humane way to prekill rats?

[Sevo]

Neonatal rodents do not have a resistance to hypoxia and I don't know where you have heard that baloney before. I have CO2'd them as well as used canned air, and they go to sleep extremely fast. Yes, they may still be able to breathe while being partially sat on by their mother, but babies can definitely suffocate if oxygen deprivation occurs.

*teps off soapbox*

Becky, please know something about physiology befor posting someting about it being "baloney".. sure the will "suffocate" but we are talking about in a timley humane matter.. As a matter of fact Neonate rats have a different oxy hemoglobin association, This meaning, they are a little more tollerant to the effects of CO2 than adult rats because they do live in a more CO2 (acidodic) enriched enviroment inutero and while they are in there first week of life.
Soooo Co2 yes will kill them but not in the same amount of time it takes to kill a adult or older pup. So instead of them becoming more hypoxic and delaying their death it helps to stun them with the CO2, . but hey i guess i and all these reference dont know waht the hell they are talking about since YOU gassed "em in a can"


please remember euthanasia is derived from the Greek terms eu meaning good and thanatos meaning death. A
“good death” would be one that occurs with minimal
pain and distress... your canned CO2 of a neonate is not so good.. but hey thanks for the for the scentific explaination of why you feel it is baloney.

1. Danneman PJ, Stein S, Walshaw SO. Humane and practical implications of using carbon dioxide mixed with oxygen for anesthesia or euthanasia of rats. Lab Anim Sci 1997, 47:376-385.
2. AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001, 218:669-696. pdf file
3. Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Mouse and Rat Fetuses and Neonates. NIH Animal Research Advisory Committee, 2001.

oh yeah for somneone who uses ISo i figured would know a little about CO2 and the neonate enviroment.. but hey i guess the FDA or even the vet you work for would love to know that ISO is being used for recreational gassings,... not to mention that is SOOOO illegal but hey you are a RVT.