Minimizing Stress and Anxiety During Euthanasia

Theresia Andersen BVSC (Hons)surgery@awlqld.com.au

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 cat Zoletil Premix Sodium Bicarbonate

Cost

< 1 kg 0.2 mls 0.2 mls $ 1.13

1 – 2 kg 0.3 mls 0.2 mls $1.67

2-5 kg 0.5 mls $ 2.72

> 5 kg 0.7 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 Size Amount of Xylazine Amount of Ketamine

Large Rabbit (>3 kg) 1.0 mls 1.0 mls

Small Rabbit (<3 kg) 0.7 mls 0.7 mls

Guinea Pig 0.3 mls 0.3 mls

Rat 0.1 mls 0.1 mls

Mouse 0.1 mls 0.1 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?