Euthanasia Procedures

All euthanasia procedures will be performed humanely in accordance with recent American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.3 Neuromuscular blocking agents are NOT acceptable as euthanasia agents, even when combined with other drugs due to potentially inducing distressful paralysis in the MWD prior to the onset of unconsciousness. Death by asphyxiation or cranial blunt force trauma, among others, are unacceptable methods of euthanasia.

When possible, perimortem blood and urine samples should be collected for analysis IAW TB MED 283.4 The provider should collect one red top or serum tube of blood and one purple top or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid tube of blood. Urine should be collected in a specimen cup or capped syringe.

MWD handlers should be permitted to be present for euthanasia if possible and deemed appropriate. The bond between handler and MWD cannot be overemphasized, and many handlers will want to be present. The MWD handler and the provider may require behavioral health care or grief counseling.

COMMERCIAL VETERINARY EUTHANASIA SOLUTION

1. Several veterinary euthanasia products are available including a barbituric acid derivative (usually sodium pentobarbital and sodium phenytoin at approximately 400 mg/mL), often given after sedation or general anesthesia; it may also be administered as a sole agent. Controlled substances management regulations apply.
2. These products should be given by the intravenous (IV) route, or intraosseous (IO) route if IV access is unable to be achieved. If IV or IO access is not possible, general anesthesia followed by intra-organ injection (intracardiac, intrahepatic, intrarenal) may be used. Intraperitoneal (IP) route is not practical for medium or large dogs due to the volume of the agent used and prolonged time to death.
3. The standard dose of these products is 1 mL per 10 pounds of body weight.5

POTASSIUM CHLORIDE (KCL)

1. Injection of a supersaturated potassium chloride solution is an acceptable method to produce cardiac arrest and death. Using this route, the MWD must be unconscious or under general anesthesia before administration of the KCl solution. It is unethical and therefore unacceptable to use KCl in conscious animals.
2. Anesthetize the MWD. (See the K9 Analgesia and Anesthesia CPG.)
3. Once anesthetized, rapid IV or intracardiac administration of 1-2 mEq K+/kg of body weight (75 to 150 mg/kg; 34 to 68 mg/lb) will cause cardiac arrest.3
4. A typical dose for an average sized MWD would be 30-40 mL of 2 mEq/mL KCl.