Evaluation of a noncontrolled, pre-euthanasia, intramuscular sedation drug protocol including alfaxalone 4%, medetomidine, and acepromazine for injured or ill raccoons

Background As a major animal control service provider in the city of Guelph and Wellington County in Ontario, the Guelph Humane Society transports and presents injured or ill raccoons requiring humane euthanasia to the Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre (OVC-HSC). Issues around handling, transportation, and delays before euthanasia have recently raised some concerns for welfare and the need for means of improving this process. Objective Investigation of a noncontrolled sedation and analgesia protocol for injured or ill raccoons intended to improve animal welfare by allowing humane handling, transport, and euthanasia following administration by an animal protection officer (APO). Animals and procedure Twenty-seven injured or ill raccoons requiring transport and euthanasia, as determined by the Guelph Humane Society APOs, were included in the study. Each raccoon was administered acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg), alfaxalone (4 mg/kg), and medetomidine (0.15 mg/kg), intramuscularly, before being transported to the OVC-HSC for humane euthanasia. Results The combination of acepromazine, alfaxalone, and medetomidine was suitable for administration by APOs and provided the desired sedation depth to allow transport and humane euthanasia. Transit time was the only predictor of sedation depth upon arrival at the OVC-HSC. Two raccoons showed mild physical response to intracardiac injection for euthanasia. Numerical cutoff points of an in-hospital visual analog score of sedation of ≥ 70/100 and duration of sedation of < 62 min showed zero probability of response to euthanasia. Conclusion and clinical relevance Administration of acepromazine, alfaxalone, and medetomidine at the stated doses provided acceptable sedation and analgesia to improve animal welfare during transport and eventual euthanasia of raccoons.