Euthanasia of dogs

Pets bring us much joy and positive emotions. But sometimes, an injury or incurable illness renders a pet's life incomplete and extremely painful. Then, veterinarians recommend euthanizing a dog or cat to spare them from suffering. This painless procedure is called euthanasia. The decision to euthanize a dog or cat is made by a veterinarian, following the rules set forth in the Russian Federation Law "On Responsible Treatment of Animals."

Content

1 In what cases is euthanasia necessary?
2 How is dog euthanasia performed?
3 Drugs for euthanasia of dogs
4 How much does it cost to euthanize a dog?

In what cases is euthanasia necessary?

Indications for euthanasia of dogs are:

Congenital pathologies of internal organs incompatible with life and/or normal existence;
Injuries that preclude the possibility of rehabilitation (for example, severe damage to the brain or spinal cord);
Chronic liver or kidney failure, hepatic coma, degenerative damage to the liver parenchyma;
Severe neurological pathologies (meningoencephalitis, paralysis, epilepsy);
Oncological diseases in late stages (osteosarcoma, angiosarcoma, leukemia);
Some infectious diseases (rabies, tuberculosis);
Old age of a dog, when the animal is very weak, has lost its appetite and interest in life, moves with difficulty, and almost does not react to its surroundings.
Excessive aggressiveness of a dog that is dangerous to others and cannot be eliminated by training and education methods.

The Federal Law "On Responsible Treatment of Animals" prohibits euthanasia if a dog has become disabled but is not suffering and is in good health.

A veterinarian will not recommend euthanasia if the cancer detected is in its early stages and the chances of curing the disease with therapy or surgery are quite high.

How is dog euthanasia performed?

Euthanasia of dogs is carried out by mutual agreement between the veterinarian and the animal's owner. If the veterinarian, after examining the dog and assessing its condition, concludes that euthanasia is truly necessary for humane reasons, they will ask the owner to provide written consent for the procedure. The euthanasia process takes about half an hour and is completely painless and does not cause any suffering to the dog.

Euthanasia can be performed in a clinic or at home and is carried out in two stages. The first stage involves the intramuscular administration of large doses of sedatives. These drugs cause muscle relaxation, slow breathing and circulation, a reduced heart rate, and a drop in blood pressure. As a result, the dog becomes lethargic and indifferent, and within 10-15 minutes, falls asleep.

The veterinarian checks the animal's reflexes and, once it is in a deep, drug-induced sleep, proceeds to the second stage of the euthanasia procedure. This involves the use of medications that induce respiratory and cardiac arrest. The animal dies within 5 to 15 minutes after administration. The veterinarian is required to confirm the animal's death and only then consider the euthanasia complete.

If the dog was euthanized at a clinic, the owner can take their pet home immediately or leave it at the clinic, where it will be cremated. Many veterinary clinics offer at-home euthanasia. This may be a necessary decision if the animal is untransportable, or a voluntary choice made out of compassion: a dog will feel calmer and more comfortable in a home environment, close to its owner.

The cost of euthanasia performed at home is usually the same as visiting a veterinary clinic. A veterinarian will arrive at your call at any time of day or night, examine the animal, make an appropriate decision, and euthanize the dog. Afterward, the doctor will offer to transport the body to a clinic for general or individual cremation.

Please note that only medications are permitted for animal euthanasia. The following methods are prohibited:

strangulation;
electric shock;
drowning;
use of potent poisons.

Drugs for euthanasia of dogs

Animal euthanasia tablets are rarely used in veterinary medicine: their active ingredients are slowly absorbed into the bloodstream, which allows the drug to produce side effects. convulsions, paresis, paralysis, general poisoning.

For painless euthanasia of dogs, injectable solutions for intramuscular and intravenous administration are used. These medications include:

having a sedative effect,
causing muscle relaxation,
turning off physical sensitivity,
alpha2-adrenergic receptor blockers,
lowering blood pressure,
weakening cardiac activity.

The most commonly used methods for euthanasia are:

Sodium pentobarbital (Nembutal)A fast-acting barbiturate, the active ingredient is sodium ethaminal. It has a narcotic effect and causes death by respiratory arrest.
Vetrankvil. The active ingredients are acepromazine maleate and chlorobutanol. It has a calming and muscle relaxant effect and lowers blood pressure by acting on brain receptors.
Sedazin. The active ingredient is xylazine hydrochloride. It has a powerful analgesic and sedative effect and causes relaxation of striated muscles.
Propofol. The active ingredient is 2,6-diisopropylphenol. Its pharmacological action is anesthetic and sedative. It induces rapid eye movement (REM) sleep within a minute.
Zoletil. The active ingredients are tiletamine and zolazepam hydrochlorides (acid salts). It is an anesthetic that causes partial muscle relaxation and has a depressing effect on the subcortex of the brain.
Droperidol. A psychotropic drug (neuroleptic) that has a sedative effect, reduces the response to external stimuli, and causes a drop in blood pressure. When administered intravenously, the effect is achieved within 3-5 minutes.
Lidocaine. The active ingredient is lidocaine hydrochloride. A powerful anesthetic, it slows the heart and reduces the pain associated with death.
Rometar. The active ingredient is xylazine hydrochloride. It has sedative, muscle relaxant, and analgesic effects.

How much does it cost to euthanize a dog?

On average, the price of dog euthanasia, depending on the animal's weight, is:

up to 10 kg - from 1 to 2 thousand rubles;
10 – 20 kg – from 2 to 3 thousand rubles;
20-30 kg - from 3 to 4 thousand rubles;
30-50 kg - from 4 to 5 thousand rubles;
more than 50 kg - up to 7 thousand rubles.

The cost of dog euthanasia in Moscow depends on the clinic's prestige and the price of the medications used, which vary significantly for animals of different weight categories. When euthanasia is performed at home, the veterinarian's visit is charged separately. Some veterinary clinics offer comprehensive services that include euthanasia, cremation, and burial.

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