Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques: A Practical Guide

About the Authors vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction xi

1 Client Considerations 1

Companion animals 3

Species-specific considerations 6

2 Equipment 19

Technique-specific equipment 19

Euthanasia area equipment 29

Drugs 30

Species-specific considerations 35

3 Positioning and Restraint 43

Positioning 43

Restraint 45

Species-specific considerations 45

4 Pre-euthanasia Sedation and Anesthesia 51

Anesthesia 52

Sedation 53

Drugs and routes of administration 55

Assessing unconsciousness and sedation 56

Specific-species considerations 57

5 Euthanasia Techniques 73

How death is achieved 73

Choosing an appropriate method 75

Inhalant methods 78

Injectable methods 79

Physical methods 79

Species-specific techniques 79

Unacceptable methods for domestic animals 164

Death and associated signs 165

6 Body Aftercare 169

Burial 170

Composting 172

Cremation/incineration 173

Rendering 174

Species-specific considerations 174

Conclusion 183

Bibliography 185

Index 191