Euthanasia guidelines: What’s new in 2020

The AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals offer best practices for humanely ending animals’ lives when necessary. Since they were first published in 1963, the globally-recognized guidelines have undergone regular review to keep up to date with scientific changes. Join Dr. Steven Leary, chair of the AVMA Panels on Euthanasia, Humane Slaughter and Depopulation, for an overview of changes made in 2020 and how they impact you. 

Participants can expect to learn about:

• Differences between sedation and anesthesia
• Changes to CO2 flow rates for rodents and rabbits
• Physical and non-inhalant technique improvements, such as captive bolt positioning for food- and fiber-production animals, adjunctive methods for equids, and immersion methods for fish.

Dr. Steven Leary received his DVM from Iowa State University and postdoctoral training in laboratory animal medicine and comparative pathology from Johns Hopkins University. During 40 years of experience Dr. Leary has held many leadership roles, including chief medical officer at Fidelis Pharmaceuticals, director of the animal resources program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, assistant vice chancellor for veterinary affairs at Washington University in St. Louis, member of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), president of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM), and chair of the AVMA’s Animal Welfare Committee and Panels on Euthanasia, Humane Slaughter and Depopulation. He is past recipient of the ISU Stange Award, Charles River Prize, and AALAS Griffin and Nathan R. Brewer awards.