Animal Welfare Considerations and Ethical Dilemmas Inherent in the Euthanasia of Blind Canine Patients

Biondi, Vito; Pugliese, Michela; Voslářová, Eva; Landi, Alessandra; Passantino, Annamaria

doi:10.3390/ani12070913

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(73 reference statements)

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“…In guiding the decision to euthanize and when the animal is the patient, the veterinarian may inform the owner of the characteristics of the quality life which his/her animal will have in relation to the severity of the disease and the perception of the pain. The respect for animal welfare and dignity must be viewed as the main principle in the veterinary practice, with the consequent need for a better understanding of diseases’ course and animal pain management from an ethical viewpoint [ 9 , 10 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The choice to euthanize could be rationally made based on economic, convenience, or compassionate reasons [ 10 ]. Gorodetsky (1997) [ 11 ] states that, generally, old age is the most common reason for euthanasia, followed by terminal sickness, aggression, and behavioral alterations [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Facing a dog’s death, and especially euthanasia, could be a potential moral distress also for the veterinary team [ 4 , 13 ]. Veterinarians might feel reluctant to provide euthanasia as an option, viewing it as an admission of failure of their treatment skills [ 14 ], or because the animal may be suffering from a treatable condition, but the owner may not be able to afford the proposed treatment for financial reasons [ 10 ], indicated as economic euthanasia [ 12 ]. The owner has the right to do it because animals are considered to be personal property [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Risk Factors Regarding Dog Euthanasia and Causes of Death at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Italy: Preliminary Results

Pugliese

Falcone

Alibrandi

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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The decision to request and proceed with euthanasia in a dog is complex and predictors of such decisions are important. This study investigates the risk factors (demographic and clinical) associated with the main clinical causes and methods of death (euthanasia or unassisted death) in a population of dogs. By comparing euthanasia to unassisted deaths, the authors assess causes of death to evaluate their relative impacts on decision-making to choose euthanasia compared with an unassisted death. For this, goal data from electronic medical records of dogs who had died (unassisted death and euthanasia), obtained from an Italian referral veterinary teaching hospital from 2010 to 2020, were analyzed. The causes of death were categorized by pathophysiological process and the organ system. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors that significantly affect the probability of undergoing euthanasia and to individuate independent significant predictors of euthanasia and unassisted death, respectively. Death rate by euthanasia was 40.7% (125/307), by died unassisted 50.8% (156/307), whilst only 8.5% of dogs (26/307) died accidentally. The main causes of death for euthanasia were due to neoplastic (75.6%), degenerative (64.3%), and congenital (60%) diseases. Furthermore, the findings reveal that in deaths by euthanasia, the significant risk predictors were female gender, age, and neoplastic and degenerative processes; while in unassisted deaths, the significant risk predictors were male gender, age, and infection/inflammatory conditions. These preliminary outcomes highlight the information of this study which may be used to evaluate strategic interventions and health promotion strategies to be implemented, with consequent welfare gains for the canine population.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Risk Factors Regarding Dog Euthanasia and Causes of Death at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Italy: Preliminary Results

Pugliese

Falcone

Alibrandi

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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“…However, performing euthanasia on these animals without evidence of the diminished quality of life or any other generalized illness is controversial. Biondi et al [ 42 ] mention that visual impairment is not always associated with a severe systemic disease that would threaten the quality of life in the long term. Therefore, communication with the owner is crucial to provide solutions, alternatives, and proper management depending on the case [ 43 ].…”

Section: Ethical Implications Of Euthanasia In Companion Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This means that the decision should be based on a medical professional’s opinion, the individual’s values, and the available resources for the treatment [ 81 ]. Nonetheless, animals cannot vocalize opinions, and their “best interest” is directly marked by the owner and their knowledge about the disease, animal welfare, and other personal factors [ 42 ].…”

Section: Legal Implication For Euthanasia In Chronically Ill Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Euthanasia and Pain in Canine Patients with Terminal and Chronic-Degenerative Diseases: Ethical and Legal Aspects

Mota-Rojas

Domínguez-Oliva

Martı́nez-Burnes

et al. 2023

Animals

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Euthanasia is commonly performed in veterinary medicine to humanely induce the death of an animal when its quality of life is affected by pain or chronic degenerative diseases. The choice of euthanasia is a bilateral decision that represents a challenge for both the veterinarian and the owner of the animal due to the close emotional human–animal bond. Currently, there is legislation that can orient veterinarians concerning euthanasia and the causes that would justify this resolution. However, it is still controversial, and deciding it as the last available resort requires considering it from a medical, legal, and moral perspective. Therefore, this review aims to explore the ethical and legal implications of euthanasia in canine patients. It will analyze the reason that can justify euthanasia in animals with pain or terminal and chronic degenerative diseases, highlighting the importance of effective communication, ethical knowledge, and consideration of euthanasia as a multimodal resolution.

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Cyclical 10‐day dosing of melphalan for canine multiple myeloma

Teddy,

Sylvester,

O'Connor

et al. 2023

Vet Comparative Oncology

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Canine multiple myeloma (MM) is typically treated with melphalan chemotherapy. A protocol with repeated 10‐day cyclical dosing of melphalan has been used at our institution but has not been described in the literature. Our objectives were to describe the outcome and adverse events of this protocol in a retrospective case series. We hypothesised the cyclical 10‐day protocol would have similar outcomes compared to other reported chemotherapy protocols. Dogs diagnosed with MM that received melphalan treatment at Cornell University Hospital for Animals were identified through a database search. Records were retrospectively reviewed. Seventeen dogs met inclusion criteria. Lethargy was the most common presenting complaint. The median duration of clinical signs was 53 days (range, 2–150 days). Seventeen dogs had hyperglobulinemia with 16/17 having monoclonal gammopathies. Sixteen dogs had bone marrow aspiration and cytology performed at initial diagnosis and plasmacytosis was diagnosed in all. Based on serum globulin concentrations, 10 of 17 dogs (59%) achieved complete response (CR), and 3 dogs (18%) achieved partial response (PR), for an overall response rate of 76%. The median overall survival time was 512 days (range, 39–1065). Retinal detachment (n = 3) and maximum response of CR/PR (n = 13) were associated with overall survival on multivariate analysis (p = .045 and .046, respectively). Adverse events were minimal with diarrhoea being the most reported (n = 6). This cyclical 10‐day protocol was better‐tolerated with fewer adverse events than with other reported chemotherapy protocols, but response rate was also lower, likely due to a lower dosing intensity.

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Animal Welfare Considerations and Ethical Dilemmas Inherent in the Euthanasia of Blind Canine Patients

Cited by 5 publications

References 68 publications

Risk Factors Regarding Dog Euthanasia and Causes of Death at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Italy: Preliminary Results

Risk Factors Regarding Dog Euthanasia and Causes of Death at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Italy: Preliminary Results

Euthanasia and Pain in Canine Patients with Terminal and Chronic-Degenerative Diseases: Ethical and Legal Aspects

Cyclical 10‐day dosing of melphalan for canine multiple myeloma

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