Sad Day

I don't want to talk about it as it is extremely close to heart but just say that I've had a ball python for about 15 years now, and something happened to him... I want to put him out of his misery as I can't stand to look at him as it breaks my heart... Whats the most humane to do this?..
Thank you..

Are you sure this is the correct course of action? That he is miserable and has no chance at recovery and a normal after healed existence?

I'd recommend a vet then to put him down as humanely and gently as possible...IMO

I have exhausted all other options, the vet I took him to said theirs nothing they can do... they won't put him down as it is apparently " the snake" is different from a dog or a cat ( I'm already filling out a complaint for that vet hospital)

did you feed it live and it went bad?

I'm so sorry. I can't believe the vet won't put down snakes. He will pass on his own, or you could try making a CO2 chamber to speed up the process.

CO2 is the wrong gas, if you want to use a gas chamber use anything other than CO2.

there was someone over on ssnakess.com that just had an incodent with an older ball. there was a section of the stomach that was blue and green.

I'm really sorry to hear this. One of the responsibilities of being a pet owner is handling the end of their lives so that their suffering is minimized. I had to have my 17 year old cat put down last year so I know exactly how you feel. Focus on the quality of life that you gave it, not how it's ending.

If you are going to build a gas chamber yourself please do the research for it first...and make sure you are using an appropriate gas...

If you have access to controlled drugs you could either administer a lethal dose of any of the pentobarbitals or potassium solution....potassium chloride specifically or sodium thiopental...sodium pentobarbital also works very rapidly...of course with any of this substances you need to check LD50 doses correctly for a reptile.

I'd personally just stick with using a vet that will do it for you...

Very sad to read of your predicament. I can relate a bit, as my oldest girl passed on recently and unexpectedly. She'd been an adult snake when I got her, and I never knew her age exact; I placed her at 12 years or so. It hurts to lose them, and I offer you my deepest sympathies at whichever point you are at now.

Years ago I worked for a Vet. and for reptiles he used only the second drug of the two drug combo that he used to euthanize dogs and cats. That drug was Sodium Phenobarbital with the first being Acepromazine. However, that was not needed on reptiles. Sodium Phenobarbital was injected into the abdomen of the intended reptile and it worked instantly. Sorry to hear about your sick snake billy...

NO GAS!!!!

You cannot euthanize a reptile via Co2.
They have a very slow metabolism/respiration rate. They go through natural periods of apnea and have a high tolerance to hypoxia.
It could take hours for a reptile to pass and it won't be humane.

If you took your snake to a reliable vet, they would do an overdose of anesthesia or a cardiac puncture to the heart.
For humane at home euthanasia, blunt force trauma to the brain is the best method.
So crushing his skull with something like a hammer or similar object is most humane. Not pleasant for the human, but if your animal is suffering, this is this is the best course of action.

And do not decapitate. The head can live up to half an hour and feel pain even after it's been separated from the body.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kurtilein

CO2 is the wrong gas, if you want to use a gas chamber use anything other than CO2.

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You NEED to stop trying to spread around this misinformation here. You're trying to look out for animal welfare and as a result you are spreading dangerously false information based on anecdotal heresay. Please stop doing this.

Additionally, in the other thread you were so concerned about spreading lies as truth in, there was a lengthy discussion about how gassing reptiles is not a humane method of euthanasia. Maybe you would make some mention of this in the post? Are you at all interested in learning anything here on the forums?


To the OP: If you're absolutely positive putting the animal down is the right choice, you need to either find a vet that will do it or be prepared to 'pith' the snake, which basically means to destroy the brain. If you think of the snake as a pet and a little companion friend, this is not going to be an easy thing to make yourself do.

This is the thread Mr. Lang is referring to if anyone is interested. Its a good read regarding responsible euthanasia for reptiles and feeders.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=193431

Kurt, I don't get it? Why do you keep insisting on using the same argument over and over? :mad:
Even after multiple threads(2-3 come to mind) where you were provided with scientific evidence that proves you wrong each time you're still saying the wrong things....... Some newbie is going to come along and see your false advice. They will euthanize their animals with your methods and the animals will die a painful inhumane death.

Any type of gas is not appropriate for reptile euthanasia. Non-Co2 gas, as you instruct, is also not appropriate for mammals.
Either way, no positives.....

Ugh... its getting so frustrating repeating myself over and over again. Its like talking to a brick wall.:banghead:

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

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Originally Posted by middlefork

Years ago I worked for a Vet. and for reptiles he used only the second drug of the two drug combo that he used to euthanize dogs and cats. That drug was Sodium Phenobarbital with the first being Acepromazine. However, that was not needed on reptiles. Sodium Phenobarbital was injected into the abdomen of the intended reptile and it worked instantly. Sorry to hear about your sick snake billy...

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Sorry, I was a bit vague about the injection...it is administered to the abdominal cavity of the reptile with the heart as the ultimate target. Suffering in every case I witnessed was instant or nearly so.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by middlefork

Suffering in every case I witnessed was instant or nearly so.

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Sorry, of course I meant to say end of suffering...