CET Pharmacology & Chemical Agents 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of pre-euthanasia sedation in animal euthanasia?
- It is never recommended
- To reduce animal stress and facilitate safer, smoother administration of the euthanasia agent (Correct answer)
- To delay the procedure unnecessarily
- To replace the need for a primary euthanasia agent
Correct answer: To reduce animal stress and facilitate safer, smoother administration of the euthanasia agent
Pre-euthanasia sedation reduces animal stress and anxiety, facilitates safer restraint, and ensures smoother administration of the primary euthanasia agent.
Question 2: How does route of administration affect the efficacy of euthanasia agents?
- Route has no impact on efficacy
- Intravenous administration provides the fastest and most reliable onset; other routes require adjusted protocols (Correct answer)
- Oral administration is always preferred
- Intramuscular injection is equally fast as intravenous
Correct answer: Intravenous administration provides the fastest and most reliable onset; other routes require adjusted protocols
Intravenous administration provides the fastest and most reliable onset of euthanasia agents. When IV access is not possible, alternative routes require adjusted doses and protocols.
Question 3: What records must a CET maintain regarding euthanasia drug usage?
- No records are required
- Date, animal identification, drug name, dose, route, lot number, and administering technician (Correct answer)
- Only the number of animals euthanized per day
- Records are only needed for dogs and cats
Correct answer: Date, animal identification, drug name, dose, route, lot number, and administering technician
Comprehensive records including date, animal ID, drug details, dose, route, lot number, and administering technician are required for regulatory compliance and quality assurance.
Question 4: What is the AVMA's position on the use of T-61 as a euthanasia agent?
- It is the preferred agent for all species
- It is not recommended because it is no longer commercially available in the US and has concerns about the order of drug action (Correct answer)
- It is only recommended for large animals
- It has no restrictions or concerns
Correct answer: It is not recommended because it is no longer commercially available in the US and has concerns about the order of drug action
T-61 is not recommended by the AVMA due to concerns about the potential for the paralytic component to take effect before the anesthetic component, causing distress.
Question 5: Why must euthanasia agents be disposed of properly after use?
- Disposal requirements are optional
- To prevent environmental contamination, accidental exposure, secondary poisoning of scavengers, and drug diversion (Correct answer)
- Only for cost recovery purposes
- Disposal only matters for controlled substances
Correct answer: To prevent environmental contamination, accidental exposure, secondary poisoning of scavengers, and drug diversion
Proper disposal prevents environmental contamination, accidental human or animal exposure, secondary poisoning of scavengers that may consume euthanized remains, and illicit drug diversion.
Question 6: What training requirement applies to CETs handling DEA Schedule II euthanasia drugs?
- No special training is required
- CETs must be authorized under a DEA-registered facility and trained in controlled substance handling, storage, and record-keeping (Correct answer)
- Only veterinarians may handle these drugs
- Online training is sufficient without practical assessment
Correct answer: CETs must be authorized under a DEA-registered facility and trained in controlled substance handling, storage, and record-keeping
CETs handling Schedule II drugs must be authorized under a DEA-registered facility and receive proper training in handling, storage, and record-keeping of controlled substances.
CET Pharmacology & Chemical Agents 2
What is the purpose of pre-euthanasia sedation in animal euthanasia?