IMMERSIVE SIMULATIONS- euthanasia

Question 1

Injection Site/Needle Placement

Answer 1

Intravenous Injection
For IV injection, the preferred injection sites are
the cephalic veins of the thoracic limbs, the medial
(cats) and lateral saphenous (dogs) veins of the
pelvic limbs, and the dorsal pedal vein of the foot

Intracardiac Injection
In most dogs and cats, the heart is between the
third to sixth intercostal space and approximately
one-third the distance dorsally to the thorax from
the sternum. When auscultating for the heart, the
loudest region (also called the point of maximum
intensity [PMI]) should be identified.. Needle length
should be long enough to reach any heart chamber
(ventricles are preferred); a 1- to 3-inch needle is
usually sufficient for most dog and cat breeds. The
syringe should be large enough to hold both the
pentobarbital solution and the blood obtained on
aspiration during needle placement.

Intrarenal Injection
For intrarenal injection, either kidney may be
used. If time of death appears prolonged, another
injection may be administered in either kidney.
Needle size is typically 18-gauge. This technique
requires the patient be unconscious

Intraperitoneal Injection
Pure pentobarbital solution is commonly administered intraperitoneal to conscious patients, but
care should be taken to prevent the solution from
entering neighboring organs, as intraorgan injection is painful. Use of pre-euthanasia sedation
or anesthesia can help prevent injection pain or
discomfort. Intraperitoneal injection results in
a longer time to death, as the solution must be
absorbed across serosal linings to enter the blood
stream. Abdominal fluid and fat may slow absorption further. Needle size varies from 18- to 22-gauge

Question 2

pentobarbital doses

Answer 2

iv- 1ml/4.5kg
intracardiac- 1ml/ 4.5kg
intrarenal
3ml/4.5kg
intrahepatic- 2ml/4.5kg
intraperitoneal- 3ml/4.5kg

Question 3

STEP-BY-STEP
EUTHANASIA PROTOCOL

Answer 3

equipment-
h Pentobarbital solution
h Sedative or anesthetic
drugs
h 18- to 27-gauge needle
h 1- to 35-mL syringe
h IV or butterfly, 20- to
24-gauge catheter
h Tourniquet
h Clippers (optional)
h Adhesive tape
(optional)
h Male adapters
(optional)
h Extension sets
(optional

1- dminister a sedative or anesthetic agent.

2-lace the sedated/anesthetized patient in lateral recumbency. Clip the hair from the
area of the injection site, place
a secure tourniquet

3-Using a needle and syringe, a butterfly catheter, or
a secured indwelling IV catheter, directly administer the pentobarbital solution at a rate of 1 mL/
second (conscious patient) or 0.1 mL/second
(heavily sedated/anesthetized patient).

4-following injection, flush the catheter with saline
to remove the pentobarbital solution.

5- Check for signs of death; if not present, readminister the injection

A slower rate of administration in sedated
patients can reduce active signs of death.