On this page: Objectives | Reasons for Euthanasia
Definition
A gentle death that is regarded as an act of humane killing with the minimum of pain, fear and distress.
Objectives
- Painless
- Unconsciousness and death are achieved rapidly
- Minimal restraint and psychological stress
- Simple, reliable, reproducible and irreversible
- Safe for the operator
Ensuring the Death of the Animal While any acceptable method of euthanasia rapidly renders the animal unconscious and insensitive to pain, the death of the animal must also be assured. The animal should be considered dead only when there is assurance that blood is no longer being delivered to the brain because the heart has stopped, and all other movements, such as respiration or reflex activity, have ceased. For some methods of euthanasia, this involves two steps: the application of the method producing initial unconsciousness, followed by a procedure to ensure the animal cannot regain consciousness or recover (e.g., exsanguination, opening the chest, decapitation or cervical dislocation after carbon dioxide euthanasia). This is also referred to as a secondary physical method of euthanasia.
Reasons for Euthanasia:
Humane endpoints
- Levels of pain, distress and suffering exceed acceptable limits
- Specific guidelines for physiological parameters (weight loss, reduced mobility, alterations in core body temperature etc.)
- Specific guidelines for certain areas of research (neoplasia, toxicology)
- Also know as clinical endpoints
Experimental endpoints
- Experimental objectives / results are achieved
- Tissue harvesting
- No longer suitable for breeding
- Unwanted genotype / phenotype
- Questionable / undesirable health status
Recognition and Confirmation of Death
- Cessation of heartbeat and respiration
- Absence of all reflexes
- Central, fixed dilated pupil (easier to detect in larger species)
- Chemical and physical methods
Acceptable Methods of Euthanasia
- Species dependent
- Methods differ for anaesthetized vs. unanaesthetized animals
- Physical methods must cause immediate loss of consciousness through physical trauma to the brain, explanation must be provided for it's use and approved in the AUP.
Recommended Methods of Euthanasia
What best describes a good method of euthanasia is that it consistently produces a humane death.
- For chemical euthanasia, the intravenous route is always preferable to intraperitoneal route due to rapid induction and a quick, humane death.
- For physical euthanasia, prior anaesthesia is mandatory. If there is no anaesthesia administered prior to a physical means of euthanasia, scientific justification must be provided, with subsequent approval by the local Animal Care Committee.