Explanation should include

• a definition of euthanasia
• situations that may warrant euthanasia (e.g., untreatable or irreversible medical conditions that cause suffering, unmanageable behavior that poses a serious health risk to humans or other animals)
• strategies for clear communication (and avoidance of language that may lead to client confusion or distress).

Teacher Resource: Guidelines for the euthanasia of animals, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

Process/Skill Questions:

• What is the derivation of the word euthanasia? What euphemisms are commonly used in place of euthanasia?
• What are the current American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines on euthanasia?
• When might euthanasia be an option for a pet with cancer or other chronic illness?
• When might the government require an animal to be euthanized?
• Why must an animal that has bitten a human be quarantined before it is euthanized?