Appendix 2—Acceptable agents and methods of euthanasia

Acceptable agents and methods of euthanasia—characteristics and modes of action (refer to text for details)

Agent

Classification

Mode of action

Rapidity

Ease of

Safety for

Species suitability Efficacy and

Barbiturates Hypoxia

Highly effective attributable to

Direct depression

Rapid onset of

Animal must be

Safe except human

Most species

when appropriately depression of vital

of cerebral cortex,

anesthesia

restrained;

abuse potential;

administered; centers

subcortical

personnel must be

DEA-controlled

structures, and vital

skilled to perform

substance

acceptable IP in

centers; direct

IV injection

small animals and

depression of heart

muscle

Effective but hydrochloride

Benzocaine Hypoxia

Depression of CNS

Very rapid,

Easily used

Safe

Fish, amphibians

attributable to

expensive depression of vital centers

depending on dose

Carbon dioxide Hypoxia

Effective, but time (bottled gas only)

Direct depression

Moderately rapid

Used in closed

Minimal hazard

Small laboratory

attributable to

animals, birds, cats, required may be depression of vital

of cerebral cortex,

container

small dogs, rabbits, prolonged in centers

subcortical

structures, and vital

mink (high

immature and

centers; direct

concentrations

neonatal animals

depression of heart

required), zoo

muscle

animals, amphibians, fish, some reptiles, swine

Most small species Effective; (bottled gas only)

Carbon monoxide Hypoxia

Combines with

Moderate onset

time, but insidious

appropriately

hazardous, toxic,

including dogs,

acceptable only

preventing its

so animal is

maintained

and difficult to

cats, rodents, mink, when equipment is

combination with

unaware of onset

equipment

detect

chinchillas, birds,

properly designed

oxygen

reptiles,

and operated

amphibians, zoo animals, rabbits

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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia

30 ( Formerly the Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia)

Agent

Classification

Mode of action

Rapidity

Ease of

Safety for

Species suitability Efficacy and

Inhalant anesthetics Hypoxia

Some amphibians, Highly effective attributable to

Direct depression

Moderately rapid

Easily performed

Must be properly

provided that depression of vital

of cerebral cortex,

onset of anesthesia,

with closed

scavenged or

birds, cats, dogs,

furbearing animals, subject is centers

subcortical

excitation may

container; can be

vented to minimize

structures, and vital

develop during

administered to

exposure to

rabbits, some

large animals by

personnel

reptiles, rodents

exposed; either is

means of a mask

and other small

conditionally

mammals, zoo

acceptable animals, fish, free- ranging wildlife

Highly effective for irradiation

Microwave Brain enzyme

Direct inactivation

Very rapid

Requires training

Safe

Mice, rats

inactivation

of brain enzymes

and highly

special needs

by rapid heating of

Penetrating captive Physical damage to

Horses, ruminants, Instant loss of bolt

Direct concussion

Rapid

Requires skill,

Safe

brain

of brain tissue

adequate restraint,

swine

consciousness, but

and proper

motor activity may

placement of

continue

captive bolt

2-Phenoxyethanol Hypoxia

Effective but attributable to

Depression of CNS

Very rapid,

Easily used

Safe

Fish

expensive depression of vital centers

depending on dose

Potassium chloride Hypoxia

Highly effective, (intracardially or

Direct depression

Rapid

Requires training

Anesthetics may be

Most species

some clonic muscle intravenously in

of cerebral cortex,

and specialized

hazardous with

spasms may be conjunction with

subcortical

equipment for

accidental human

observed general anesthesia

structures, and vital

remote injection

exposure

centers secondary

Appendix 2—Acceptable agents and methods of euthanasia