Comfort Rooms

Checklist for Euthanasia Procedure

Explaining the
Euthanasia Procedure

Explaining Body Care Options

Condolences

Five Minutes of Grief Education

Assessing Children's Needs

Tips for Supporting Grieving Pet Owners

Helping Clients with Decision Making

Copyright Information

Printing Instructions

If owners want to be present during their large animal's euthanasia, it is important to prepare them for what they may see during and after death. Although large animal euthanasias are unpredictable, owners should be prepared to witness all or most of the events mentioned below. They should also be told that death by humane euthanasia is painless. The following describes the possible reactions of horses and llamas to injection of a euthanasia solution:

Horses

Horses may:

• Appear excited
• Seem to struggle
• Rear up
• Buckle and fall hard
• Hit the ground hard with both his/her body and head
• Exhibit muscle twitching
• "Paddle" or "run in place" on the ground
• Exhibit leg stiffening
• Urinate, defecate, flatulate
• Release several gasps after death
• Bleed from the nose, mouth, or catheter or needle insertion sites
• Have eyes open
• Have a heartbeat for several minutes after death has actually occurred

Llamas

In addition to the above, specifics to prepare clients for in the case of llama euthanasia are:

• May take several attempts to locate the correct vein, as the carotid artery and jugular vein are close together
• Llama may expulse stomach contents through nose