Back to All Events

Reptile Wildlife Euthanasia Techniques

FREE, live, interactive LafeberVet webinar* 

Reptile Wildlife Euthanasia Techniques

Presenter: Renée Schott, DVM, CWR

Sunday, June 28, 2020 - 3 pm EDT (New York) 
What time is this in my time zone?

The question is not, can they reason?
Nor, can they talk?
But, can they suffer?
--Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1780


Wildlife often present to veterinarians and wildlife rehabilitators with conditions that warrant euthanasia. It can be difficult, however, to apply mammalian methods of euthanasia to species with unique physiology such as reptiles. This interactive presentation will use cases to discuss practical euthanasia methods for reptiles and the (brief) physiology behind these methods compared to others. Emphasis will be placed on freshwater turtles as these represent some physiological extremes.

Dr. Renée Schott will present this live webinar event. Dr. Schott is the Medical Director and a Senior Veterinarian at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota (WRCMN), one of the largest rehabilitation centers in the country. Renée has been involved in wildlife rehabilitation for over 15 years and she has worked at WRCMN for over 10 years. Additionally, Dr. Schott teaches courses at the University of Minnesota-College of Veterinary Medicine and she is a Course Instructor for the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council. Renee also does relief work at The Raptor Center in St. Paul and she is a former member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Board of Directors.

Register here

Lecture topics:

  • Wildlife rehabilitation definition

  • Pain?

  • Legalities

  • Definition of euthanasia

  • Evaluating euthanasia methods

    • Animal factors

    • Human factors

    • Remains (carcass) factors

  • We must view the above considerations with a practical systems view or process flow

Recommended reading

Before the live session, Dr. Schott strongly recommends attendees read the brief article "Euthanasia: Quality of the Life"
by Katherine McKeever.

This copyrighted material is reprinted with permission of the 
National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association 
from Principles of Wildlife Rehabilitation, 2nd edition, 2002 (pp 215-216). 



Register today and visit LafeberVet for more information.