Euthanasia

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy All,

I remembered that Dr. Frances Baines (one of our forum members and on the team that created the UVB UK Site ) had authored a paper on reptile euthanasia. I contacted her about the article and got permission to post it.



Also, in addition to the PDF attached at the bottom of this post, here are some excerpts from some more of her thoughts on the subject:



"This is an excellent summary of the position today regarding the use of CO2 gas for euthanasia:
The report from the 2006 Newcastle Consensus Meeting on Carbon Dioxide Euthanasia of Laboratory Animals
http://www.nc3rs.org.uk/downloaddoc.asp?id=416&page=292&skin=0

I am in the very fortunate position of being a qualified vet, and therefore for many years I have held a very small personal supply of pentobarbitone sodium for the humane euthanasia of wildlife brought to me dying (I worked as a volunteer in hedgehog rescue for a while and local people sometimes bring me some poor squashed creatures from the roadside) and for my own reptiles should the need ever arise.
I feel very strongly indeed that this is by far the most humane method of euthanasia and I have used it with several terminally ill leopard geckos on a couple of occasions over the years (I keep these as pets, and breed from two pairs each year). Even though the texts say it can take 10 - 15 minutes to achieve unconsciousness, I have never known it take more than a minute or two, even when given into the coelom. It can be almost instantaneous. The secret is to give enough. The drug itself is very, very cheap and I think there is no excuse for a vet not to give a massive overdose; maybe 10 times what would be needed to kill the reptile. That way, huge amounts reach the brain very quickly and the animal becomes unconscious really fast.

However, for tiny babies the needle itself is large in comparison, and I may be "soft" but I cannot stab a little hatchling in its belly with a hypodermic needle. I am certain this would cause pain and terror. Very, very rarely (maybe once every couple of years) an abnormal baby hatches out and I no longer try to "save" these - they rarely thrive as adults and no-one wants to buy them anyway. So, I don't inject these tiny creatures. Although I find this very unpleasant and I have to summon up courage to do it, I use the "instantaneous destruction of the brain" method described in the article, which basically means placing the baby on a flat concrete surface and completely destroying the entire head in a fraction of a second with one swift (heartbreaking) blow with the side of a housebrick.

I do understand the problems facing breeders who may need to euthanase a number of animals too large to be killed in this way, but who don't want to spend the large amounts of money charged by a veterinarian for a consultation/injection/carcase disposal etc. In that case it might be possible for them to negotiate some sort of special rate for the process, whereby there is minimal consultation, merely signing of consent forms etc? I'm sure many vets would be prepared to discuss such a thing.
If you own a pet reptile, though, then if you do care for your pet, it is your responsibility to be certain you don't cause it pain. I do believe, if it is anything other than a very small baby, and/or you are uncertain whether its head is going to be completely destroyed first time, however inexperienced you are... then you need a vet to give it a massive overdose of pentobarbitone sodium. Because this is a controlled drug, at present this is the only way to get it done.

I would plead with people not to consider suffocating them, gassing them, drowning them, freezing them, or chopping their heads off whilst leaving the brain intact....Reptile brains are like ours, as far as we know, in their ability to experience pain, but very, very different to ours in their ability to survive torture which would render a mammal unconscious very quickly indeed. The only way to be sure a reptile is killed humanely is, as I said in the article, to destroy its brain instantaneously ... or to anaesthetise it first, and then destroy its brain in any method that might take a bit longer."

 

[SoCaliSon]

"Destroying the brain instantaneously."

Eek... Really makes sense... but would be hard to do for the squeamish. I have put to death terminally injured wild birds this way. Not fun... but it is quick, and I would assume painless.

 

[summoner12]

I guess I was told wrong... Then again... the instruction was given to me as a 'if you must perform the euthanasia without a vet' kind of case.

I just hope to not be in this sort of situation.... It was hard reading the PDF , but thanks for the info Dave.

 

[jojackson]

3. Inhalation of Anaesthetic Agents and Carbon Dioxide
Breathholding
greatly prolongs the time taken to euthanase a reptile using inhalant anaesthetics and gases such
as carbon dioxide, making their use problematical. Lizards and snakes do not in general hold their breath as
readily as chelonians but even so, it may take 30 to 100 minutes for a small lizard or snake to become
anaesthetised for surgery, indicating a considerable ability to resist inhalation. Evidence has shown that in some
reptiles, resistance to hypoxia can last up to 27 hours5. It has occasionally been suggested that pet owners and
hobbyists might attempt to euthanase reptiles using carbon dioxide from dry ice or fire extinguishers. Such
methods would be extremely unlikely to deliver a controllable or sufficient concentration of gas for a humane
euthanasia, particularly given the time scale needed for the procedure. In any case euthanasia with carbon dioxide
is not considered an acceptable method for reptiles by many authors3,4

Determining whether death has occurred
Since reptiles are so resistant to euthanasia, it can be surprisingly difficult to determine whether a reptile is actually
dead. This fact is not widely known to the public; pet owners, for example, might expect their vet to be able to say
at once whether the reptile that has just been “put to sleep” has “gone”. It is important that an expert should be on
hand to assist in the euthanasia and to verify its success.6 Close to death, vital signs may be virtually absent; but a
slow recovery from what turns out to have been merely deep anaesthesia, following a failed attempt at euthanasia,
is a very unacceptable event.

