Euthanasia

Novel euthanasia technique for zebrafish using electric shock in standard group housing aquaria

Zebrafish are widely used in research, accounting for approximately 50% of all laboratory fish across Europe. Due to their rapid reproduction and aging, effective and practical euthanasia methods are necessary for managing large stocks. This study investigated whether adult zebrafish...

Year Published: 2025Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Saarinen, U., Sundell, E., Sneddon, L. et al. 2025. Novel euthanasia technique for zebrafish using electric shock in standard group housing aquaria. Scientific Reports 15(1), 3011.

“Killing in the name of 3R?” The ethics of death in animal research

Changing relationships with nonhuman animals have led to important modifications in animal welfare legislations, including the protection of animal life. However, animal research regulations are largely based on welfarist assumptions, neglecting the idea that death can constitute a harm to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Euthanasia, Regulations & Ethical ReviewAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Persson, K., Rodriguez Perez, C., Louis-Maerten, E. et al. 2024. “Killing in the name of 3R?” The ethics of death in animal research. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 38(1), 4.

Novel euthanasia technique for zebrafish using electric shock in standard group housing aquaria

Year Published: 2025Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Saarinen, U., Sundell, E., Sneddon, L. et al. 2025. Novel euthanasia technique for zebrafish using electric shock in standard group housing aquaria. Scientific Reports 15(1), 3011.

Assessing susceptibility to carbon dioxide gas in three rat strains using the loss of righting reflex

Overdose of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) is a common euthanasia method for rodents; however, CO2 exposure activates nociceptors in rats at concentrations equal to or greater than 37% and is reported to be painful in humans at concentrations equal to...

Year Published: 2024Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Merenick, D. R., Munro, B. A., Gee, J. M. et al. 2024. Assessing susceptibility to carbon dioxide gas in three rat strains using the loss of righting reflex. JAALAS 63(3), 310–315.

Laboratory animal welfare meets human welfare: A cross-sectional study of professional quality of life, including compassion fatigue in laboratory animal personnel

Laboratory animal personnel may experience significant stress from working with animals in scientific research. Workplace stress can be assessed by evaluating professional quality of life, which is comprised of compassion fatigue (i.e., burnout and secondary traumatic stress) and compassion satisfaction....

Year Published: 2020Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Euthanasia, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: LaFollette, M. R., Riley, M. C., Cloutier, S. et al. 2020. Laboratory animal welfare meets human welfare: A cross-sectional study of professional quality of life, including compassion fatigue in laboratory animal personnel. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 114.

Anesthesia and humane euthanasia methods for king worm larvae (Zophobas morio)

A growing spotlight on insect welfare as research subjects, fodder for vertebrate animals, and patients for veterinarians highlights the need to establish humane euthanasia methods for these species. An insect of increasing commercial importance is the king worm (Zophobas morio),...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Invertebrate, Other Invertebrate

Citation: Lum, A. M., Keller, K. A. 2024. Anesthesia and humane euthanasia methods for king worm larvae (Zophobas morio). Zoo Biology 43(2), 164–168.

Comparison of low and high doses of pentobarbital or thiopental for euthanasia of isoflurane-anesthetized pigs

Barbiturate overdose is a common method for euthanizing pigs. However, barbiturates can cause tissue damage and may affect experimental results, so the minimal dose should be used. The minimal dose of barbiturate for euthanasia in pigs under isoflurane anesthesia has...

Year Published: 2023Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Yoshida, K. 2023. Comparison of low and high doses of pentobarbital or thiopental for euthanasia of isoflurane-anesthetized pigs. JAALAS 62(2), 185–188.

Comparative study of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) and eugenol as euthanasia agents in zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an experimental model

In experimental procedures inevitably leading to the sacrifice of animals, suitable measures should be taken to minimise their pain and suffering as much as possible, as well as to prevent any modification or masking in the experimental results obtained. An...

Year Published: 2023Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Ayala-Soldado, N., Mora-Medina, R., Lora-Benítez, A. J. et al. 2023. Comparative study of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) and eugenol as euthanasia agents in zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an experimental model. Laboratory Animals 57(3), 236–246.

Mouse isoflurane anesthesia using the drop method

Anesthesia with isoflurane prior to carbon dioxide euthanasia is recommended as a refinement, but vaporizer access can be limited. An alternative to vaporizers is the ‘drop' method, introducing a fixed volume of isoflurane into the induction chamber. Previous work suggests...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Anesthesia & Sedation, EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Bodnar, M. J., Ratuski, A. S., Weary, D. M. 2023. Mouse isoflurane anesthesia using the drop method. Laboratory Animals 57(6), 623–630.

Effects of different grades of carbon dioxide on euthanasia of mice (Mus musculus)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a conditionally acceptable method for mouse euthanasia, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. In a 2012 Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) webinar, representatives of OLAW, the USDA and...

Year Published: 2023Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Stuckey, J. E., Makhija, S. D., Reimer, D. C. et al. 2023. Effects of different grades of carbon dioxide on euthanasia of mice (Mus musculus). JAALAS 62(5), 430–437.