There are many different methods
of euthanasia, but very few that are suitable for
use with rats and mice. Many vets do not even realize the inhumanity of
some of
the methods. Certainly, most pet owners do not think about that aspect
of
euthanasia and will leave their pet in the hands of the vet, trusting the
vet to
perform it in a humane manner.
The normal method used for dogs and cats is by giving an injection of a
euthanasia
drug directly into a vein, but this cannot be done on a rat or mouse due
to its size.
Finding a vein large enough to inject into is not an option, so the injection
is given
either directly into the heart or into the peritoneal cavity (belly). Both
of these
injections are extremely painful, thereby making them inhumane. Yes, it
is true
that, in most cases, the pet will just go to sleep and dies within a matter
of
minutes, but why would you want your pet to have to go through that painful
injection in its last moments when it is not necessary? (I have also heard
of cases
where a second injection was necessary!) It is enough that your pet has
to go
through the trauma of being taken from its comfortable home to the vet’s
office in
its final moments, so you should make certain that the rest is painless.
Making euthanasia pain free is as simple as insisting that your pet be
anesthetized
using an inhalant anesthesia prior to being given any fatal injections.
A fatal
injection may not even be necessary if the rat or mouse is given an overdose
of the
anesthesia. Anesthesia overdose is also a method that can be used at home
if you
have a source of obtaining chloroform or Halothane in your state....
Many vets will not allow you to stay with your pet which would make me
wonder
what really happened. Did it happen humanely?
(This article can be found in its entirety at http://www.rmca.org/Articles/euthanasia.htm)
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Recently, I had a conversation
with a retired veterinarian about how I put my
animals to sleep at home. I commented that I could not imagine any circumstance
under which I would take my rat to a vet to be put to sleep. Much to my
surprise,
she completely concurred. To my further surprise, and dismay, she told
me, in her
many years’ experience, how it “really” is: Your rat is taken away by the
vet, but is
immediately handed over to the vet tech. This person is even less involved
with
your rat than your vet. They usually cannot be bothered to use an anesthetic
because it is “just a rat”. Most likely, the needle is stuck into the heart
while the rat
is completely conscious. Often they miss, thus having to do this several
times;
occasionally, they hit the lungs instead and the rat dies from drowning.
I can only
begin to imagine the terror and horror involved for a rat you have decided
to put to
rest and to be at peace.
An alternative to this method
is the intraperitoneal shot. A
vet will tell you that this doesn’t hurt. NOT SO. When giving a shot, we
use a 29
gauge (insulin) needle. Vets use a 22 or 25 gauge needle which, in comparison,
is
huge. It goes into the body cavity where it will likely puncture an organ.
Unless the
vet is very experienced in giving this type of shot, which is unlikely,
there is no way
they are going to be able to do it without hurting the animal. I am not
saying you
should put your rat to sleep at home. I am only saying that you should
not ask,
you should demand that you be allowed to be with your rat until the very
end. In
my opinion, if they won’t let you see what they are doing, they are doing
something wrong or inhumane.
(This article can be found at http://www.rmca.org/Articles/euthanasia1.htm)
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You should select a vet well before you get to the point where you need to make the decision to euthanise. Select a vet which you are completely confident cares about your pets, as you do. As we all know there are some vets who have little or no experience with small rodents and there are some vets who do not regard rats and mice very highly...You must also be sure that your vet will euthanse the animal in a humane manner. Make sure you ask the vet what he intends to do. Don’t care for your pet it’s whole life only to let it suffer at the end because you didn’t find out how it was to be euthanased.
The decision to stay during the euthanasia is a very personal one, which I will not even begin to try to talk about here. However be aware that you are within your rights to be present when the animal is put down, if you wish. Be sure to ask about this when you are looking for a vet. If your vet does not allow this, find another vet.
There are only two methods of humane euthanasia for rats and mice. One involves anesthetising your animal with gas anesthetic (Halothane or Isoflurane) followed by lethal injection which is given to the heart or body cavity. The second one involves an overdose of gas anesthetic (Halothane or Isoflurane).
