COMMERCIAL VETERINARY EUTHANASIA SOLUTION
- 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.
- 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.
- The standard dose of these products is 1 mL per 10 pounds of body weight.5