Client Guidance

Background: Federal regulations and vendor policies exist prohibiting the use of barbiturates in euthanasia of animals disposed of by rendering or landfill.
Species affected and disposal options: The following species can be rendered, if not euthanized with barbiturates or diagnosed with a select agent: bovines <30 months of age (including fetuses), bovines > 30 months of age with brain and spinal cord removed, bovines > 30 months of age with a negative BSE test, small ruminants with a negative scrapie test, poultry, pigs, camelids, lagomorphs, and fish. In addition to animals euthanized with barbiturates or animals diagnosed with a select agent, the following species cannot be disposed of by rendering: cervids, horses, large wildlife and zoo animals. Incineration is a disposal option for domestic dogs and cats, mustelids, pocket pets, and small wildlife and zoo animals.
WVDL Zero Tolerance Barbiturate Policy

(Provided by UW School of Veterinary Medicine)
Excerpts from AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals (2020):
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE AND MAGNESIUM SALTS, p. 36: ‘Personnel performing this technique must
be trained and knowledgeable in anesthetic techniques, and be competent in assessing the level of
unconsciousness that is required for administration of potassium chloride and magnesium salt
solutions IV. Administration of potassium chloride or magnesium salt solutions IV requires animals
to be in a surgical plane of anesthesia characterized by loss of consciousness, loss of reflex muscle
response, and loss of response to noxious stimuli.’
RUMINANTS, p. 67-68: ‘While not acceptable as a sole method of euthanasia, rapid IV injection of
potassium chloride may assist in ensuring death after cattle have been rendered unconscious by
penetrating captive bolt, gunshot, or administration of general anesthetics (a-2 adrenergic agents
such as xylazine alone are insufficient; see comments under Unacceptable methods).’
EQUINE, p. 78: ‘Recently, rendering plants and landfills have refused equine carcasses euthanized
with pentobarbital. For this reason, adjunctive methods should be considered. Anesthetizing the
equid with xylazine – ketamine should be followed by one of the following: (1) saturated solution of
potassium chloride injected IV or intracardially; (2) saturated solution of magnesium sulfate
injected IV; or (3) 60 mL of 2% lidocaine injected intrathecally. Each of these performed in an equid
in a deep surgical plane of anesthesia is an acceptable method to invoke cardiac arrest and death.’

The diagnosis of Campylobacter and Tritrichomonas venereal infections in cattle is contingent upon proper sample collection and submission of the samples in the appropriate transport medium. Each organism and testing modality has specific transport medium requirements. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY.

Waste Milk Sampling Instructions
Use of Waste milk sample kit

Instructions for Submitting a Sample to the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Testing