Approved methods for small ruminant humane euthanasia

Small ruminants continue to maintain their importance as both food and fiber animal species. Their role as compan­ion animals has also increased in popularity. Keeping these purposes/utilities in mind, the discussion regarding humane euthanasia procedures can be a very difficult, albeit an edu­cational decision for the client. As veterinarians, there is an ethical duty to ensure a safe and painless death for the patient, thus the value of being well trained and knowledgeable in the various available methods of humane euthanasia are critical in performing these procedures well. Humane euthanasia proce­dures also provide the opportunity to advise the client on rele­vant aspects of proper carcass disposal so that other scavenger species and/or environmental risks are avoided, depending on the method of euthanasia chosen.