7 – Euthanasia Flashcards
1
Q
Changing careers: most common
A
- *Off track thoroughbreds
o May race once or make millions, but don’t race forever
o High earning horses to breeding stock - Working ranch horses
o Often switched to other wester disciplines
2
Q
Off the track thoroughbreds (OTTB)
A
- Trained to run in a circle to the left
- Complete ‘re-training’ required when racing career ends
- Many new career paths
o Hunter
o Jumper
o Dressage
o Barrel racing
o Ranch work
3
Q
How are OTTB acquired?
A
- Direct racing connection
- Resale
- Non-profit aftercare facility
- Auction/kill pen
4
Q
Reduced workload
A
- Due to age, illness, injury
- Options
o Retirement
o Lower level of work/performance
o Sell (with provisions)
o Donate - *choice will depend on variety of factors
o In case of injury or illness, a definitive diagnosis will help define the best decision for the horse
5
Q
Retirement plans
A
- Kid horse
- Companion animal
o Another horse or person - Equine therapy
- Retirement or rescue farms
6
Q
What are signs of consciousness in a horse?
A
- Vocalization
- Attempts to rise
- Lifting head
- Blinking
- Response to painful stimulus
- *reflex movements may occur
7
Q
Euthanasia
A
- Death may take several minutes to occur
- *planned or emergency
- *QUICK, MINIMAL PAIN/STRESS, IMMEDIATE UNCONSCIOUSNESS
- Often in the FALL
8
Q
What are the reasons for euthanasia?
A
- Illness
- Injury
- Age
- Behaviour/safety
- Economics
9
Q
What are some criteria that may contribute to the decision of euthanize?
A
- Cost of treatment
- *Pain and suffering: MOST common
- Return to use
- Likelihood of survival
- Length of recovery
- Insurance status
- other
10
Q
Making a decision for a sick or injured horse: some questions to consider
A
- Is it likely to recover?
- How long will it take to recover?
- What will the quality of life be?
- Can owner provide increased level of care?
- Has horse gotten better or worse through the course of treatment?
11
Q
What are the methods of euthanasia?
A
- Lethal injection (overdose of pentobarbital, KCl, MgCl)
- Intrathecal lidocaine injection
- Captive bolt
- Gun shot
12
Q
What are things to consider with an euthanasia appointment?
A
- Circumstances
- Client: present or absent
- Surroundings
- Pets, wildlife, scavengers
- Method of disposal
- *catheter placement and drug administration (sedation, general anesthesia)
13
Q
Pentobarbitol
A
- Barbiturate acting on CNS
o Binds GABA receptors=CNS depression
o Inhibits glutamate
o Loss of respiration, then brain dead in 73-261s, heartbeat stops
o ECG takes 10-15mins to go - Controlled substance
- Toxic to scavengers
14
Q
Pentobarbitol use in horses
A
- Catheter, 2 long extension sets
- Sedate
- Dose: 70-150mg/kg
- Stand back!
- Rapid injection
- Unpredictable reflexes
- Agonal breath
- *caution in compromised horses
15
Q
KCl and magnesium salts
A
- Needs to be anesthetized prior to injection
o NOT considered human if administered in conscious animal - Powder dissolved in warm water and rapidly injected IV
- Not a controlled substance, NOT environmentally toxic
- KCl: cardiotoxic
- MgCl, MgSO4: suppression of neural activity
