rats: (1) inhalation anesthetics, to effect (2) ketamine 90mg/kg IM with xylazine 10mg/kg IM (3) pentobarbital [C2] 40mg/kg IP (4) flunixin meglumine 2.5mg/kg SC 2 times/day (5) buprenorphine [C5] 0.01-0.03mg/kg SC 2 times/day (6) butorphanol 2mg/kg SC 6 times/day
mice: (1) inhalation anesthetics, to effect (2) ketamine 100mg/kg IM with acepromazine 2.5mg/kg IM, or Ketamine/Xylazine/Acepromazine "cocktail" - mix 100mg/ml Ketamine, 20mg/ml Xylazine, and 10mg/ml Acepromazine in a 3:3:1 ratio and give0.5 - 0.7 ml/kg intramuscular or subcutaneous - supplement with 1/2 the initial dose. (3) pentobarbital [C2] 40mg/kg IP (4) flunixin meglumine 2.5mg/kg SC 2 times/day (5) buprenorphine [C5] 0.05mg/kg SC 2 times/day (6) butorphanol 1mg/kg SC 6 times/day
hamsters: (1) inhalation anesthetics, to effect (2) ketamine 100mg/kg IP with xylazine 10mg/kg IP (3) pentobarbital [C2] 60mg/kg IP (4) buprenorphine [C5] 0.01-0.03mg/kg SC 2 times/day
rabbits: (1) ketamine 35mg/kg IM preceded by xylazine 5mg/kg SC and acepromazine 1mg/kg SC (2) pentobarbital [C2] 35mg/kg IV (3) ketamine 35- 40mg/kg IM with xylazine 5mg/kg IM (4) acetaminophen 20mg/kg PO 2 times/day (5) flunixin meglumine 1.1mg/kg SC 2 times/day (6) buprenorphine [C5] 0.01- 0.05mg/kg SC 2-3 times/day
guinea pigs: (1) inhalation anesthetics, to effect (2) ketamine 40mg/kg IP with xylazine 5mg/kg IP (3) pentobarbital [C2] 40mg/kg IP (4) buprenorphine [C5] 0.05mg/kg SC 2-3 times/day (5) morphine [C2] 2.5mg/kg SC or IM 6 times/day
Pentobarbital overdose is the most preferable euthanasia method in all cases. As a general rule, a dose that is at least 3 times an anesthetic dose will be effective. Ketamine is not acceptable for euthanasia when used alone but can be humane when used in conjunction with sedatives and tranquilizers. However, it is not very efficient as it requires very high doses. Carbon dioxide overdosage is commonly used. Physical methods of euthanasia have a high potential for being inhumane and are only acceptable when scientifically necessary and must be performed by carefully trained personnel. Physical methods are acceptable for fully anesthetized animals. In fact, physical assurance of euthanasia is critically important in all cases. Very deeply anesthetized animals may appear dead; yet, they may recover from the anesthesia at a later time. A convenient method of assuring euthanasia is to create a bilateral pneumothorax by permitting air to enter the chest cavity. This is best accomplished by making a small incision through each side of the chest. Physical assurance of euthanasia of mice and other similarly small rodents can be accomplished by cervical dislocation.
Acceptable euthanasia methods are periodically reviewed by the American Veterinary Medical Association " Panel on Euthanasia".