Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques

Kathleen A. Cooney, DVM, CHPV, CPEV, DACAW, is Senior Director of Medical Education at the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA) and Affiliate Faculty Member in the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

• Author Biographies xiiiForeword from the Editor xvPreface xviiAcknowledgments xix1 Euthanasia Standards in Modern Times 1Kathleen A. Cooney1.1 A Brief Look at Euthanasia’s History 11.1.1 Defining Euthanasia and Original Methods 11.1.2 The Guidelines We Follow 21.1.3 How Death is Achieved 41.2 Ethics and a Focus on Animal Welfare 51.2.1 Ethical Considerations 51.2.2 Euthanasia and Its Relationship to Animal Welfare 61.2.3 The Importance of Training Euthanasia Methods 71.3 Writing Today’s Euthanasia Story: The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How 81.3.1 Deciding to Euthanize an Animal Is Hard 91.3.2 Establishing Rapport, Building Trust, and Supporting Grief 101.4 Euthanasia Technique Selection 121.4.1 Choosing an Appropriate Euthanasia Method 121.4.1.1 Comfort with the Technique 121.4.1.2 Available Supplies 121.4.1.3 Presence of Clients and Observers 131.4.1.4 Type and Amount of Euthanasia Drugs 131.4.1.5 Animal’s State of Consciousness 131.4.1.6 Signalment and Physical Condition of the Patient 131.4.1.7 Need for a Postmortem Examination 141.4.1.8 What’s Allowed by Governing Bodies 141.4.2 The Growing Use of Pre- Euthanasia Sedation and Anesthesia 141.4.2.1 Sedation is Not the Same as Anesthesia 151.4.2.2 Assessing for Unconsciousness 161.4.3 A Concise List of Euthanasia Techniques 171.5 Professional Best Practices to Support Euthanasia 181.5.1 Euthanasia Standard Operating Procedures 181.5.2 Finding Meaning and Purpose in Euthanasia Work 21References 222 Canine and Feline Euthanasia 25Kathleen A. Cooney2.1 Species- Specific Considerations 252.2 Equipment and Handling 272.2.1 Positioning and Restraint 272.2.2 Medical Supplies 292.3 Pre- Euthanasia Sedation and Anesthesia 302.4 Euthanasia Techniques 322.4.1 Overview of Non- inhalant Pharmaceutical Euthanasia Agents – Pentobarbital, Potassium Chloride, Lidocaine, Magnesium Sulfate, and Propofol 332.4.1.1 Pentobarbital Sodium 342.4.1.2 Potassium Chloride (KCl) 352.4.1.3 Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) 352.4.1.4 Propofol 352.4.1.5 Lidocaine and Mepivacaine 352.4.2 Euthanasia Injection Methods – Intravenous, Intracardiac, Intrahepatic, Intrarenal, Intraperitoneal, and Intrathecal 362.4.2.1 Intravenous Injections 362.4.2.2 Intraorgan Injections 382.4.2.3 Intraperitoneal Injections 442.4.2.4 Intrathecal Injections of Anesthetic Agents (e.g. lidocaine) 452.4.3 Oral Administration of Pentobarbital Euthanasia Solution 462.4.4 Miscellaneous Pentobarbital Administration Routes 472.4.5 Euthanasia by Inhalant Gas Methods in Dogs and Cats 482.4.6 Physical Methods 492.4.6.1 Gunshot 492.4.6.2 Captive Bolt 502.5 Special Circumstances 502.5.1 The Euthanasia of Unbirthed Young 502.5.2 Aggressive Dog and Cat Euthanasia 512.5.3 Undesirable Physical Euthanasia Methods 51References 533 Exotic Pet Euthanasia 57Angela M. Lennox3.1 Species- Specific Considerations 573.2 Equipment and Handling 593.2.1 Handling Exotic Companion Mammals 603.2.1.1 Ferrets and Rabbits 603.2.1.2 Guinea Pigs, Rodents, Sugar Gliders, and Hedgehogs 603.2.1.3 Pet Pigs 613.2.1.4 Unusual and Potentially Dangerous Exotics 633.2.2 Handling Birds 643.2.3 Handling Reptiles and Amphibians 663.2.4 Handling Fish 683.2.5 Handling Native Wildlife 683.3 Pre- euthanasia Sedation and Anesthesia 703.3.1 The Use of Inhalants for Induction of Anesthesia 703.3.2 Injectable Anesthetic Protocols 703.3.3 Nasal, Oral, and Intracloacal Administration 713.3.4 Immersion Bath and Topical Anesthetic Application 723.4 Euthanasia Techniques 723.4.1 Delivery of Euthanasia Solutions 723.4.1.1 Small