CET Species-Specific Euthanasia Considerations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: For guinea pigs and other small rodents in a shelter, what is the preferred humane euthanasia method?
- Cervical dislocation only
- CO2 exposure followed by confirmation of death (Correct answer)
- Intraperitoneal pentobarbital with no verification needed
- Decapitation as a sole method
Correct answer: CO2 exposure followed by confirmation of death
CO2 exposure at the proper fill rate causes rapid loss of consciousness in small rodents, and confirmation of death must follow to ensure the procedure is complete.
Question 2: When performing intracardiac (IC) injection for euthanasia, what is the critical requirement?
- The animal must be fully anesthetized or confirmed dead (Correct answer)
- The animal may be conscious if the technician works quickly
- IC injection is only permitted in cats, not dogs
- The animal must be under chemical restraint but may be lightly sedated
Correct answer: The animal must be fully anesthetized or confirmed dead
Intracardiac injection is only acceptable when the animal is fully unconscious (deeply anesthetized) or already confirmed dead, as it is painful if performed on a conscious animal.
Question 3: Which route of pentobarbital administration is conditionally acceptable in cats when IV access cannot be established?
- Subcutaneous
- Intranasal
- Intraperitoneal (Correct answer)
- Intramuscular
Correct answer: Intraperitoneal
Intraperitoneal injection is a conditionally acceptable route in cats when IV access is impossible; onset is slower but effective with sufficient dose.
Question 4: For livestock such as cattle and horses, what euthanasia method is most commonly used when firearms or penetrating captive bolt is not available?
- High-dose intramuscular telazol
- Intravenous pentobarbital via jugular vein (Correct answer)
- CO2 chamber exposure
- Intraperitoneal potassium chloride
Correct answer: Intravenous pentobarbital via jugular vein
Intravenous pentobarbital administered via the jugular vein is the standard chemical euthanasia method for large livestock when physical methods are unavailable.
Question 5: What is the primary welfare concern when euthanizing neonatal pigs using CO2?
- CO2 is ineffective in pigs regardless of age
- Neonatal pigs are more resistant to CO2 and may experience prolonged distress (Correct answer)
- Neonatal pigs require higher oxygen supplementation before CO2 exposure
- CO2 causes violent muscle activity in neonatal pigs that injures staff
Correct answer: Neonatal pigs are more resistant to CO2 and may experience prolonged distress
Neonatal pigs have higher hypoxic tolerance, making CO2 induction slower and potentially distressing; additional sedation or an alternative method may be warranted.
Question 6: For ferrets, which vein is typically used for intravenous pentobarbital administration?
- Jugular vein (Correct answer)
- Cephalic vein
- Coccygeal vein
- Saphenous vein
Correct answer: Jugular vein
The jugular vein is generally the most accessible and reliable site for IV injection in ferrets due to their small limb veins.
Question 7: Which statement about euthanasia of fish is most accurate according to current humane euthanasia guidelines?
- Flushing live fish down the drain is acceptable in all circumstances
- Rapid chilling with ice water is a fully acceptable sole euthanasia method for all fish
- MS-222 (tricaine methanesulfonate) or clove oil can be used to achieve anesthesia prior to a physical method (Correct answer)
- CO2 bubbled into water is universally approved as a sole method for all fish species
Correct answer: MS-222 (tricaine methanesulfonate) or clove oil can be used to achieve anesthesia prior to a physical method
MS-222 or clove oil anesthetizes fish before a secondary physical method confirms death, meeting humane euthanasia standards for fish.
CET Species-Specific Euthanasia Considerations 2
For guinea pigs and other small rodents in a shelter, what is the preferred humane euthanasia method?