Evaluation of a Commercially Available Euthanasia Solution as a Voluntarily Ingested Euthanasia Agent in Laboratory...

Area of Science:

• Laboratory animal science
• Veterinary pharmacology
• Animal welfare

Background:

• Current laboratory mouse euthanasia methods can cause distress.
• Developing humane and effective euthanasia techniques is crucial for animal welfare.
• Voluntary oral administration offers a potentially less stressful alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the palatability and efficacy of sugar cookie dough as a vehicle for oral euthanasia drug administration in mice.
• To determine if mice would voluntarily ingest a euthanasia solution mixed with palatable cookie dough.
• To assess the dose ingested and observe clinical signs.

Main Methods:

• Explored palatability of flavored sugar cookie dough in mice.
• Mixed euthanasia solution (pentobarbital and phenytoin) into cookie dough.
• Offered dough to mice individually or in pairs and observed for 1 hour.
• Measured dough ingestion to determine drug dosage.

Main Results:

• Mice readily ingested plain sugar cookie dough.
• Palatability significantly decreased when euthanasia solution was added.
• Mice ingested higher doses during the dark phase and after fasting.
• Ingestion caused ataxia but not unconsciousness or death.

Conclusions:

• Sugar cookie dough is a readily ingested vehicle for mice.
• Euthanasia drugs significantly reduce the palatability of cookie dough.
• Further research is needed to find euthanasia compounds that maintain palatability for effective oral delivery.