Comparison of pentobarbital alone and pentobarbital in combination with lidocaine for euthanasia of dogs

• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1993.203.05.664
• Publication Date: 2023-12-28T14:57:50Z
• Authors: A. Thomas Evans; Richard Broadstone; James Stapleton; Toni M. Hooks; Sharon Marie John...; Judith R. McNeil
• Keywords: Male; Time Factors; Euthanasia; Respiration; Lidocaine; Pain; Drug Synergism; Drug Combinations; Electrocardiography; Dogs; Injections, Intravenous; Animals; Female; Pentobarbital

Summary Pentobarbital alone, pentobarbital plus 1% lidocaine solution, pentobarbital plus 2% lidocaine solution, and pentobarbital plus 3% lidocaine solution were each used to euthanatize 6 dogs. For each dog, time between the beginning of injection of the euthanasia solution and each of the following events was recorded: collapse, onset of apnea, flat-line electrocardiogram, flat-line electroencephalogram, loss of palpable heartbeat, and loss of palpable pulse. Any signs of pain or discomfort were also recorded. There were no significant differences among groups except for time to flat-line electrocardiogram. Dogs euthanatized with pentobarbital alone had significantly longer times than did dogs euthanatized with pentobarbital in combination with any of the lidocaine concentrations. We concluded that pentobarbital in combination with lidocaine was a reasonable alternative to pentobarbital alone when euthanatizing dogs.