Personally I find the second one the most comforting for the owner
as the animal "falls alseep" and then goes deeper under the anesthetic
until breathing and the heart stops. The animal may turn away from the
gas initially but not in a frightened way. One of the side effects of the
anesthetic is that animal may appear slightly more "excited" before it
takes full effect.
It should be noted that both techniques allow the animal to pass
on with little discomfort.
Methods such as:
i.lethal injection without
anesthetic
ii.carbon dioxide (CO2)
gassing (asphyxiation) and
iii.freezing
are inhumane.
The lethal injection without anesthetic although quick would involve pain at the beginning when the needle is inserted into the body while the animal is fully awake. The needle goes into the heart or into the space around the animals’ guts.
(This article can be found in its entirety at http://www.geocities.com/nswfrmc/article7.html)
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The euthanasia method I prefer is as follows. The rat can
be sedated
with diazapam given at 7 mg/lb. Then an intraperitoneal injection (in
the abdomen) of the proper dose of sodium pentobarbital (usually just
0. 1 ml) is given. The solution will be slowly absorbed and loss of
consciousness' usually occurs within 15 minutes, although it takes
some time for the heart to stop beating.
I have also given the IP injection without any sedation. The
injection causes only momentary pain or discomfort, about the same
as
the sedative injection. In fact, a rat will rarely even flinch at the
injection if a tiny tuberculin or insulin needle (27-29 gauge) is
used and the skin at the injection site scratched with a fingernail
first to distract the nerve endings and reduce the pain of the needle
going in.
This method allows you to hold and talk to your rat as he gently
falls unconscious, which I believe is the most comforting method for
your rat. If a vet won't let you be present during euthanasia, go
find another vet! When euthanasia is done correctly, there is no
reason why you should not be present to comfort your rat.
Under no circumstances allow a vet to administer an intracardiac
(in
the heart) injection to a rat unless the rat is unconscious or
sedated with butorphanol. Unfortunately, this method is commonly used
on unsedated rats, but it is only humane if the rat is unconscious
or
very heavily sedated. The injection is painful, and it is difficult
to find the heart, so death is not always instantaneous.
(Mrs. Ducommun's credentials can be found at http://www.ratfanclub.org/ratlady.html . "Rat Health Care" is widely regarded to be an indespensible resource for rat owners worldwide. The booklet is $3.50 plus shipping, and can be ordered from the Rat Fan Club website.)
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It would seem that many of the listees have been through
a similar
experience with callous animal practitioners. I once made a decision
long
ago for a dear girl of mine, named Mimi, to be euthanised so she would
no
longer suffer from a horrible tumour. The vet asked if I wanted
to be present
and I said yes. I had NO concept of what an intercardiac shot
was
like for a rat. I'd seen it done for a couple of my ferrets but
always
with sedation first, and by this vet's partner who is an amazing ferret
vet. It's a shockingly violent procedure, and I learned from
my ratty's
pain to now ask for a sedation for ANY animal I'm having put down and
to be present so I know it's done right. My only consolation
was she bit
the vet as he gave her the shot.
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I had to put a pet rat to sleep about 12 years ago and had
no idea that sedation
was needed. It was awful and I still feel really guilty.
No-one should EVER let a
vet do this, if they can help it.
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I had to have one of my boys put to sleep Tuesday night (he
had stopped
eating, even from the needleless syringe), and asked to have him be
gassed
(isoflurane is all my vet uses) before receiving the final shot.
Of course
the drawback to this is that I couldn't hold him while he fell asleep
:-(
At the vet's suggestion he was given a sedative before being
placed in the
chamber. That was the most distressing part for him - the injection
in his
scruff made him squeak. He was given 10 minutes to let the sedative
take
effect (10 minutes spent in my arms). He then settled down very
peacefully
and contentedly in a nest of blankets in the "gas chamber", and quietly
went to sleep.
He was left in the gas for about 10 minutes. I was allowed
to be with him
during this. Even after 10 minutes the vet wasn't entirely certain
he
would be completely out, and said if he wasn't she'd give him some
more
gas. As it turned out, he was well under and more gas wasn't
necessary.
He was taken from the room for the final shot, but I am quite
content with
having been with him during his last conscious moments.
All of this cost me $10 CDN.
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