Understanding and Preventing Pentobarbital Exposure Risks
Learn how veterinarians can prevent pentobarbital toxicosis with AVMA aftercare policy, safe burial guidance, and community protection.
Speakers
Pentobarbital, while widely used in veterinary medicine, poses serious risks when animal remains are not managed responsibly. Cases of secondary poisoning in wildlife, pets, and even people have drawn increasing attention from regulators, the public, and veterinary professionals.
This session explores the latest data on pentobarbital toxicosis, outlines the AVMA’s Companion Animal Aftercare Policy, and highlights practical approaches to responsible home burial. Together, we’ll discuss how veterinarians can safeguard their communities, support grieving families, and uphold best practices in aftercare.
This program has been RACE approved (20-1285186) for 1 hour of continuing education credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians/technologists in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Interpret current data on pentobarbital toxicosis and understand its implications for veterinary practice.
- Apply key principles from the AVMA Companion Animal Aftercare Policy to guide safe and ethical recommendations.
- Educate pet owners on responsible home burial practices that prevent environmental contamination and accidental poisonings.
- Strengthen client trust by demonstrating leadership in both medical care and aftercare guidance.
Our Speakers
Dr. Celine Leheurteux
Dr. Celine Leheurteux has been a dedicated small animal practitioner since 1999, with a keen interest in the psychological aspects of veterinary practice to enhance team and client relationships. She has pioneered a personalized approach to euthanasia, a crucial yet often under-prepared aspect of veterinary medicine, leading to the creation of Euthabag. This eco-friendly, leakproof pet body bag is designed to honor both patients and veterinary professionalism. Dr. Leheurteux is also passionate about addressing compassion fatigue in the profession and has contributed to spay and neuter clinics in remote regions. Certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, she integrates holistic practices into her work. Join us to hear her insights on compassionate euthanasia and enhancing veterinary care.
Mike Rodgers
Mike Rodgers is Head of Marketing at Digitail, the AI-native, cloud-based practice management platform built for veterinary professionals. He helps clinics achieve better patient outcomes and smoother operations by driving awareness and adoption of Digitail’s all-in-one system. With a background in B2B SaaS and digital marketing, Mike focuses on connecting veterinary teams with tools that reduce admin, improve efficiency, and give more time back to patient care.
