Sad Day - How Do You Euthanize?

[JNieporte]

On my way to work, I found an eastern garter snake in the street. It was still alive and barely moving. Its entire tail, up to about 1/3 of its body length, was flattened due to somebody running it over. How it got in the road in 39 degree weather is beyond me. Anyway, I put it in a cardboard box from work and it's now sitting in the office with me. There's a bit of blood and I'm pretty sure some organs were run over. Just when I think the snake has died, it moves in the box a little bit. I don't want this poor thing to suffer any more, and I don't have the money to get it to a vet. So, I think the best thing to do is to put the animal out of its misery. I know that beheading works, but I've seen snakes live for several minutes after losing their heads, so I don't think is a fair way.

Is there a quick, painless way of euthanizing a snake that obviously isn't going to live much longer and is in misery? Thanks.

[Enser54]

Well I guess you would put it in the freezer...

[JNieporte]

Well I guess you would put it in the freezer...

I've heard that you can put them in a Tupperware container and set it in the fridge, then the freezer. However, this seems like a slow way to die.

[llovelace]

Couldn't you use dry ice like they do to euthanize feeders?

[patm1313]

Well I guess you would put it in the freezer...

No, freezing is very painful for all animals, except for some very young mammals. You could, however, put it in a container with air holes in the fridge, which will render the snake unconscious. The you may put it in the freezer to kill it painlessly.

Or, you could flatten the head. This is OK if done instantaneously. The body may still move, but the snake isn't making it move, it's just normal post-mortem movement, which happens in many animals.

[Enser54]

I suppose so, I just figured it would shut them down rather quickly being it so cold.

[patm1313]

I suppose so, I just figured it would shut them down rather quickly being it so cold.

It doesn't. Ice crystals form in the blood and throughout the body often before the animal stops feeling pain. Can you imagine how ice would feel inside of you?

[Jmiller250]

From what I have heard if you put them in the fridge first that will cool them down like they are hibernating in a way and it just slows them down and then put them in the freezer and that would finish the job. I'm not sure if that is the most humane way to most but it makes sense to me. I haven' tried it before but one of my friends that owns a lot of snakes said that is what he does if he gets a deformed baby snake or a snake that is beyond vet care.



edit- wow everyone beat me to it.

[JNieporte]

I found the snake about four hours ago and I decided that it's been through enough pain. Far be it from me to "play God" but this poor animal wasn't going to live and a quick, painless death seemed like the only fair thing to do.

I took care of it, although I'll spare you the details. I assure you the snake didn't feel any additional pain. I'll bury it in the garden outside the parking lot when I get off work

[patm1313]

I found the snake about four hours ago and I decided that it's been through enough pain. Far be it from me to "play God" but this poor animal wasn't going to live and a quick, painless death seemed like the only fair thing to do.

I took care of it, although I'll spare you the details. I assure you the snake didn't feel any additional pain. I'll bury it in the garden outside the parking lot when I get off work

I don't mean to sound like a freak, but could you give us the details? I would feel much more happy knowing you did it humanely.