Guidelines for Large Animal Euthanasia & Disposal
(Provided by UW School of Veterinary Medicine)
Background: Federal regulations and vendor policies exist prohibiting the use of barbiturates in euthanasia of equine and bovine species disposed of by rendering or landfill.
Species affected and disposal options: Pigs, foals and calves may be disposed of by incineration, rendering or digestion. Small ruminants are disposed of by digestion. Adult horses may be disposed of by rendering (necessitating euthanasia by something other than barbiturate overdose), or digestion. Digestion is an option when barbiturates are used (costs > $0.50/pound).
In bovines aged 30-60 months, at a minimum the brain and spinal tissue need to be digested. For bovines greater than 60 months of age, the entire carcass needs to be digested.
Alternative Chemical Euthanasia Protocols: Equine and Bovine Patients
Note #1: These are suggested doses and agents – every patient is unique and doses of each agent may need to be adjusted according to clinical indication and the safety of personnel involved in the procedure. For example, very-compromised animals may need lower doses; on the other hand, extremely excited or stressed animals may need higher doses.
Note #2: The use of potassium chloride is UNACCEPTABLE in conscious animals. Refer to the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2013 Edition for further information (https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Documents/euthanasia.pdf).
- SEDATION
- Equine: Xylazine (1.0-1.5 mg/kg IV)
- Bovine: Xylazine (0.1-0.5 mg/kg IV)
Ensure adequate sedation (ear/head drooping, reduced muscle tone [tongue/tail/neck relaxation], reduced activity to stimuli). Then follow with:
- ANESTHETIC INDUCTION
- Equine and Bovine: Ketamine (2.2-5.0 mg/kg IV) and Midazolam (0.1-0.2 mg/kg IV)
Ensure a surgical plane of anesthesia (loss of consciousness, reflexive muscle responses [lateral recumbency], and response to noxious stimuli). Then follow with:
- EUTHANASIA
- Potassium chloride (75-150 mg/kg IV quickly)
Potassium Chloride (KCL) can be purchased for injection or made from salts widely available at pharmacies, grocery stores or feed mills. Check the label for ingredients as you MUST use chemical or food grade 100% KCL. Because it is used to euthanize an animal, it does not need to be filtered or sterilized. The dosage needed for KCL euthanasia (under anesthesia) is 75-100 mg/kg, which will require substantial volumes of KCL. KCL as a saturated solution can be made with 35.5g of KCL in 100 mls of water. Super-saturated solutions can be made but are difficult to maintain in solution. Precipitated salts will clog catheters and needles (especially in cooler weather) so we do not recommend using more than a saturated solution of KCL. Always have more KCL solution than needed to ensure proper and humane euthanasia under AVMA guidelines.
ALWAYS have extra potassium chloride syringes readily available if the above is inadequate.
ALWAYS be aware of the effects associated with injected potassium solutions such as muscle twitching, tremors, and gasping.
If adequate sedation or anesthesia is NOT achieved with the above doses, additional sedation with xylazine (equine: 1.0 mg/kg IV; bovine: 0.1 mg/kg IV) or anesthesia with ketamine (2 mg/kg IV) and midazolam (0.1 mg/kg IV) may be given. ALWAYS be prepared to administer higher initial doses if there is any question.
NEVER administer potassium chloride to an animal that is not in a surgical plane of anesthesia.
- USE OF CAPTIVE BOLT
Following sedation, as previously described, bovine patients may be euthanized by penetrating captive bolt. Personnel performing captive bolt euthanasia should be familiar with the technique as described in the AVMA guidelines for the euthanasia of animals (https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Documents/euthanasia.pdf).
Excerpts from AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals (2013):
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE AND MAGNESIUM SALTS, p. 31: ‘Personnel performing this technique must be trained and knowledgeable in anesthetic techniques, and be competent in assessing the level of unconsciousness that is required for administration of potassium chloride and magnesium salt solutions IV. Administration of potassium chloride or magnesium salt solutions IV requires animals to be in a surgical plane of anesthesia characterized by loss of consciousness, loss of reflex muscle response, and loss of response to noxious stimuli.’
RUMINANTS, p. 54: ‘While not acceptable as a sole method of euthanasia, rapid IV injection of potassium chloride may assist in ensuring death after cattle have been rendered unconscious by penetrating captive bolt, gunshot, or administration of general anesthetics (a-2 adrenergic agents such as xylazine alone are insufficient; see comments under Unacceptable methods).’
EQUINE, p. 64: ‘Although unacceptable when used in unanesthetized equids, the use of a saturated solution of potassium chloride injected IV or intracardially in an equid in a deep surgical plane of general anesthesia is an acceptable method to invoke cardiac arrest and death.’
