cervical dislocation
{{Short description|Method of animal euthanasia}}
Cervical dislocation is a common method of animal euthanasia. It refers to a technique used in physical euthanasia of small animals by applying pressure to the neck and dislocating the spinal column from the skull or brain."[http://www.ccac.ca/en/CCAC_Programs/ETCC/GlossaryEng.htm Glossary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629023136/http://www.ccac.ca/en/CCAC_Programs/ETCC/GlossaryEng.htm |date=June 29, 2007 }}." CCAC Programs. 2005. [http://www.ccac.ca Canadian Council on Animal Care] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091017084023/http://www.ccac.ca/ |date=2009-10-17 }}. Accessed 13 July 2007. The aim is to quickly separate the spinal cord from the brainExtension {{cite web |url=http://www.extension.org/pages/Cervical_dislocation |title=Cervical dislocation - eXtension |accessdate=2007-07-13 |url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115072106/http://www.extension.org/pages/Cervical_dislocation |archivedate=2008-01-15 }} so as to provide the animal with a fast, painless, and easy death.
Technique
Firm pressure is applied at the base of the skull, along with a sharp pinching and twisting of the thumb and forefinger. At the same time, the tail is pulled backward.Hogan, B., F. Constantini, and E. Lacy. 1986. Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual This severs the spinal cord at the base of the brain or within the cervical spine area (the upper third of the neck). According to the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), cervical dislocation is normally only conducted on small animals.
Ethics
The University of Iowa and some veterinary associations consider the technique to be an ethically acceptable method for killing small rodents such as rats, mice, squirrels, etc.University of Iowa. "[http://research.uiowa.edu/animal/print.php?get=euthanasia Euthanasia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126105441/http://research.uiowa.edu/animal/print.php?get=euthanasia|date=January 26, 2008}}." Accessed 15 August 2007
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Death}}
{{Veterinary medicine}}