Minimizing Stress and Anxiety During Euthanasia Theresia Andersen BVSC (Hons)

Sedation of Animals Prior to Euthanasia Wherever possible, animals are sedated prior to euthanasia (exceptions – perinatal pups and kittens, birds, pinkie rats and mice) This minimizes the stress of the procedure to the animals and the staff carrying out the procedure

Sedating Cats WHAT? - equal volumes of Zoletil (Zolazepam 50 mg/ml and Tiletamine 50 mg/ml) and Hypnovel (Midazolam 5 mg/ml) HOW? - subcutaneously HOW MUCH?

Weight of catZoletil PremixSodium Bicarbonate Cost < 1 kg0.2 mls $ – 2 kg0.3 mls0.2 mls$ kg0.5 mls$ 2.72 > 5 kg0.7 mls$ 3.80

ADVANTAGES - no restricted drugs needed (compared with xylazine/ketamine sedation) - can be give subcutaneously (no painful intramuscular injections) - gives full anaesthesia with recovery possible (in most cases – old/sick cats) - maintains blood pressure - rapid onset of action (approx 5 mins) - Hypnovel minimizes disorientation

DISADVANTAGES -cost - stings on injection (buffer with 0.2 mls of 8.4% Sodium Bicarbonate mixed in syringe immediately before administering to kittens/juveniles)

Sedating Dogs WHAT? - A.C.P 10 (10 mg Acepromazine maleate) - Phenomav 100 mg(100 mg Phenobarbitone) - Xylazil -20 (20 mg/ml Xylazine Hydrochloride) and Ketamil (50 mg/ml Ketamine hydrochloride) HOW MUCH - A.C.P : 1 – 3 mg/kg - Phenobarbitone : 8 mg/kg - Xylazine/Ketamine : 0.5 ml of each per 10 kg bodyweight mixed in a syringe

ADVANTAGES - Cheap (ACP $0.08 per tablet; Phenomav $0.14 per tablet; Xylazine /Ketamine mix $0.42 per ml) - oral sedation for most dogs DISADVANTAGES - Need to ensure tablets are eaten (small breeds/stressed dogs) - Ketamine is a restricted drug, therefore must be administered by a vet

Sedating Rabbits and Rodents What? -Xylazine (20 mg/ml)/Ketamine (50 mg/ml) How? -Intraperitoneally (liver - right side of abdomen just below ribs) How much?

Species and SizeAmount of XylazineAmount of Ketamine Large Rabbit (>3 kg)1.0 mls Small Rabbit (<3 kg)0.7 mls Guinea Pig0.3 mls Rat0.1 mls Mouse0.1 mls

ADVANTAGES - non-irritant intraperitoneal injection - fully anaesthetized - less hazardous to handle than gaseous sedation - less equipment needed than gaseous sedation

DISADVANTAGES - Ketamine is a restricted drug, therefore only able to be used by a vet

Tips, Tricks and Techniques When injecting sedatives, face cat into carrier

When transfering cats, make the destination dark

When scared cats can’t be handled, use the E-Z Nabber

No intraperitoneal injections of Lethabarb unless the animal is fully anaesthetised (generally only necessary in neonatal animals, rats, mice and guinea pigs).

Questions?