg IV, IP
Inhalant anesthetics† (in appropriate species‡)
Overdose until effective
Zoo animals
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV
Inhalant anesthetics†
Fish
Barbiturates*
Sodium pentobarbital 60-100 mg/kg IV, IP
MS-222
>250 mg/L
Free-ranging wildlife
Barbiturates*
100 mg/kg IV or IP
Inhalant anesthetics†
Overdose until effective
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