Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques: A Practical Guide

Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques: A Practical Guide provides detailed guidance on euthanasia procedures in a wide variety of species, including dogs, cats, exotics, horses, and production animals. Based on the current AVMA guidelines, the book offers step-by-step descriptions of the recommended methods of euthanasia, giving all the information needed to perform these techniques with confidence.  Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques helps practitioners, students, and technicians expand their knowledge base and provide competent, compassionate euthanasia services. Including information on client considerations, equipment, positioning, sedation, and aftercare, the focus of the book is on providing detailed procedures for correctly performing euthanasia. Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques presents complete information on euthanasia, offering specific advice to improve skills and aid in decision making.

Table of Contents:
About the Authors vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction xi 1 Client Considerations 1 Companion animals 3 Species-specific considerations 6 2 Equipment 19 Technique-specific equipment 19 Euthanasia area equipment 29 Drugs 30 Species-specific considerations 35 3 Positioning and Restraint 43 Positioning 43 Restraint 45 Species-specific considerations 45 4 Pre-euthanasia Sedation and Anesthesia 51 Anesthesia 52 Sedation 53 Drugs and routes of administration 55 Assessing unconsciousness and sedation 56 Specific-species considerations 57 5 Euthanasia Techniques 73 How death is achieved 73 Choosing an appropriate method 75 Inhalant methods 78 Injectable methods 79 Physical methods 79 Species-specific techniques 79 Unacceptable methods for domestic animals 164 Death and associated signs 165 6 Body Aftercare 169 Burial 170 Composting 172 Cremation/incineration 173 Rendering 174 Species-specific considerations 174 Conclusion 183 Bibliography 185 Index 191

About the Author :
Kathleen A. Cooney, DVM, MS, is founder and owner of Home to Heaven, P.C., a mobile veterinary hospice and euthanasia service based in northern Colorado. Jolynn R. Chapell, DVM, is in private practice, specializing in exotic medicine, at Aspenwing Bird and Animal Hospital in Loveland, CO. Robert J. Callan, DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM, is a professor at Colorado State University (CSU) in the Department of Clinical Sciences and service head of the Livestock Medicine and Surgery Service at the CSU James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Bruce A. Connally, DVM, MS, is a former assistant professor and faculty member in equine ambulatory services at CSU.

Review :
“This is a book that you should purchase and not let sit on the shelf. Use it to perfect a ‘good death’ for your own patients.”  (Australian Veterinary Journal, 1 April 2013) “So while this is not a perfect book, it definitely does what they intend and I genuinely look forward to future editions.”  (Veterinary Practice News, 1 March 2013) “Overall, this is a wonderful resource for any practitioner or technician. The information is logically organized, enabling quick and easy retrieval. No other resource covers the topic of euthanasia as completely.”  (Doody’s, 25 January 2013) “The text would be useful both in an educational as well as clinical setting for review and further study.”  (Vspn.org, 1 January 2013) “Veterinary Euthanasia Techniques’ is very much a practical guide for veterinary surgeons and technicians on what is a difficult decision to make – and to get right.”  (Veterinary Record, 15 December 2012) "The book can be used as a manual covering step-by-step techniques or as a starting point for discussing options with clients. No vet's library should be without this manual!."  (The Bookwatch, 1 November 2012) “On balance, the authors of this new book have succeeded in providing a practical guide to the euthanasia techniques for all species the practising veterinarian is likely to encounter.”  (Animal Welfare, 1 November 2012)