Agents and Methods of Euthanasia by Species
Agents and Methods of Euthanasia by Species
Species | Acceptable Methodsa | Acceptable Methods with Conditionsb |
|---|---|---|
Aquatic invertebrates | S6.3c: Immersion in anesthetic solution (magnesium salts, clove oil, eugenol, ethanol) | S6.3: Adjunctive methods (second step) include 70% alcohol and neutral-buffered 10% formalin, pithing, freezing, boiling |
Amphibians | S7.3: As appropriate by species—injected barbiturates, dissociative agents, and anesthetics as specified, topical buffered tricaine methanesulfonate or benzocaine hydrochloride | S7.3: As appropriate by species—inhaled anesthetics as specified, CO2, penetrating captive bolt or firearm, manually applied blunt force trauma to the head, rapid freezing of small (< 4 g [0.1 oz]) individuals where immediate death occurs |
Avian species (see also Poultry, below) | S5: IV barbiturates | S5: Inhaled anesthetics, CO2, CO, N2, Ar, cervical dislocation (small birds and poultry), decapitation (small birds) S7.5: Gunshot (free-ranging birds) |
Cats | S1: IV barbiturates, injected anesthetic overdose, Tributame, T61 | S1: Barbiturates (alternative routes of administration), inhaled anesthetic overdose, COc, CO2c, gunshotc |
Cattle | S3.2: IV barbiturates | S3.2: Gunshot, penetrating captive bolt |
Dogs | S1: IV barbiturates, injected anesthetic overdose, Tributame, T61 | S1: Barbiturates (alternative routes of administration), inhaled anesthetic overdose, COc, CO2c, gunshotc |
Fish | S6.2: Immersion in buffered benzocaine or benzocaine hydrochloride, isoflurane, sevoflurane,quinaldine sulfate, buffered tricaine methanesulfonate, 2-phenoxyethanol, injected pentobarbital, rapid chilling (appropriate species), ethanol | S6.2: Eugenol, isoeugenol, clove oil, CO2-saturated water (aquarium-fish facilities/fisheries), decapitation/cervical transection/manually applied blunt force trauma followed by pithing or exsanguination, maceration (research setting), captive bolt (large fish) |
Equids | S4: IV barbiturates | S 4: Penetrating captive bolt, gunshot |
Marine mammals | S7.5(captive): Injected barbiturates (captive) S7.7 (free-ranging): Injected barbiturates or anesthetic overdose | S7.5 (captive): Inhaled anesthetics (captive) S7.7 (free-ranging): Gunshot, manually applied blunt force trauma, implosive decerebration |
Nonhuman primates | S2.3, S7.4: Injected barbiturates or anesthetic overdose | S2.3, S7.4 (as appropriate by species): Inhaled anesthetic, CO, CO2 |
Poultry | S3.4: Injected barbiturates and anesthetic overdose | S3.4: CO2, CO, N2, Ar, low-atmospheric-pressure stunning, cervical dislocation (as anatomically appropriate), decapitation, manual blunt force trauma, electrocution, gunshot, captive bolt |
Rabbits | S2.4: IV barbiturates | S2.4: Inhaled anesthetic overdose, CO2, cervical dislocation (as anatomically appropriate), penetrating captive bolt, nonpenetrating captive bolt |
Reptiles | S7.3: As appropriate by species—injected barbiturates/buffered tricaine methanesulfonate, dissociative agents with adjunctive method and anesthetics as specified | S7.3: As appropriate by species—inhaled anesthetics as specified, CO2, penetrating captive bolt or firearm, manually applied blunt force trauma to the head, rapid freezing for animals < 4 g where immediate death occurs, spinal cord severance/destruction of brain (crocodilians) |
Rodents | S2.2: Injected barbiturates and barbiturate combinations, dissociative agent combinations | S2.2: Inhaled anesthetics, CO2, CO, tribromoethanol, ethanol, cervical dislocation, decapitation, focused beam microwave irradiation |
Small ruminants | S3.2: Injected barbiturates | S3.2: CO2 (goat kids), gunshot, penetrating captive bolt, nonpenetrating captive bolt (goat kids) |
Swine | S3.3: Injected barbiturates | S3.3: CO2, CO, N2, Ar, gunshot, electrocution, penetrating captive bold, nonpenetrating captive bolt (piglets), manually applied blunt force trauma |
Reprinted, with permission, from the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia 2020 Edition. Note: Initial “S” references with associated numbers in table entries refer to specific areas of more detailed information in the AVMA guidelines, available at www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-02/Guidelines-on-Euthanasia-2020.pdf. a Acceptable methods are those that consistently produce a humane death when used as the sole means of euthanasia. b Acceptable methods with conditions are those that may require certain conditions to be met to consistently produce humane death, may have a greater potential for operator error or safety hazards, are not well documented in the scientific literature, or may require a secondary method to ensure death. c Not recommended for routine use. | ||