Equine Euthanasia Flashcards
what considerations around euthanasia ?
What consent do you need?
- Be clear about process
- If owner under 18 need parent signature
- IUf using verbal consent, have a witness present and record conversation in clinical notes
What euthanasia methods?
- Intravenous Lethal Injection
- Free Bullet
- Other
-> have a plan B
What is ingredient in lethal injection somulose
Cinchocaine Hydrochloride, Quinalbarbitone Sodium
Clear, slightly straw-coloured viscous solutionW
What shold u do for handling osmulose?
gloves
When should somulose be admin
Should only be administered in the presence of an assistant/other individual
HOW to inject Somulose?
- Perivascular administration may delay the onset of effect and cause pain and
result in excitement - jugular catheter is strongly recommended - The speed of injection is very important. Administer the full dose over 10-15
seconds to minimise premature cardiac arrest
-An injection rate that is too slow may induce normal collapse, but prolong the
period until death
What schedule is Somulose?
Schedule 2 controlled drug
How to store Somulose?
Store in locked box/glove compartment within vehicle
Record use of Somulose.
Sign out of practice and record use (including batch numbers)
What is the OT+HEr lethal injeciton we can use?
Euthoxin / Euthasol solution for injection
Describe Euthoxin ?
- Two pentobarbital solutions currently authorised in UK and listed in NOAH
- Active ingredient: Pentobarbital Sodium
-> Should be injected as quickly as poss
LArge volumes of euthoxin?
Viscose solutions -> place in warm water to reduce viscosity
What shoudl you do before euthanasia?
Premedication with an appropriate sedative is mandatory in order to produce profound
sedation before euthanasia (20ug/kg detomidine)
Coadministration with muscle relaxants such as midazolam may improve the quality of induction.
What schedule is euthoxin?
Schedule 3 controlled drug so specific drug
recording not required but still stored in locked box/glove compartment.
Advantages of lethal injection?
Disadvantages of lethal injection?
Describe the First 6 steps of lethal injection procedure
- Ensure handler capable and understands process – warn
eyes will not close, may gasp and paddle legs/muscle
tremors - Always have extra/spare bottle Somulose in pocket ready
- Clip vein if necessary - jugular by choice, consider
cephalic for foals - Sedate if necessary (Detomidine or romifidine alone)
- Local anaesthetic bleb at IV Catheter site
- Place 14G jugular catheter
Describe the last 5 points of lethal injection procedure?
- Inject Somulose – speed of injection important remember
- Take the control of horse/leadrope and ensure all people present are well out of the way/move out of the school etc
- Guide the horse to the ground, ensuring your own personal safety.
- Auscultate heart, check corneal reflex (discretely)
- Stay at the head until ocular reflexes have stopped and the pupil is fixed and central before allowing owners to come back into space
- Don’t remove the head collar until all reflexes have stopped
What happens right after injection?
Collapse approx. 30-40s after injection
Animal may gasp for up to 2 minutes after collapse
Death should occur between 1-3 minutes after collapse.
What should you tell the pharmaceutical company if you have to report an AE of drug?
- Name
- Practice details
- Horse name
- Owners name
- Horse’s age
- Reason for euthanasia
- Batch number and expiry date
- Brief overview of process and what happened.
Mechanics of shooting?
Draw cross lateral canthus of eye to opposite ear base.
What happens after shooting?
- Bleed profusely from nose – have a clinical waste bag ready
- Likely to paddle with legs and make involuntary movements
after shooting. - Heart can take quite a few minutes to stop
- Distressingly quick
Free bullet advantages?
Free bullet disadvantages?
