19 Euthanasia

prevent suffering

public scrutiny

SME for animal welfare

what are three important considerations of euthanasia?

State practice act

AVMA panel on euthanasia

what two entities can help guide veterinary euthanasia practices?

true

T/F the State practice act provides legal guidance on handling euthanasias. Alabama has no clear guidance for veterinarians and Kentucky defines euthanasia

true

T/F the AVMA panel on euthanasia offers standards of care and extensive handling of each species for euthanasia practices. Many practice acts cite these policies, the panel meets at least one every 10 years, and its offers guidelines only

false

T/F the AVMA panel is a regulatory agency

good (eu)

death (thanatos)

what does "eu" and "thanatos" mean in Greek?

minimal pain, distress, negative effects

rapid loss of consciousness

cardiac or respiratory arrest

loss of brain function

what are four goals of euthanasia?

acceptable

_________ forms of euthanasia consistently produce humane death as a solo agent or single step process

acceptable with conditions

__________ _____ __________: euthanasia technique that requires certain conditions to consistently produce humane death, this is not well documented in the literature, there is greater potential for operator error or safety hazard, it requires adjunctive methods (a method of assuring death after an animal is unconscious). Equivalent to acceptable when conditions are met

unacceptable

___________ euthanasia techniques are inhumane under any conditions and pose substantial risk to the operator

lack of pulse

lack of breathing

lack of corneal reflex

lack of response to toe pinch

inability to hear respiratory and heartbeat via stethoscope

graying of mucous membranes

rigor mortis

to confirm death with euthanasia, you need to observe a combination of criteria (at least two). What are the potential criteria? (8)

Rigor mortis

what is the only acceptable solo sign to confirm death by euthanasia?

gentle restraint

familiar environment

careful handling

sedation/anesthesia

how can we minimize stress during euthanasia? (4)

grief at loss of life (most common)

guilt

owners present, counsel (drugs to be used, response, side effects)

consider staff/veterinarians

counseling services

what are some human considerations to have during euthanasia? (5) which is the most common?

hypoxia (direct, indirect, LOC myst precede loss of motor)

direct depression of neurons

physical disruption of brain

what are the three possible causes of death during euthanasia?

false, loss of consciousness must precede loss of motor function

T/F for hypoxia to cause death during euthanasia, loss of motor function must precede loss of consciousness

injectable agents

which euthanasia route is the most rapid and reliable and most desirable?

Sedative

When using injectable agents for euthanasia, you should consider giving a _________ to reduce stress

IV

What is the primary site of administration for injectable euthanasia agents?

intraperitoneal

intra-organ

____________ injection of injectable euthanasia agents is acceptable for nonirritant when IV is not possible (only for pentobarbital, not combos)

______-________ injection is only acceptable in anesthetized or unconscious patients

pentobarbital

no

with which euthanasia agent is intraperitoneal injection acceptable in? Can it be done in combination with other drugs?

true

T/F magnesium sulfate (epsom salts), potassium chloride, cleaning agents, solvents, disinfectants, and NMBAs are examples of unacceptable solo euthanasia agents

descending

rapid

barbiturates depress the CNS in (choose one: ascending/descending) order and cause (choose one: slow/rapid) loss of consciousness

true

T/F all anesthetic barbiturates are acceptable IV euthanasia options

sodium pentobarbital

what is the most widely used barbiturate for euthanasia?

rapid action

smooth process/minimal discomfort

less expensive

what are three advantages of using barbiturates as euthanasia agents?

IV needed for best result

animal needs restraint

controlled substance (Schedule II)

terminal gasp (not cheyne-stokes)

residual in tissues

what are disadvantages of barbiturates? (5)

true

T/F the advantages of using barbiturates for euthanasia way outweigh the disadvantages

dogs

cats

horses

barbiturates are the euthanasia agent of choice in which three species?

lidocaine

phenytoin

what two drugs may be added to pentobarbital euthanasia solutions?

