Making difficult decisions

Euthanasia of animals, whether they are commercial livestock or pets, is something that all alpaca keepers will need to consider at some point writes Ami Sawran, Westpoint Farm Vets. On one hand, it is upsetting to let go of a companion, however on the other, it can be a welcome relief from suff ering, injury, or protracted illness.

The important thing about euthanasia, is that the process should convey as little stress as possible to the alpaca, and the best way to achieve this is through all parties involved being prepared for this eventuality.

In this article, we will take an overview of decision making from a veterinary perspective, outline potential methods of euthanasia, and the processes that an animal undergoes in this situation. Some may fi nd the description of the processes distressing; I believe in the importance of being as well informed as possible, but no off ence will be taken if this page is skipped!

Making the decision

If a vet attends a particularly sick or injured animal, it is likely that they will off er several possible treatment options. One of these may be referral to a hospital for further diagnostics, monitoring or treatment, and there may be several options for intensive home care. There is also the option of euthanasia. This should not come as a shock to owners of sick or injured alpacas – it is off ered not because the vet doesn’t want to try to solve the problem, but because it is a valid method of preventing further suff ering of an animal.

One should not feel bad about considering euthanasia if recovery from an illness or injury is going to be protracted or involves serious compromise of their freedom to express normal behaviour (for example, being confi ned or restrained for a long period), or simply if the animal’s temperament does not lend itself to increased handling and administration of medications. I have encountered the viewpoint that an animal should be able to withstand temporary discomfort and stress if it means that it may recover. An important thing to remember is that animals do not understand the concept of feeling better in the future – they understand the ‘here and now’ and being unable to express their normal behaviour is stressful, no matter how much we try to accommodate them.

There are few blanket rules on this – each animal is an individual and the circumstances surrounding their situation should be considered. Many factors come into the decision that you will make for your animal(s); cost and feasibility of treatment, ability to nurse at home, and importantly, their prognosis for recovery.

Methods of euthanasia

Euthanasia is commonly performed in one of two ways –there is no ‘better’

Shot – Fallen stock collectors and some vets may be equipped with captive bolt guns that can allow for swift dispatch with a concussive blow to the brain tissue. Though this might sound quite severe, it is an extremely quick process that, when administered correctly, renders the animal insensible in seconds. This means that they are unaware of their surroundings and circumstances and are unable to breathe rhythmically to support life – they pass quickly after a well-placed captive bolt shot. It should be noted that ‘free bullet’ shots are also possible methods of euthanasia, however this is less commonly performed, often if the animal cannot be caught or restrained.

Lethal injection – Most veterinary surgeons are likely to perform an intravenous lethal injection when they are tending to your alpaca. This requires access to a vein – usually in the neck, which may be clipped to aid visualisation. It will typically require somebody to help steady or restrain the alpaca. The medication used goes to work immediately on effectively anaesthetising the brain, again, rendering the alpaca insensible. This means that the alpaca is almost instantly unconscious. The second effect of anaesthetising the brain is that it stops sending signals to the lungs to expand, thus breathing slows to a stop. This can take time, but rest assured that the alpaca will not know what is happening by this point.

What to expect during an euthanasia appointment

It is up to you whether you wish to remain present for euthanasia – this is a personal choice, though someone may need to assist the vet depending on the situation. This section will explain the processes that a euthanised animal may undergo, so it’s up to you as to whether you read on.

You should be aware that there is the possibility that you will see blood as the needle advances (the vet will need to see this to confirm they are in the right position). Once an injection has been administered, the animal tends to fall. If it is already cushed or lying, the neck may contract and move the head backwards. This can look quite dramatic, but the brain is anaesthetised, so the alpaca is no longer in control of, or crucially, aware of its actions. Various muscles may twitch – this can give the illusion that the alpaca is consciously moving or stretching. This is not the case; this is simply muscles firing randomly in the absence of proper instructions from the brain, and a lack of oxygen since breathing is no longer regular.

The alpaca may also produce faeces and urine, as muscles begin to relax, and there is a possibility that fluid could escape from the nose or mouth. There are two common sequels of euthanasia that some may find particularly unnerving, the first is vocalisation – again, this is not a conscious effort – this is the effect of air leaving the body and moving over the vocal cords. The second is agonal gasping. A reflex response to a lack of oxygen action in an unconscious animal is to open the mouth and ‘gasp’ – again, this is not something the animal is aware of, but it can give you a surprise if you’re not expecting it. Thankfully these effects will lessen with time, and your vet should monitor until reflex responses have ceased. The vet will be monitoring a few things at once; they will look for changes in breathing pattern, which will stop being rhythmic and regular. The heartbeat will also become irregular, and eventually stop – the vet should confirm absence of a heartbeat before they leave. One of the last reflexes to disappear is the ‘corneal reflex’, where the animal blinks when their eye is touched – therefore your vet may gently poke the eye several times after administering an injection – there is method to this seemingly odd behaviour. Once this reflex is absent and there is no heartbeat, we can confirm the alpaca has passed. I hope that the above description can help to give credence to the offer of euthanasia in the case of very sick or injured alpacas, and that by knowing why certain things are happening during euthanasia, you are reassured that though they look peculiar, they are quite normal. If you have concerns or queries regarding euthanasia, please do not be afraid to discuss them with your vet.