Euthanasia

Sex- and strain-related differences in the stress response of mice to CO₂ euthanasia

The 2013 edition of the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals recommends a 10% to 30% volume displacement rate (VDR) per minute for CO2 euthanasia of rodents. Here we sought to evaluate behavior and plasma catecholamine levels in multiple...

Year Published: 2018Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Creamer-Hente, M. A., Lao, F. K., Dragos, Z. P. et al. 2018. Sex- and strain-related differences in the stress response of mice to CO₂ euthanasia. JAALAS 57(5), 513–519.

Interpreting neuroendocrine hormones, corticosterone, and blood glucose to assess the wellbeing of anesthetized rats during euthanasia

Current recommendations for assessing animal wellbeing during euthanasia suggest that measuring neuroendocrine hormones—such as ACTH, noradrenaline, and adrenaline—is preferable to measuring corticosterone and blood glucose because of the sensitivity of neuroendocrine hormones to the acute stress associated with rapid methods...

Year Published: 2018Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hickman D. L. 2018. Interpreting neuroendocrine hormones, corticosterone, and blood glucose to assess the wellbeing of anesthetized rats during euthanasia. JAALAS 57(6), 725–728.

Home cage compared with induction chamber for euthanasia of laboratory rats

This study compared behavioral and physiologic changes in Sprague–Dawley and Brown Norway rats that were euthanized by using a 30% volume displacement rate of CO2 in either their home cage or an induction chamber; rats euthanized in the home cage...

Year Published: 2018Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Hickman D. L. 2018. Home cage compared with induction chamber for euthanasia of laboratory rats. JAALAS 57(6), 729–733.

Carbon dioxide, but not isoflurane, elicits ultrasonic vocalizations in female rats

Gradual filling of a chamber with carbon dioxide is currently listed by the Canadian Council on Animal Care guidelines as a conditionally acceptable method of euthanasia for rats. Behavioural evidence suggests, however, that exposure to carbon dioxide gas is aversive....

Year Published: 2013Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Chisholm, J., De Rantere D., Fernandez, N. J. et al. 2013. Carbon dioxide, but not isoflurane, elicits ultrasonic vocalizations in female rats. Laboratory Animals 47(4), 324-7.

The effect of electrical head-to-chest stunning on the EEG in sheep

Head-to-body stunning is regarded as ‘best practice' stunning for sheep. The benefits are loss of consciousness followed by cardiac arrest, death, prevention of animal movements post stun/kill and improved meat quality. Commercial equipment places electrodes on the head and back,...

Year Published: 2018Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Sheep

Citation: Mason, A., Tolo, E., Hektoen, L. et al. 2018. The effect of electrical head-to-chest stunning on the EEG in sheep. Animal Welfare 27(4), 343-350.

An evaluation of two different broiler catching methods

Catching is the first step in the pre-slaughter chain for broiler chickens. The process may be detrimental for animal welfare due to the associated handling. The aim of this pilot study was to compare two different methods to manually catch...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Euthanasia, HandlingAnimal Type: Bird, Chicken

Citation: Kittelsen, K. E., Granquist, E. G., Aunsmo, A. L. et al. 2018. An evaluation of two different broiler catching methods. Animals 8(8), 141.

Mice aversion to sevoflurane, isoflurane and carbon dioxide using an approach-avoidance task

Euthanasia of laboratory animals is one of the main concerns for animal welfare, especially the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) which has been described to induce aversive-like behaviours. In order to refine mass euthanasia in rodents, this study aims to...

Year Published: 2017Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Guedes, S. R., Valentim, A. M., Antunes, L. M. 2017. Mice aversion to sevoflurane, isoflurane and carbon dioxide using an approach-avoidance task. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 189, 91-97.

Rat aversion to isoflurane versus carbon dioxide

Some experts suggest that sedation of laboratory rodents with isoflurane before euthanasia with carbon dioxide (CO2) is a humane alternative to euthanasia with CO2 alone, but little research has compared aversion with these agents. Albino rats were tested in a...

Year Published: 2013Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wong, D., Makowska, I. J., Weary, D. M. 2013. Rat aversion to isoflurane versus carbon dioxide. Biology Letters 9(1), 20121000.

Use of tricaine methanesulfonate or propofol for immersion euthanasia of goldfish (Carassius auratus)

OBJECTIVE To substantiate current AVMA guidelines for immersion euthanasia of goldfish (Carassius auratus) with tricaine methanesulfonate (TMS), determine whether immersion in propofol at 5 times its immersion anesthesia concentration for 30 minutes is sufficient for euthanasia of goldfish, and quantify...

Year Published: 2018Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Fish, Other Fish

Citation: Balko, J. A., Oda, A., Posner, L. P. 2018. Use of tricaine methanesulfonate or propofol for immersion euthanasia of goldfish (Carassius auratus). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 252(12), 1555-1561.

Behavioral responses of CD-1 mice to conspecific and heterospecific blood odors and to a blood odor component

The odor of blood may have both aversive and attractive properties for mammals, depending on the species of the odor donor and the species perceiving the odor. To better understand the informational content of blood odor for a prey species...

Year Published: 2018Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Lahger, C., Laska, M. 2018. Behavioral responses of CD-1 mice to conspecific and heterospecific blood odors and to a blood odor component. Physiology & Behavior 184, 2015-210.