HOW IS EUTHANASIA DONE?
There are several ways that euthanasia can be performed by a veterinarian. All of them involve the administration of a very strong anaesthetic overdose that removes the pet’s consciousness first, then gradually stops the breathing and heartbeat. How the drug is administered may vary depending on the veterinarian and the patient. For more detailed information on the methods of euthanasia click here. When your pet is euthanased in the vet hospital, most veterinarians will use a concentrated anaesthetic overdose, which is given straight into your pet’s vein via a needle and syringe. It causes minimal discomfort to your pet, and is very fast once the drug is in the pets system, causing your pet to lose consciousness within seconds of the full dose being administered. It is a very humane death. However this method does require close restraint by the nurse, to prevent movement of the pet’s leg while the needle is placed into the vein, and during the drug administration.
Euthanasia is the act of facilitating a good death. Dogs are euthanized by an intravenous injection of an overdose of sodium pentobarbital. In approximately eight seconds the dog is rendered unconscious and the entire system shuts down within a few minutes. Cats are euthanized by an intraperitoneal injection. While this process takes longer, it is less stressful than an intravenous injection for cats. The euthanasia process requires a trained and certified technician. The procedure is a quick and painless one.