II

III

lidocaine or phenytoin additives to pentobarbital reduces its DEA schedule from schedule __ to schedule ___

readily available

rapid loss of consciousness

IV preferred, but can be used IM

what are the advantages of using dissociatives/alpha 2s for euthanasia? (3)

not approved for euthanasia

no consistent dosing

cost

environmental impact

what are the disadvantages of using dissociatives/alpha 2s for euthanasia? (4)

Acceptable in species where use established

Conditional where approved drugs not available

First in two step process

What are recommendations for using dissociatives/alpha 2s for euthanasia?

false (thought it is conditionally acceptable in Georgia)

T/F potassium/magnesium salts are acceptable as solo agents for euthanasia

not controlled

potentially less toxic to scavengers

what are the advantages of using potassium/magnesium salts for euthanasia? (2)

clonic spasms may occur

what are the disadvantages of using potassium/magnesium salts for euthanasia? (1)

animal has to be in surgical plane of anesthesia

personnel trained in anesthesia

what are the recommendations for using potassium/magnesium salts for euthanasia? (2)

personnel

equipment

pain

fear

rapid

adjunctive

physical methods of euthanasia:

properly trained __________

well-maintained ___________

less ____/______

_______

__________ methods (exsanguination, stunning, pithing)

Exsanguination

stunning

pithing

what are three potential adjunctive physical methods for euthanasia?

stuns

non penetrating captive bolt only _______ the patient

effective/rapid when used properly

what is the advantage of using a penetrating captive bolt for euthanasia?

aesthetically displeasing

death may not occur if misapplied

what are two disadvantages of using a penetrative captive bolt?

Horses

ruminants

swine

Penetrating captive bolt is acceptable for euthanasia with conditions in which species?

exsanguination

pithing

_________ or ________ is recommended when using a penetrating captive bolt for euthanasia

true

T/F non penetrating captive bolts should not be used as a solo agent

neonates

thin craniums (piglets)

blow to the head for euthanasia can be humane in what animals? Why is that?

single sharp blow

a blow to the head for euthanasia must be delivered in what way?

true

T/F when using a blow to the head for euthanasia, personnel need proper training and monitoring and should be aware of aesthetic implications

true

T/F using a gunshot for euthanasia should be done only by skilled, trained personnel and the personnel must know aiming points

rapid loss of consciousness

minimizes handling

what are two advantages of using a gunshot for euthanasia?

dangerous

aesthetically unpleasing

may be difficult to target

destroys brain tissue

what are four disadvantages of using a gunshot for euthanasia?

>300 ft/lb

>1000 ft/lb

When using a gunshot for euthanasia, the recommended muzzle energy is _ ___ _/__ for <400 lb animal and _ ______ ___/__ for >400 lb animal

true

T/F Gunshot for euthanasia is acceptable with conditions when other methods are not feasible and should NOT be used for routine euthanasia

humane if animal is unconscious

no contamination

economical

what are three advantages of using electrocution for euthanasia?

personnel hazard

not feasible for mass euthanasia

aesthetically displeasing

may not result in death in small animals

what are four disadvantages of using electrocution for euthanasia?

true

T/F special skills and equipment are needed to use electrocution for euthanasia

1 step: loss of consciousness AND fibrillation

2 step: loss of consciousness THEN fibrillation

what is 1 step electrocution for euthanasia? What about 2 step?

true

T/F electrocution for euthanasia is acceptable with conditions if proper procedure is followed

head to tail

head to foot

heat to plate

what are unacceptable way of performing electrocution euthanasia? (3)

barbiturates

non barbiturate anesthetics (only when barbiturate is not an option, ketamine/xylazine, propofol)

what are acceptable forms of euthanasia for dogs and cats?

General anesthesia then organ injection

what is a form of euthanasia that is acceptable with conditions for dogs and cats?

sedate fractious animals

insure proper disposal

fetuses (unconscious, occlude blood supply)

neonates (IP injection)

what are special considerations for euthanasia in dogs and cats?

barbiturates

what is an acceptable forms of euthanasia in ruminants?

Gunshot

captive bolt, with adjunctive method

what are forms of euthanasia that are acceptable with conditions in ruminants? (2)

potassium/magnesium salts

exsanguination

pithing

second shot

what are potential adjunctive methods for euthanasia in ruminants? (4)

barbiturates

what is an acceptable forms of euthanasia in swine?

gunshot

captive bolt, with adjunctive method

electrocution

blow to head (piglets)

what are forms of euthanasia that are acceptable with conditions in swine? (4)

exsanguination

pithing

what are potential adjunctive methods for euthanasia in Swine? (2)

barbiturates

what is an acceptable forms of euthanasia in horses?

penetrating captive bolt

gunshot

what are forms of euthanasia that are acceptable with conditions in Horses? (2)

injectable general anesthesia with KCl, magnesium sulfate, or intrathecal lidocaine

what are potential adjunctive methods for euthanasia in horses?

in emergencies, NMBA can be given if injury likelihood is high

must be euthanized ASAP

what are two special considerations when euthanizing horses? (2)