Euthanization Methods - Which do YOU think is right?

That's an excellent point, wolfy-hound. It's always a great idea to have a plan set aside for when that time comes. You can mentally prepare yourself also, knowing you won't have to think so much about what you're going to do. End the animal's suffering, allow yourself time to grieve, and then appreciate the fact that you did the right thing by planning ahead.

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Originally Posted by BigBlue56

Well, this isnt about how YOU feel after wards. Its about what causes the least amount of tension/stress/pain to the animal.

"however moments later it is all removed by displacement.."

Moments later. Speak to anyone that was in a near fatal accident of any kind and they will tell you that seconds feel like hours. Moments later can be an eternity knowing that your suffocating. Make no mistake, they know when they cant breathe. Not to mention you STILL have oxygen in your body that keeps you alive for a few more seconds/minutes.

I understand for YOU its easy to turn on a valve and 30 seconds later see a dead snake and think "well that was quick and painless". But your not the one suffering.

Have you ever been under water to the point you were panicking for air? Well, snakes also use a much smaller oxygen percentage then we do and takes longer for the oxygen to fully dissipate in the body. Just because its not messy, doesnt mean its not stressful or painful.

Its not pretty, but smashing a skull and the brain cavity just might be the best FOR THE ANIMAL... Co2 simply doesnt make much sense to me given the nature of how reptiles utilize oxygen in the first place.

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I believe you missed my point....

The point I was making was not towards how I feel after the creature has passed. It is about how I feel being the one to raise and then have to dispatch, it seems it is my responsibility. After all the care you put into raising your pet, caring for its little needs this seems a bit trivial when the time comes to end its suffering.

I would just as soon shoot my own dogs and end there missery than take it to a vet when the time comes, who pays no respect and it is just another animal to put down to them. Granted shooting may not seem respectful but watching something suffer is deff. not. I chose the word "shoot" in context to the fact that it seems decapitating or smashing doesnt seem right in this case do to the size of the animal.

I am sure there are some vets that feel bad but after they have done it so many times there has to be a lack of emotion it is only human.

Yes I have been to a point where I panicked for air. Diving and had a regulator malfunctioned. So yes I understand.

Yes it is a method of suffocation but with a little research you will find that it causes suffocation long after the subject has passed out do to the level of intoxication. Resulting in a humane death with no association of pain.

At the level of 5000ppm for euthanasia Co2 has only taken a maximum of 10 seconds with rats and when I did have to use on a bearded dragon and also on one snake it took a matter of 7 seconds, and yes that is timed by me. So where 30 seconds may seem like eternity you will see that it has never taken that long.

Also like I said before, I support any of these methods for no matter how long the animal suffers so be it "30 seconds" or longer you are still doing a great service by removing your own emotion and ending the animals prolonged suffering.

I am not one to judge, if I had to crush a skull or decapitate and it was the only way then so be it I will do what it takes. You seem to have been led to believe this is about me and in no way will it ever be.

Im the guy who stops to put a deer on the side of the road down after a car clips it. Only happened once and a firearm was the best option. State Trooper wrote me a ticket for discharging a firearm on the side of the road to top it all of.
Later judge let me off seeing that I had the best intentions.

Sorry to mislead you but it isnt about me...

J

I picked other because taking the animal to a vet for euthanization was not an option. But I guess it could fall under "injection".

If that option was not available (which I really can't see why it wouldn't be. Most vets will work with you in this area.), I guess blunt force or gun shot to the head destroying the brain immediately would be a second runner up.

jallenfl has truly hit the nail on the head. Responsibility. We as keepers are responsible for all aspects of our pets lives and likely the greatest one is how a pet passes. That is why this is such a hot topic as, if I may speak for most here, feel that responsibility weighing on us. I know I do. I wish that I am never tasked with a mercy killing but if it does occur having had this discussion will add to it. In the end it seems to me that each of us are capable of differing things I don't have a Co2 chamber around so personally that is out, the vet is 1 hour away that is out, for me I guess that leaves crushing the skull, am I able to do so with out flinching and going off target? I think so.

The best method is the one that can be administered quickly and is the fastest available. My girlfriend would be unable to bash our guys heads in period, does that mean she should wait (hours) for me to drive home? NO WAY. Refrigerator and freezing seems more humane that hanging around for hours with a painful injury. It isn't ideal but is better than the alternative. A few moments more suffering is better than hours of it. The idea is to bring an end to prolonged suffering the thing I was guilty of was forgetting that the snake in question is currently suffering and that bringing death faster will end that.

Is taking 8 (or whatever) minuets to suffocate worse than days with your spine exposed and dying from infection and shock? Pick a way that YOU are able to do and do it. All of the listed ways are better than doing nothing.

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Originally Posted by jallenfl

I believe you missed my point....

The point I was making was not towards how I feel after the creature has passed. It is about how I feel being the one to raise and then have to dispatch, it seems it is my responsibility. After all the care you put into raising your pet, caring for its little needs this seems a bit trivial when the time comes to end its suffering.

I would just as soon shoot my own dogs and end there missery than take it to a vet when the time comes, who pays no respect and it is just another animal to put down to them. Granted shooting may not seem respectful but watching something suffer is deff. not. I chose the word "shoot" in context to the fact that it seems decapitating or smashing doesnt seem right in this case do to the size of the animal.

I am sure there are some vets that feel bad but after they have done it so many times there has to be a lack of emotion it is only human.

Yes I have been to a point where I panicked for air. Diving and had a regulator malfunctioned. So yes I understand.

Yes it is a method of suffocation but with a little research you will find that it causes suffocation long after the subject has passed out do to the level of intoxication. Resulting in a humane death with no association of pain.

