Editing Animal euthanasia (section)

=== Intravenous anesthetic ===
[[File:Cat euthanasia 20230228.jpg|Dying cat with arm shaved for injections|thumb]]
Upon administration of intravenous anesthetic, unconsciousness, [[respiratory arrest|respiratory]] then [[cardiac arrest]] follow rapidly, usually within 30&nbsp;seconds.<ref>UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate Product Notes for 20% Pentobarbital solution. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070610225659/http://www.vmd.gov.uk/espcsite/Documents/128787.DOC]</ref>

The two-stage process that some veterinarians use includes a first shot that is a [[sedative]] to make the animal more comfortable and then a second shot that euthanizes the animal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Contributors |first=WebMD Editorial |title=What Happens When You Put Your Pet to Sleep? |url=https://www.webmd.com/pets/what-happens-put-pet-to-sleep |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=WebMD |language=en}}</ref> This allows the owner the chance to say goodbye to a live pet without their emotions stressing the animal. It also greatly mitigates any tendency toward spasm and other involuntary movement which tends to increase the emotional upset that the pet's owner experiences.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

{{anchor|Tributame}}For large animals, the volumes of [[barbiturates]] required are considered by some to be impractical, although this is standard practice in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aaep.org/images/files/2007_%20Euthanasia%20Guidelines.pdf |title=Euthanasia Guidelines |access-date=19 June 2008 |work=AAEP |date=207 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080626105724/https://www.aaep.org/images/files/2007_%20Euthanasia%20Guidelines.pdf| archive-date= 26 June 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref> For horses and cattle, other drugs may be available. Some specially formulated combination products are available, such as Somulose ([[secobarbital]]/[[cinchocaine]]) and Tributame ([[embutramide]]/[[chloroquine]]/[[lidocaine]]), which cause deep unconsciousness and cardiac arrest independently with a lower volume of injection, thus making the process faster, safer, and more effective.<ref>[https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/11303&ved=2ahUKEwirjfu95vSLAxWLh1YBHe1nANYQFnoECCMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1xEi51ZVFjZCb1V7-ZIvZd fda.gov]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Occasionally, a horse injected with these mixtures may display apparent [[seizure]] activity before death. This may be due to premature cardiac arrest. However, if normal precautions (e.g., [[sedation]] with [[detomidine]]) are taken, this is rarely a problem.<ref>NOAH Compendium of Data Sheets for Animal Medicines 2005</ref> Anecdotal reports that long-term use of [[phenylbutazone]] increases the risk of this reaction are unverified.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102906&id=10307798&ind=1379&objTypeID=1007 | title=Veterinary Partner | work=VIN.com | date=8 August 2017 | last2=Spadafori | first2=Gina }}</ref>

After the animal has died, it is not uncommon for the body to have posthumous body jerks or a sudden bladder or bowel outburst. This is caused by the muscles of the deceased animal's body relaxing.{{cn|date=February 2024}}