Alternate Routes for Euthanasia

Bosco, a 10-year-old Boston terrier, waddles toward me with a distended abdomen the size of a volleyball and edema in all his legs. I have traveled alone to euthanize Bosco in his home.

I have no veterinary nurse to assist me and no treatment room to hide in. I know that accessing a vein is nearly impossible, so I am not even going to try. I greet Bosco’s family, which includes 2 preteen children, and walk over to say Hello to Bosco. After briefly examining him, I am certain I will be administering an intracardiac injection of euthanasia solution to provide the most stress-free and painless death possible. Many veterinarians are familiar with performing euthanasia using an indwelling IV catheter; however, a peripheral vein is not always the best or most accessible site. Veterinarians should become proficient in other techniques to ensure that euthanasia is peaceful for the pet, the family, and the practice team members.

Euthanasia may be performed at the veterinary practice or in the pet’s home, but regardless of setting, the client and family members should be provided a comfortable space that allows them to be with their pet in his or her final moments. 

The most common drugs used immediately before and to perform euthanasia provide sedation, loss of consciousness, and cessation of brain activity, respiration, and heartbeat.

A peripheral vein is the most common administration site for the euthanasia solution, although other administration routes may be more appropriate (eg, intrarenal, intrahepatic, intraperitoneal, intracardiac, oral, intratumor). This overview provides tips for performing euthanasia using each alternate route and offers recommendations for communicating with clients and family members during the procedure.

Sedation Is Essential

I believe that providing sedation before euthanasia is the most important step in the euthanasia process. Every pet that undergoes euthanasia benefits from not only the pain relief but also the alleviation of stress. I recommend administering sedation SQ or IM to every patient before attempting to place a catheter.

Clients can give an oral sedative (eg, a benzodiazepine [eg, alprazolam], gabapentin, trazadone) before the scheduled appointment to help alleviate stress. An oral sedative will not eliminate the need for injectable sedation but may help calm a patient that is stressed when going to the clinic or when unfamiliar people come to the house. Sedation to ensure the pet is not conscious is essential when using other administration routes.

The Best Route of Administration: The Most Compassionate

During euthanasia, the client and family members must be able to surround their pet. I do not want to intrude on their final moments together, so using a 23-gauge butterfly, I often place a catheter in the pet’s lateral saphenous vein, which positions me near his or her hind end.

However, my favorite vein is the accessory cephalic vein on the down limb, which allows me to position the limb caudally and remain out of the family’s space when I place the catheter. Other veins (eg, ear, tongue) can be used as an alternate route if the typical peripheral veins are not accommodating.

When veins are not accessible, alternate routes can be used to administer euthanasia solution as long as the pet is unconscious after sedation. Determining the best route depends on the pet’s physical condition (eg, presence of edema, circulation, body condition), patient positioning, and disease process. Different drugs and needle sizes are recommended for each route. (See Table 1.)

Table 1: AVMA-Approved Routes of Administration for Euthanasia¹

^aAmount displayed in mL of 390 mg/mL pentobarbital per 10 lb (4.5 kg) body weight

Essential During Euthanasia:

Clear Communication

Veterinarians may find explaining the euthanasia process to clients and family members difficult, but clear communication is an important part of a successful euthanasia. When reviewing the procedure with the family, I include:

• A discussion about sedation and how it makes the pet feel calm and at peace

• An explanation of the euthanasia solution and how it works (eg, the solution is a powerful drug that first puts the pet’s brain to sleep and then stops respiration and heart function)

• Even if the catheter likely will be placed in a vein in the thoracic or pelvic limb, I usually say, After he is comfortable from the first medication, I will find the best route to give the second, which allows me to use a route other than a peripheral vein without causing concern for the client and family members.

The explanation to the family for choosing an alternate route can be challenging. Some veterinarians choose to describe the specific route (eg, heart, peritoneal space), whereas others indicate a general location only (eg, abdomen, a deep-chest vessel that will take the medication straight to the brain). The level of detail is based on the individual client, the pet’s condition, and the veterinarian’s comfort level. Preparing for this conversation in advance can help the veterinarian feel more comfortable.

Compassionate, Confident Conversation

Once the pet is sedated and ready for the euthanasia solution to be administered, the veterinarian should reassure the owner that the pet is comfortable, explain the procedure and where the solution is being administered, and give the owner a time frame for when the pet likely will pass. For example, with an intrahepatic administration, say, He is very comfortable. I am going to give the second medication now in his abdomen. After I give the medication, he will pass in approximately 10 minutes. Just talk to him and tell him how much you love him. This allows the distraught family members to understand every step of the process and offers them direction on what they can do. Most importantly, I am compassionate and confident in my delivery. They may not remember what I said, but they will certainly remember how they felt at that moment.

Conclusion

Clients trust their veterinarian to be professional and knowledgeable about euthanasia. They rely on the veterinarian to offer the best care and typically are not concerned about the administration route. They want the process to be peaceful for their pet, which is why the entire experience must be stress-free, from when they enter the practice or the veterinarian enters their home to when they leave their pet’s remains behind. (See Resources.)

Being familiar with all the alternate techniques helps ensure that euthanasia is performed skillfully and compassionately.

This article originally appeared in the March 2018 issue of Veterinary Team Brief.