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Euthanasia
Information on specific euthanasia methods for select species.
Unless approved by the IACUC, euthanasia may only be performed using methods listed as acceptable by the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia.
Methods of Euthanasia
Euthanasia is the act of killing animals by methods that induce rapid unconsciousness and death with minimal pain or distress.
Only trained personnel may perform euthanasia. The principal investigator is responsible for ensuring that personnel performing euthanasia have been trained to perform the procedure used. Training in euthanasia procedures is available from ARP veterinarians, veterinary technicians and animal caretakers.
Carcasses should be placed in a plastic bag (available in each facility), labeled, and put in the appropriate animal facility refrigerator or freezer. These animals will be picked up for incineration. Do not place dead animals or animal tissues in a waste receptacle or dumpster.Selected agents and methods of euthanasia by species
Criteria used for acceptable, conditionally acceptable and unacceptable methods are as follows:
- Acceptable - those methods that consistently produce a humane death when used as the sole means of euthanasia.
- Conditionally acceptable - Those methods that by the nature of the technique or because of greater potential for operator error or safety hazards might not consistently produce humane death or the methods are not well documented in the scientific literature.
- Unacceptable - those methods deemed inhumane under any conditions or that pose a substantial risk to the human applying the technique.
- Adjunctive methods of euthanasia - Methods that cannot be used as the sole means of euthanasia but may be used in conjunction with other acceptable methods to ensure death.
| Species | Acceptable | Conditionally acceptable |
|---|---|---|
| Amphibians | Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics (in appropriate species), CO2, MS222, benzocaine hydrochloride, double pithing | Stunning and decapitation, decapitation and pithing |
| Birds | Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics, CO2, electrical stunning followed by exsanguination | Cervical dislocation, decapitation, thoracic compression (small, free-ranging only) |
| Deer | Barbiturates (with prior sedation) | Gun shot (must demonstrate proficiency) |
| Fish | Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics, CO2, MS222, benzocaine hydrochloride, 2-phenoxyethanol | Decapitation and pithing, stunning and decapitation or pithing |
| Horses | Barbiturates | |
| Rabbits | Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics | Cervical dislocation (< 1kg), decapitation, penetrating captive bolt |
| Reptiles | Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics (in appropriate species), CO2 (in appropriate species) | Decapitation and pithing, stunning and decapitation |
| Rodents and other small mammals | Barbiturates, inhalant anesthetics, CO2 | Methoxyflurane, ether, cervical dislocation (rats <200g), decapitation |
| Ruminants | Barbiturates, penetrating captive bolt | |
| Swine-Farrowing piglets < 12 lbs | CO2, Barbiturates | Blow to the head (< 3 weeks of age) |
| Swine- Nursery pigs < 70 lbs | CO2, barbiturates, penetrating captive bolt | |
| Swine- Grow/Finish to Mature pigs | Barbiturates, penetrating captive bolt | |
| Free ranging wildlife | Two stage method of euthanasia is preferred: General anesthesia or deep sedation followed by barbiturate overdose. | CO2, CO chamber, gunshot |
Please consult with an ARP veterinarian for information on euthanasia in other species.
The information and drug dosages presented in this website are intended as a resource for Pennsylvania State University research investigators. No guarantee of drug efficacy or safety is made nor must information obtained from this site be substituted for professional veterinary advice.
