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