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. 2011 Jan;52(1):55-61.

Survey of euthanasia practices in animal shelters in Canada

Niamh Caffrey  1 , Aboubakar Mounchili, Sandra McConkey, Michael S Cockram
Affiliations

Survey of euthanasia practices in animal shelters in Canada

Niamh Caffrey et al. Can Vet J. 2011 Jan.

Abstract
in English, French

Questionnaires on methods of euthanasia used in Canadian animal shelters were sent to 196 Canadian animal shelters yielding 67 responses. Sodium pentobarbital injection was the only method of euthanasia used by 61% of establishments that euthanized dogs and 53% of the establishments that euthanized cats. Many of these establishments used pre-medication. Sodium pentobarbital was mostly administered intravenously but some establishments also used intracardiac and intraperitoneal routes, and some only used intracardiac administration for cats. T-61 injection was the only method of euthanasia used by 23% of the establishments that euthanized dogs and 35% of the establishments that euthanized cats. All of these establishments used pre-medication, but the percentages of establishments that only used the intravenous route for administration of T-61 in dogs and cats were 45% and 7%, respectively. Further studies on the use of T-61, and the training and provision of counselling services for staff are recommended.

Enquête sur les pratiques d’euthanasie dans les refuges pour animaux au Canada. Des questionnaires sur les méthodes d’euthanasie utilisées dans les refuges pour animaux canadiens ont été envoyés à 196 refuges pour animaux canadiens et 67 réponses ont été reçues. L’injection de pentobarbital sodique était la seule méthode d’euthanasie utilisée par 61 % des établissements qui euthanasiaient les chiens et de 53 % des établissements qui euthanasiaient des chats. Plusieurs de ces établissements utilisaient une prémédication. Le pentobarbital sodique était surtout administré par voie intraveineuse mais certains établissements utilisaient aussi les voies intracardiaques et intrapéritonéales et certains utilisaient seulement l’administration intracardiaque pour les chats. L’injection de T-61 était la seule méthode d’euthanasie utilisée par 23 % des établissements qui euthanasiaient des chiens et 35 % des établissements qui euthanasiaient des chats. Tous ces établissements utilisaient une prémédication, mais les pourcentages d’établissements qui utilisaient seulement la voie intraveineuse pour l’administration de T-61 chez les chiens et les chats étaient de 45 % et de 7 %, respectivement. De nouvelles études sur l’usage du T-61 et la formation du personnel ainsi que des services de counseling sont recommandés.

(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières)

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The geographical location of questionnaire respondents.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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