Mammals 733.4.1.2 Birds 763.4.1.3 Reptiles and Amphibians 773.4.1.4 Fish 793.4.1.5 Invertebrates 803.4.2 Physical Methods of Euthanasia in Exotic Species 803.5 Special Circumstances 823.5.1 Ensuring the Patient is Deceased 823.5.2 Aftercare 83References 834 Equine Euthanasia 85Bruce A. Connally4.1 Species- Specific Considerations 854.1.1 The Importance of Horses in Society 854.1.2 Preparation and Planning 854.1.2.1 Deciding the Right Time to Euthanize 854.1.2.2 Deceased Horse Body Care 874.2 Equipment and Handling 894.2.1 Safety First 894.2.2 Public Events and High- Profile Emergency Situations 904.2.3 Working with Untrained Horses 904.3 Pre- Euthanasia Sedation and Anesthesia 914.4 Euthanasia Techniques 934.4.1 Non- inhalant Pharmaceutical Agents – Pentobarbital, Magnesium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, Lidocaine 934.4.1.1 Pentobarbital Sodium 934.4.1.2 Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4) 964.4.1.3 Potassium Chloride (KCl) 964.4.1.4 Intrathecal Lidocaine 974.4.2 Physical Methods of Euthanasia – Gunshot, Captive Bolt, and Exsanguination 994.4.2.1 Gunshot 994.4.2.2 Penetrating Captive Bolt 1024.4.2.3 Exsanguination 1034.5 Special Circumstances 1044.5.1 Euthanasia of the Aggressive or Highly Fearful Horse 1044.5.2 Blunt Force Trauma 1044.5.3 Pithing 1044.5.4 Helping Two or More Horses at the Same Time 105References 1055 Livestock Euthanasia 107Jan K. Shearer5.1 Species- Specific Considerations 1075.1.1 Methods of Euthanasia 1095.1.1.1 Euthanasia by Lethal Injection 1095.1.1.2 Physical Methods of Euthanasia 1105.2 Equipment and Handling 1105.2.1 Supply Needs for Lethal Injection 1125.2.2 Firearm Selection 1125.2.3 Captive Bolt 1135.3 Pre- Euthanasia Sedation and Anesthesia 1145.3.1 Cattle 1145.3.2 Sheep and Goats 1155.3.3 Swine 1165.3.4 Llamas and Alpacas 1175.4 Euthanasia Techniques 1185.4.1 Noninhalant Pharmaceutical Agents – Intravenous Injections (Pentobarbital, KCl, Lidocaine) 1185.4.1.1 Cattle 1185.4.1.2 Sheep and Goats 1215.4.1.3 Swine 1225.4.1.4 Llamas and Alpacas 1235.4.1.5 Technical Challenges (Sheep, Goats, Swine, and Camelids) 1255.4.2 Physical Methods 1255.4.2.1 Gunshot in Cattle 1255.4.2.2 Captive Bolt in Cattle 1275.4.2.3 Gunshot or Captive Bolt 1285.4.2.4 Exsanguination 1315.4.2.5 Pithing 1325.5 Special Circumstances 132References 1336 Zoo Species Euthanasia Considerations and Techniques 135David S. Miller and Grey Stafford6.1 Sociocultural Considerations 1356.2 Institutional and Professional Community Considerations 1366.3 End- of- Life Considerations 1396.3.1 Lifetime Considerations 1396.3.2 Euthanasia Decision- making Considerations 1416.3.2.1 Whether to Conduct Euthanasia 1416.3.2.2 When to Conduct Euthanasia 1426.3.2.3 How to Conduct Euthanasia 1436.3.2.4 Selection of Euthanasia Methods 1466.4 Taxon- Based Euthanasia Overview 1526.4.1 Fish 1526.4.2 Amphibians 1526.4.3 Reptiles 1536.4.4 Birds 1536.4.5 Mammals 1546.5 Postmortem Considerations 1566.5.1 Confirmation of Death 1566.5.2 Grieving and Postmortem Handling 156References 1587 Post- Death Considerations and Closing Thoughts 161Kathleen A. Cooney7.1 The Evolving Landscape of Deceased Pet Aftercare 1617.1.1 Client Expectations 1617.1.1.1 Spending Time with the Body 1617.1.1.2 Reviewing Aftercare Choices and Memorialization 1627.1.1.3 Respectful Body Handling 1637.1.2 Aftercare Ordering Models 1677.1.3 Reducing Risk and Improving Accuracy 1677.2 Types of Aftercare: Current options 1687.2.1 Overview of Aftercare Goals 1687.2.1.1 Verifying Death 1697.2.1.2 Destruction of Drugs and Safe Transport 1717.2.2 Cremation 1737.2.3 Alkaline Hydrolysis 1737.2.4 Burial 1757.2.5 Composting and Rendering 1777.2.6 Body Preservation 1797.2.7 Educational Memorial Donation 1797.2.8 Consuming the Body as a Purposeful Food Source 1807.3 Closing Thoughts on the Future of Euthanasia 180References 181Index 185