Euthanasia of dogs and cats by veterinarians in New Zealand: protocols, procedures and experiences

Euthanasia of Dogs by Australian Veterinarians: A Survey of Current Practices

“…A smaller proportion of respondents administered a premedication or sedation in an emergency (46.4%) compared with those who did not (53.6%). Our findings align with the New Zealand study, where veterinarians were less likely to use sedation for emergency cases [ 20 ]. In emergency situations, patients can present as critical or moribund so that sedative drugs could precipitate decompensation or death in these patients.…”

“…Almost all respondents (n = 651, 99.7%) used pentobarbitone sodium as their primary euthanasia method, administered intravenously (n = 649, 99.5%). This aligns with the findings of a survey of New Zealand veterinarians (n = 361), which reported that 99% of veterinarians used pentobarbitone as their preferred euthanasia drug for dogs [ 20 ]. Barbiturates such as pentobarbitone sodium, initially developed as anaesthetic agents, have long been considered a peaceful method of bringing about death in animals [ 30 ].…”

“…In the current study, not all veterinarians had utilised a premedication or sedation: 33.3% of veterinarians did not use a premedication or sedation for non-emergency euthanasia. A survey of New Zealand veterinarians found that 33% of veterinarians always sedated dogs prior to euthanasia, while 20% reported they would not use sedation [ 20 ]. A smaller proportion of respondents administered a premedication or sedation in an emergency (46.4%) compared with those who did not (53.6%).…”

“…The potential negative impacts of premedication or sedation include increased expense; altered body physiology, rendering some techniques more difficult; a potentially unpredictable transition to sedation and potential for adverse effects (such as vomiting or dyspnoea) [ 34 ]. New Zealand veterinarians who did not usually use sedation reported that it was unnecessary, made veins difficult to find, was time-consuming to perform, may cause owners distress, it was against their clinic policy to sedate animals or that they found euthanasia smoother without sedation [ 20 ]. Robertson argues that pre-euthanasia sedation improves the experience for the animal, owner and veterinary team members and that its benefits greatly outweigh potential undesirable effects [ 36 ].…”

“…A study in the United States found that students were minimally exposed to euthanasia practices, with an average of just 2.8 h devoted to euthanasia methods and techniques within the veterinary curriculum [ 19 ]. A recent survey of New Zealand veterinarians (n = 361) found that one third had no formal training of key aspects of euthanasia in veterinary school, 84% had not performed euthanasia of a dog, and 13% had not observed the euthanasia of a dog during their veterinary training [ 20 ].…”