Cervical dislocation

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.^[1] The aim is to quickly separate the spinal cord from the brain^[2] so as to provide the animal with a fast, painless, and easy death. ^[1]

Cervical dislocation is a common method of euthanising laboratory mice.

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.^[3] This severs the spinal cord at the base of the brain or within the cervical spine area (the upper third of the neck).^[2] According to the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), cervical dislocation is normally only conducted on small animals.^[1]

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.^[4]

See also

• Cervical fracture
• Blunt trauma
• Slaughter (livestock)