I: Background and Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that euthanasia by decapitation or cervical dislocation is performed in compliance with the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals (2020 Edition), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Public Health Service (PHS) policies. Decapitation and cervical dislocation can be used as a confirmatory method to ensure death, or as a primary method of euthanasia with or without the use of anesthesia, when performed by skilled personnel and approved on an IACUC animal use protocol (AUP).
As a laboratory-specific animal training procedure, it is the responsibility of the PI to ensure that all personnel receive the appropriate training and maintain documentation for the laboratory-specific training in their lab.
II: Related Policies and Guidance
III: Decapitation
A. Anesthetized animals
Decapitation of anesthetized animals is an acceptable method of euthanasia for most small species and does not require scientific justification.
In the protocol, investigators must provide details of the anesthesia used (chemical, dose, volume, and route of injection), as well as clear methods for determining adequate depth of anesthesia prior to either cervical dislocation or decapitation.
B. Decapitation of unanesthetized animals
Decapitation of unanesthetized animals will only be approved for rodents, small rabbits, some reptiles, some fish, some amphibians, and similar small species, with the following conditions:
- A scientific justification explaining why anesthesia cannot be used must be provided in the protocol.
- Acceptability of decapitation for reptiles, fish, and amphibians will be determined on a species-by-species basis, dependent on size and morphology. Because the central nervous system of reptiles, fish, and amphibians is tolerant to hypoxic and hypotensive conditions, decapitation must be followed by pithing.
- The protocol must identify the equipment that will be used (i.e., guillotine, scissors, sharp blades). The protocol must identify who will perform the procedure and include a description of their training.
Note: The use of plastic cones to restrain animals appears to reduce distress from handling, minimize the chance of injury to personnel, and improve positioning of the animal in the guillotine.
IV: Cervical Dislocation
A. Cervical dislocation of anesthetized animals
Cervical dislocation of anesthetized animals is an acceptable method of euthanasia for small rodents (<200 g), immature rabbits (< 1 kg), bats, and similar small species, and does not require specialized scientific justification. In heavier rats and rabbits, the greater muscle mass in the cervical region makes manual cervical dislocation physically more difficult; accordingly, it should be performed only with mechanical means.
Investigators must provide details of the anesthesia used (chemical, dose, volume and route of injection), as well as clear methods for determining adequate depth of anesthesia prior to either decapitation or cervical dislocation.
B. Cervical dislocation of unanesthetized animals
Cervical dislocation of unanesthetized animals can only be approved for small rodents (<200 g), immature rabbits (< 1 kg), bats, and similar small species, and with the following conditions:
• A scientific justification explaining why anesthesia cannot be used must be provided in the AUP.
• The protocol must include the criteria used to assess the success of the procedure.
• The protocol must identify who is responsible for the procedure and describe their training and how proficiency is determined. The IACUC may request confirmation of proficiency through Post-Approval Monitoring (PAM).
Approved: 10/6/2008; Revised on 7/19/2021, 05/11/2026