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Euthanasia
Section II. E. of the TAMU Animal Use Protocol requires information on the disposition of animals at the completion of a project. If animal transfer is not possible and euthanasia is necessary for the collection of tissues, the animal should be sacrificed humanely. To this end, methods, agents, doses, and routes listed in the AUP should be consistent with those approved in the 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. (Adobe Acrobat is required to view this report and can be downloaded free here.) Other methods may be considered with adequate scientific justification. In all cases, the techniques used must be reviewed and approved by the Texas A&M University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Intensive care should be provided to animals that develop debilitating illness (expected or unexpected) during the course of an experiment. This includes, but is not limited to, providing hydration and nutritional support to an animal no longer able to reach food and water on its own. If the animal is non-responsive to appropriate therapy and intensive care, euthanasia should be elected.
The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals states: "Euthanasia might be necessary at the end of a protocol or as a means to relieve pain or distress that cannot be alleviated by analgesics, sedatives, or other treatments. Protocols should include criteria for initiating euthanasia, such as degree of a physical or behavioral deficit or tumor size, that will enable a prompt decision to be made by the veterinarian and the investigator to ensure that the end point is humane and the objective of the protocol is achieved."
Personnel performing euthanasia must be properly trained in their approved technique to ensure the minimization of pain and distress. Animals should be handled as gently as possible prior to euthanasia, and an examination must be performed after euthanasia to confirm the absence of a heartbeat. (Remember, the heart can still beat after breathing has stopped, so simply checking for the cessation of respiration is not adequate.)
Preferred methods:
*2-3X an anesthetic dosage is generally considered an adequate euthanasia dosage
*Note: any dosages listed are the MINIMUM recommended dosages
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a LARR Veterinarian at 845-7433.
- Mouse
- CO2 asphyxiation (Not for use in neonatal animals - neonatal animals may be decapitated or chemically overdosed.)
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 150-200 mg/kg IP or IV
- Inhalation - e.g. halothane, methoxyflurane
- Exsanguination under general anesthesia
- Note: this method may need to be followed by another to ensure death
- Cervical dislocation / Decapitation under general anesthesia
- Rat
- CO2 asphyxiation (Not for use in neonatal animals - neonatal animals may be decapitated or chemically overdosed.)
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 150-200 mg/kg IP or IV
- Inhalation - e.g. halothane, methoxyflurane
- Exsanguination under general anesthesia
- Note: this method may need to be followed by another to ensure death
- Cervical dislocation / Decapitation under general anesthesia
- Hamster
- CO2 asphyxiation (Not for use in neonatal animals - neonatal animals may be decapitated or chemically overdosed.)
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 150-200 mg/kg IP or IV
- Inhalation - e.g. halothane, methoxyflurane
- Exsanguination under general anesthesia
- Note: this method may need to be followed by another to ensure death
- Cervical dislocation / Decapitation under general anesthesia
- Guinea Pig
- CO2 asphyxiation
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 150-200 mg/kg IP or IV
- Inhalation - e.g. halothane, methoxyflurane
- Exsanguination under general anesthesia
- Note: this method may need to be followed by another to ensure death
- Rabbit
- CO2 asphyxiation - for rabbits under 1 kg only
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 100-200 mg/kg IP or IV
- Note: must not be used in animals to be used for food purposes
- Inhalation - e.g. halothane, methoxyflurane
- Exsanguination under general anesthesia
- Note: this method may need to be followed by another to ensure death
- Cat
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 90-175 mg/kg IV
- Dog
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 90-175 mg/kg IV
- Horse
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 85-150 mg/kg IV
- Note: must not be used in animals to be used for food purposes
- Ruminant
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 85-150 mg/kg IV
- Note: must not be used in animals to be used for food purposes
- Swine
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 85-150 mg/kg IV
- Note: must not be used in animals to be used for food purposes
- Reptile
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 60-100 mg/kg IV or intracelomically
- Note: must not be used in animals to be used for food purposes
- Amphibian
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - e.g. pentobarbital sodium - 60-100 mg/kg IV or intracelomically (preferred)
- Tricaine Methanesulfonate (MS222) - 10 g/L bath, keep in solution >10 min after breathing stops
- Note: must not be used in animals to be used for food purposes
- Bird
- CO2 asphyxiation
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - pentobarbital sodium (contact a LARR veterinarian for dosage)
- Note: must not be used in animals to be used for food purposes
- Exsanguination under general anesthesia
- Note: this method may need to be followed by another to ensure death
- Fish
- Anesthetic overdose
- Barbiturates - pentobarbital sodium (contact a LARR veterinarian for dosage)
- Tricaine Methanesulfonate (MS222) -10 g/L bath, keep in solution >10 min after breathing stops
- Note: must not be used in animals to be used for food purposes
References
2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia.
Carpenter JW, TY Mashima, DJ Rupiper. Exotic Animal Formulary. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia. 2001.
Hawk CT and SL Leary. Formulary for Laboratory Animals. Iowa State University Press, Ames. 1999.
Plumb, DC. Veterinary Drug Handbook. Iowa State University Press, Ames. 1999.
- Sources
- Halothane
- Fluothane, Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories
- Methoxyflurane - no longer available in the US
- Methoxyflurane/Penthrane, Medical Developments Australia
- Pentobarbital sodium
- Beuthanasia®-D Special, Shering-Plough Animal Health
- Euthasol™, Delmarva Laboratories, Inc.
- Pentosol, Med-Pharmex, Inc.
- Sleepaway®, Fort Dodge Laboratories
- Tricaine Methanesulfonate (MS222)
- Finquel™, Argent Chemical Laboratories