I actually did a bit of reading and asked a question or two of a colleague and found a very complex issue. It seems there is problems with most ways. Decapitation isn't great as the brain can live for as long as an hour! Decapitation followed by pithing that seems far too blood thirsty I can ever imagine that.
"Euthanasia can be done by destroying the brain with a sharp blow to the head, on the middle and just posterior to the eyes" Steve Barton DVM. He goes on to state that a weak or mis directed blow may no be lethal.
Gas as well but not co2 (I stand corrected from my previous post) chloroform, methoxyflurane and carbon monoxide. I don't think that would be readily available.
"Freezing has been used as a humane method to kill small reptiles under one pound in weight. Although low temperatures do result in a state of torpor, the formation of ice crystals in the tissue is quite painful. Freezing should only be done to anesthetized animals"
Injection seems ok but a vet must perform the task. In my case that means waiting for a vet.
"In a perfect world euthanasia would never be necessary. Since it sometimes is, the goal of this column is to promote the use of humane methods and to educate readers that some commonly used methods, such as freezing and decapitation, are inappropriate."
Steve Barten, DVM
Again I hope that this never becomes necessary!
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