EUTHANASIA (cont)
Another humane method of euthanasia is over dosage with a barbiturate, usually pentobarbital administered intraperitoneally. All injectable euthanasia agents should be stored in a locked cabinet.
Still another method is decapitation. It may be performed with light anesthesia of the animal. Cervical dislocation can be performed on young rats but is not recommended for larger rats.
Guillotine
There are several unacceptable methods of euthanasia, such as slamming mice on a hard surface, paralytic drugs and asphyxia with nitrogen gas. Ether is dangerous because it is explosive and chloroform is toxic to humans.