Emergency Euthanasia of Horses

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Emergency Euthanasia of Horses

• CPT Janice Baker
• US Army Veterinary Corps

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Introduction

• Horses, being horses, will find trouble in any
  manner possible
• People, being people, will try to do something to
  help

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Introduction

• Sometimes we help in a positive way
• Sometimes, while well-intended, we make the
  problem worse

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• Even in an emergency, euthanization of an
  animal is a process

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Euthanasia Process

• Contingency Planning
• Scene Control and Incident Management
• Patient Assessment
• Consent of Owner or Authorized Agent
• Method of Euthanasia
• Carcass Disposal
• Documentation of Case

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Contingency Planning

• Horse shows and other competitive events
• Parades
• Horse camps
• Organized trail rides
• ANY event which will have media present
  (Olympics, horse races, etc)

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Contingency Planning

• Personnel
• Responsibilities
• ICS
• Security
• Controlled substances
• Equipment
• Personal safety
• Worst-Case Scenario
• Drills and training

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Ask yourself before euthanasia

• -Do we have consent from the owner/agent?
• -In writing if possible
• -Can it wait for a better location or time?
• -Move off road, trail, away from on-lookers
• -Is the method safe for everyone (i.e. gunshot)
• -Only use this method if trained
• -What will we do with the carcass?
• -Be prepared to leave it behind in some
  situations

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Scene Control and Incident Management

• DONT RUSH TO EUTHANIZE!
• If you arent sure about it, remember three
  important things
• You MUST have permission from the owner/agent to
  euthanize an animal
• Horses know perfectly well how to die on their
  own
• Euthanasia is PERMANENT

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STAY CALM
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Dont be pressured by on-lookers

• Explain what you are doing
• Give them a job
• Assign someone to handle crowd control to allow
  you to stay focused
• Call for police or security help if needed

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Patient Assessment

• Some non life-threatening injuries look really
  bad
• Some serious injuries dont look so bad
• When in doubt, dont euthanize!

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Emergency EuthanasiaDecision to Euthanize

• Must have consent of owner or authorized agent
• Obtain consent in writing if possible
• Owner/agent and witness
• Detail the reason for euthanasia
• Document injury or situation with photos or video
  if possible

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Emergency EuthanasiaDecision to Euthanize

• When not likely to recover from injury or illness
• Even if life saved now, consider long-term
  prognosis.
• Dictated by triage, resources, time or safety
• Mass casualties
• Impending storm, other dangerous conditions
• Animal is danger to people or other animals

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Is there a more appropriate place and time?
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Is the method humane for the animal and safe for
everyone involved?
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What will you do with the carcass?
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Carcass Disposal

• Rendering plants
• Burial
• Incineration
• Leave in place
• Be aware of options before euthanizing animals
• Check with local authorities

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Carcass Disposal
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Case Scenarios
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33 year-old geldingat kids summer day campHR68
RR40 T103.0 MMpale CRT 3 seconds, thrashing
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4 year-old stallionfound following Cat 5
hurricane, owner not known HR80 RR40 No active
bleedingMM color pale, CTR3 seconds
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5 Year-old gelding, drug under cart on gravel road

• Public watching incident and demand you put him
  out of his misery.
• HR64 RR36 T103.2
• Non weight-bearing on left rear limb
• Tendon visible through left stifle abrasion

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7 year-old mare ran through fenceNow appears
paralyzedin rear limbs, thrashing with front
limbs. Vet is at least 1 hr awayOwner is not
there and you have a gun
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Adult gelding trapped in flood water for 3 days.
Water is rising. Owner is known but not present.
You have multiple resources and many (untrained)
volunteers offering to help.
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4 Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia

• Lethal injection with sodium pentobarbital
• Gunshot wound to the head
• Captive bolt to the head
• Bleeding (if already unconscious)

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Humane Method

• Renders animal instantly insentient, or unaware.
  
• Euthanasia method causes as little pain and
  distress as possible.

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Lethal Injection with Sodium Pentobarbital
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Lethal Injection

• Advantages
• Rapid action
• Induces unconsciousness
• Relatively safe for handlers

• Disadvantages
• Controlled substance
• Requires large amount
• Need IV access

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Lethal InjectionUnacceptable methods

• Chemical agents that do not render the animal
  instantly unconscious
• Cleaning agents and disinfectants
• Air embolism
• KCL if the animal is not already unconscious

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Gunshot Wound -Shot must be made at the crossing
of the X between ears and eyes. -Parallel with
the neck. -Perpendicular to the skull. -Use
caution for bystanders and beware ricochets and
fragments
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Gunshot to Head

• Advantages
• Very rapid if done correctly
• No drug residuals
• Accessible to non-vet personnel

• Disadvantages
• Special training required
• Special equipment required
• Regulatory constraints
• Safety concerns

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Captive Bolt to the Head

• Similar to gunshot
• Less hazardous than firearm
• Check regulatory constraints!
• Difficult to use if animal is thrashing
• May only stun animal- be prepared with backup
  method

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What NOT to do with euthanasia

• Dont be pressured by onlookers
• Dont feel you Have to do something
• Dont use an unacceptable method of euthanasia
• Dont euthanize without consent of the owner or
  authorized agent

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Questions?
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Reference

• 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia JAVMA
  Vol. 218 No. 5, March 1 2001 pp 269-296