STANDARD EUTHANASIA GUIDELINES FOR NON-RODENT SPECIES

General Considerations:

• Euthanasia techniques must be consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia, June 2007. Methods are chosen to minimize animal pain and distress consistent with the needs of the research protocol.
• The method of euthanasia must be specified in the approved animal use (IACUC) protocol.
• Any chemical euthanasia method must be followed by a physical method from which the animal cannot recover such as decapitation, cervical dislocation or bilateral thoracotomy.
• Sodium pentobarbital and ketamine are controlled substances and must be maintained accordingly. The techniques listed below are suggested common methods for euthanasia of large animals. Other methods outlined in the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia are acceptable with proper justification in the approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol

Technique:

Intravenous injection of euthanasia solution: Tractable or sedated animals require at least 86 mg sodium pentobarbital per kilogram estimated body weight. Prior sedation, anesthesia or tranquilization may be necessary for some species or individual animals. LARC recommended doses

Intraperitoneal injection is also acceptable in unsedated animals up to 15 pounds at a dose of at least 260mg/kg.

Modification of these techniques, or use of other methods must be specifically approved in the IACUC protocol, or prescribed by a LARC veterinarian in case of clinical emergencies.

Disposal:

The UCSF Biosafety Committee requires that all animal carcasses, tissues or organs contaminated with infectious agents be discarded in biohazard bags. Due to the difficulty of determining the infective status of most carcasses, the UCSF policy is to treat all carcasses as infected and they must be put in red biohazard bags.

The sealed bags must be stored in waterproof containers in designated cold rooms or freezers until removed by the animal waste management contractors; these containers should not weigh more than 50 pounds. Carcasses weighing more than 50 pounds should be disposed of one per container. Contact the Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC) at 476-2204 to make arrangements to transport large carcasses or for any information regarding carcass disposal.

Training:

Only trained individuals should perform euthanasia. Training is provided through the Animal Welfare Assurance Program.