Which guidelines should be followed for humane euthanasia, and which organization publishes them?

• A. The NIH Guidelines for Euthanasia in Laboratory Animals, published by the National Institutes of Health.
• B. The AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals, published by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
• C. The AAALAC Guidelines for Euthanasia, published by AAALAC International.
• D. The USDA Euthanasia Standards, published by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Answer: (B)

When evaluating humane euthanasia in laboratory animals, the standard reference is the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals published by the American Veterinary Medical Association. These guidelines lay out acceptable euthanasia methods, with clear criteria to minimize pain, distress, and suffering, and they provide species-specific considerations, requirements for anesthesia and analgesia when appropriate, and ways to confirm death. They are widely adopted by IACUCs and research facilities as the authoritative standard, which is why they are used as the primary source for humane euthanasia practices. Other organizations may offer related information, but they do not publish the official, comprehensive euthanasia guidelines that are used to guide compliance and accreditation.