At the level of 5000ppm for euthanasia Co2 has only taken a maximum of 10 seconds with rats and when I did have to use on a bearded dragon and also on one snake it took a matter of 7 seconds, and yes that is timed by me. So where 30 seconds may seem like eternity you will see that it has never taken that long.

Also like I said before, I support any of these methods for no matter how long the animal suffers so be it "30 seconds" or longer you are still doing a great service by removing your own emotion and ending the animals prolonged suffering.

I am not one to judge, if I had to crush a skull or decapitate and it was the only way then so be it I will do what it takes. You seem to have been led to believe this is about me and in no way will it ever be.

Im the guy who stops to put a deer on the side of the road down after a car clips it. Only happened once and a firearm was the best option. State Trooper wrote me a ticket for discharging a firearm on the side of the road to top it all of.
Later judge let me off seeing that I had the best intentions.

Sorry to mislead you but it isnt about me...

J

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Forgive my post if it came off aggressive as that wasnt my intention. When I said 30 seconds, it was a small exaggeration. Even 7 seconds when your gasping for air feels like an eternity.. You yourself should know this given that you have been in a position where you needed oxygen desperately.

"Little research". I would love to see any links tor documents that back up your claim that Co2 is good way to go for reptiles, because every single professional herp I have ever spoken to says thats not as quick and painless as you think.

Not to mention, I simply do not buy the 7 second thing. The remaining oxygen in the snakes body would keep it alive for longer then 7 seconds period. Unless you created a vacuum which was possible of sucking the oxygen out of the snake on a cellular level, 7 seconds simple wont happen.

Suffocating isnt this easy thing where its a set time for the animal to pass. I just personally feel that Co2 is DEFINITELY not the best way to go about this. And I really dont think your fully aware of what is going on in the reptiles body during these "7 seconds".

I feel like you may be playing with a chemical balance in the reptiles body that you fully dont understand. All I know is if I had to choose a split second death of having my brain cavity destroyed or "7 seconds" of gasping for air and feeling the stress on my body as my lungs struggle to compress one last time before I go to sleep.. Its really not even a question.

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Originally Posted by BigBlue56

Forgive my post if it came off aggressive as that wasnt my intention. When I said 30 seconds, it was a small exaggeration. Even 7 seconds when your gasping for air feels like an eternity.. You yourself should know this given that you have been in a position where you needed oxygen desperately.

"Little research". I would love to see any links tor documents that back up your claim that Co2 is good way to go for reptiles, because every single professional herp I have ever spoken to says thats not as quick and painless as you think.

Not to mention, I simply do not buy the 7 second thing. The remaining oxygen in the snakes body would keep it alive for longer then 7 seconds period. Unless you created a vacuum which was possible of sucking the oxygen out of the snake on a cellular level, 7 seconds simple wont happen.

Suffocating isnt this easy thing where its a set time for the animal to pass. I just personally feel that Co2 is DEFINITELY not the best way to go about this. And I really dont think your fully aware of what is going on in the reptiles body during these "7 seconds".

I feel like you may be playing with a chemical balance in the reptiles body that you fully dont understand. All I know is if I had to choose a split second death of having my brain cavity destroyed or "7 seconds" of gasping for air and feeling the stress on my body as my lungs struggle to compress one last time before I go to sleep.. Its really not even a question.

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I respect your opinion and each person will have there own methods for doing what is right in that moment. After-all I cant judge anyone for the method they choose. I think any method will be better than suffering even if it hurts for a few more seconds and resluts in a painfree state afterwards where the creature no longer suffers from its ailments...

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Originally Posted by jallenfl

I respect your opinion and each person will have there own methods for doing what is right in that moment. After-all I cant judge anyone for the method they choose. I think any method will be better than suffering even if it hurts for a few more seconds and resluts in a painfree state afterwards where the creature no longer suffers from its ailments...

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So burning an animal to death would be acceptable since it results in a pain free state afterward?

:colbert:

"Euthanasia guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association say decapitation is not adequate for snakes and other reptiles because death may not be immediate," The recommended method was to pithe."

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Originally Posted by BigBlue56

So burning an animal to death would be acceptable since it results in a pain free state afterward?

:colbert:

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I believe you are posting in ignorance and not reading what I have typed. My conversation with you is over since I do not believe you will be able to grasp what I am saying.

I do not believe burning anything was ever mentioned and I do not think you are really here to have a intelligent conversation. Sorry if I am wrong but you seem to be missing the point...

J

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Originally Posted by jallenfl

I believe you are posting in ignorance and not reading what I have typed. My conversation with you is over since I do not believe you will be able to grasp what I am saying.

I do not believe burning anything was ever mentioned and I do not think you are really here to have a intelligent conversation. Sorry if I am wrong but you seem to be missing the point...

J

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And your absolutely right. I dont grasp how someone could possible continue to do something when professionals say its not a good way to go about it.

Keep defending Co2 making claims as if you know its painless when professionals specifically say to avoid C02 for reptiles.

"tongue in cheek" comments doesnt mean I am not trying to have an intelligent conversation.

When you say something like "I think any method will be better than suffering even if it hurts for a few more seconds and resluts in a painfree state afterwards where the creature no longer suffers from its ailments..."

Does my comment about burning animals not fit into what you said? You chose bad wording and I called you out on it. Simple as that.

That to me says all that needs to be said.. This discussion was about the best way to do it. Best referring to the most painless, stress less possible way to go about it... Not just "any method" that gets the job done.

Please dont insult me suggesting I didnt read your words as I have read every single one. Chose your words more carefully.