Module 1 > Experimentation > Euthanasia
Experimentation
1. Which of the following is a reasonable definition of euthanasia?
a. The emotional state of a human or animal under distress.
b. The act of preparing animals for a surgical or otherwise invasive procedure.
c. The act of killing animals by methods that induce rapid unconsciousness and death without pain or distress.
d. The act of killing animals by methods that preserve physiologic function after death.
2. Why is proper training in euthanasia techniques so important?
a. Training in euthanasia techniques can result in rapid job promotions.
b. Improper technique can cause unnecessary pain and distress in animals.
c. Experiments can be performed more quickly if proper technique is used.
d. Euthanasia solutions are expensive and would be wasted if used improperly.
3. Which reference document contains detailed guidelines for performing euthanasia on a variety of animals?
a. The Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia.
b. Public Health Service Policy
c. The CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories.
d. The institutional radiation safety manual.
4. Which of the following is not considered a physical method of euthanasia?
a. Exsanguination
b. Cervical dislocation
c. Decapitation
d. Pentobarbital overdose
5. Which of the following concerning euthanasia is not true?
a. Physical methods of euthanasia are most desirable when used on anesthetized animals.
b. Physical methods of euthanasia are most desirable when used on conscious animals.
c. The investigator must provide a scientific justification to the IACUC if a physical method will be used alone.
d. When used alone, non-physical methods of euthanasia are usually preferred over physical methods.
6. Which of the following euthanasia agents is recommended for use by itself on a conscious animal?
a. Pentobarbital
b. Neuromuscular blocking agents
c. Potassium chloride
d. Strychnine
7. Injections of euthanasia agents into the heart may be performed in what group of animals below?
a. Conscious animals larger than rodents if a small bore needle is used.
b. Conscious animals if the animal has been trained properly.
c. Anesthetized, heavily sedated, or comatose animals only.
d. Conscious or unconscious rodents only.
8. Which of the following is a false statement concerning the use of decapitation without sedation or anesthesia?
a. The guillotine blade often used for decapitation is a potential hazard for personnel performing the technique.
b. It can be used in research settings only when scientifically justified by the investigator and approved by the IACUC.
c. Handling the animals to properly position them in the guillotine apparatus can be stressful to them.
d. An advantage of the procedure is that it is aesthetically pleasing to personnel.
9. Which of the following is a false statement concerning cervical dislocation?
a. A rod (such as a pencil) is often used to push on and separate the skull from the spinal column in mice.
b. Because it is a physical method, preferentially it should be performed under anesthesia or heavy sedation.
c. The technique causes death when the cervical (neck) vertebrae are rapidly separated from the skull.
d. Because it is a non-physical method, it can be approved by the IACUC without a scientific justification.
10. Which of the following is an advantage of cervical dislocation as a method of euthanasia?
a. It may be aesthetically displeasing.
b. It does not result in chemical contamination of tissues.
c. Its use is limited to poultry, mice, immature rats, and immature rabbits.
d. Brain activity and sensory capabilities may not end immediately.
11. Cervical dislocation performed by hand can be performed on which of the following animals?
a. Rats weighing less than 1 kg and rabbits weighing less than 200 grams.
b. Rats weighing more than 1 kg, and rabbits weighing more than 200 grams.
c. Rats weighing more than 200 grams and rabbits weighing more than 1 kg.
d. Rats weighing less than 200 grams and rabbits weighing less than 1 kg.
12. Which of the following is a false statement concerning euthanasia of animals?
a. Vocalization of animals during euthanasia can upset other animals in the room.
b. Physical methods are generally preferred over non-physical methods.
c. Euthanasia chambers should be cleaned between uses to reduce animal anxiety caused by the release of alarm pheromones in urine and feces.
d. Other animals should not be present when euthanasia is being performed because it may upset them.
13. Which of the following is true concerning exsanguination?
a. It is a technique that should not be used on conscious animals because loss of large blood volumes produces anxiety.
b. It is effective because it produces no anxiety in animals.
c. It is rarely associated with a drop in blood pressure.
d. It is a physical method of euthanasia commonly used on conscious animals because it is quick and effective.
14. Which of the following statements about the use of carbon dioxide for euthanasia is false?
a. It is considered to be an effective means of euthanizing adult rodents.
b. Large quantities of dry ice in an enclosed space represent a danger to humans.
c. Dry ice and fire extinguishers may not be used as a source of carbon dioxide vapors for euthanasia.
d. It is the preferred method of euthanizing rabbits, dogs, cats, and primates.
15. Which of the following statements concerning the use of carbon dioxide to euthanize rodents is true?
a. The technique is rarely used in rodents because both adults and neonates are very resistant to low oxygen levels and death by carbon dioxide inhalation.
b. Compared to adults, neonates are much more susceptible to low oxygen levels, and less resistant to death by carbon dioxide inhalation.
c. Adults and neonates are about equally resistant to low oxygen levels and susceptible to death by carbon dioxide inhalation.
d. Compared to adults, neonates are resistant to low oxygen levels, and less susceptible to death by carbon dioxide inhalation.
16. Which of the following statements about euthanasia of cold-blooded animals like reptiles and amphibians is true?
a. This issue is not of concern to the IACUC because it is not concerned with cold-blooded vertebrate species.
b. According to the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia report, they can often be euthanized with barbiturates or gas anesthetics.
c. This issue is not addressed by the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia report, and no concern for proper technique is warranted.
d. This issue is not of concern to the IACUC because cold-blooded animals do not exhibit intelligence comparable to that of primates.
17. Which of the following statements about pithing as a method of euthanasia is false?
a. It is a simple technique readily performed by untrained students.
b. It is often used in frogs because their anatomy makes it an effective technique.
c. It causes death by destroying parts of the central nervous system.
d. It is a physical means of euthanasia that is preferentially used on unconscious animals, or in conjunction with other techniques.
18. Which of the following statements about preferred methods of euthanasia is false?
a. Carbon dioxide overdose and barbituate overdose are preferred method of euthanasia for most rodents.
b. Intravenous barbituate overdose is a preferred method of euthanasia in rabbits, cats, dogs, and other large animals.
c. Cervical dislocation is a preferred method of euthanasia on conscious small rodents.
d. Non-physical methods of euthanasia are usually preferred over physical methods.