Problems with ascertaining that the brain has stopped functioning.
Destruction of the brain does not just refer to physical destruction. Permanent brain death follows the correct
dosage of anaesthetic agents used for euthanasia, as well as from anoxia. However, it is very difficult to tell when
a reptile brain is dead, unless it has indeed been physically destroyed.

Thankyou Dave.

 

[sandrachameleon]

Interseting PDF Dave - thanks. Though its based on typical labratory animals, which are usually rodents/mamals, not reptiles. Irregardless, it seems to confirm what I've found since starting the thread (after more reasearch on my part including discussions with vets), which is that CO2 is not an option, if one is concerned with being humane.

It seems there is really no "home" method readily available.

 

[Veiled_Cham]

I am glad this thread is here...

I am glad this thread is here as sad a story as it tells. It is one of those things about all life and how one day, life comes to an end.

Manny my Veiled Cham, for whom I joined this forum and spent counteless hours researching perfect husbandry, is almost 4 years old now and is sadly passing away.

He stopped eating and drinking on his own about 2 weeks ago. But for a month I've noticed his appetite declining and this is all despite being very healthy before and getting plenty of outdoor time for the past few years (vitamins, silkworms, etc.). So lately, I had been using a oral syringe to give him food and water. The food was smashed up and provided to him (don't worry, I avoided the airway). He doesn't hiss at me anymore...he falls off his perch. And as of this week, he doesn't want to open his mouth to eat/drink.

Euthanasia (mercy killing) seems my only option at this point. He is not even excreting waste...so I fear full renal/kidney failure has set in.

I'm writing this as I feel sad about having to euthanize him...or be faced with letting him die naturally but knowing if I choose to let him die naturally, he would suffer longer than he already has.

The only vet near me that treats herps wants to charge me $54. for an office visit to perform the proceedure (injection). They had treated him as a 10 month old when he got an upper respiratory infection (well over $200.). They were sorry to hear but would not lower the cost for the euthanasia proceedure. AND have no open appointments...although they "might be able to" squeeze me in Saturday.

"The only way to be sure a reptile is killed humanely is...to destroy its brain instantaneously"​

So I have debated... do I go ahead and perform this? Or do I let him "die naturally"? Is is not "unnatural" to keep such an animal in captivity anyway? So why not help him go to rest?

My fiance and his friend have hunted small game before, have cared for many reptiles and seeing him in the current state...have agreed to euthanize him for me and promised to ensure his swift passing. They are also going to let him enjoy the sun outside one last time...

This is proabably going to be my last post here. I am not going to get another Chameleon despite how much I have invested in special light setups, housing, books, misting system, etc. I'll miss when I used to see him hunt in his tall cage every morning...and miss that HISS! You know what I am talking about! :-(

In tribute to my little guy....I will continue to educate those around me about Chameleons and why they are only good pets IF they are willing to research and prepare to take care of one (example: the pet store near me has agreed not to sell them anymore as they do not carry the proper feeders and those that bought them did not want to go through mail order feeders/supplements as I did so many were returned suffering from MBD).

Thank you again for having this forum and helping me learn along the way.

Best regards,
Liz

 

[sandrachameleon]

I recommend the $54 injection.

 

[jojackson]

Ditto Sandra's comment, you may be confident, but you will have to live it if something goes wrong, aka your first blow fails. Could lead to nasty memory, not the way to best remember your pet.

 

[laurie]

Freezing is not humane, ice crystals form in the tissue before pain reception fades. Painful..

I have heard this many times, but my question is how do we know. My vet said to get the chameleon wet put him in a plastic bag and put him in a meat freezer. The cham will be froze soild in less than 6 minutes. Does any one have any info on freezing, versus co2, or other methods? I would like to understand the science of why these opinions exist, not just more people giving their opinions. Thanks, but even if it is best I am with Joe, I could never decapitate one of my animals. It is about $115 to have an animal of any kind put to sleep at the local vets. They have only I price for a horse, cat, or chameleon.

 

[Veiled_Cham]

I have heard this many times, but my question is how do we know. My vet said to get the chameleon wet put him in a plastic bag and put him in a meat freezer. The cham will be froze soild in less than 6 minutes. Does any one have any info on freezing, versus co2, or other methods? I would like to understand the science of why these opinions exist, not just more people giving their opinions. Thanks, but even if it is best I am with Joe, I could never decapitate one of my animals. It is about $115 to have an animal of any kind put to sleep at the local vets. They have only I price for a horse, cat, or chameleon.

Laurie, please see the following from The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf

I think you may be surprised by what is in there about the different methods from a scientific standpoint. Many different sources are cited and this is the most recent document (2007) I have found. Some of the members here may have quoted sections of the document such as the "ice crystals" notation.

Agreed - opinions are not facts to base a decision on especially about a beloved pet. I trust scientific research more than public opinion or even vets that may not be as well informed. In the end, we do what we feel in our hearts is best.

 

[Ryan Jarosek]

I have heard this many times, but my question is how do we know. My vet said to get the chameleon wet put him in a plastic bag and put him in a meat freezer. The cham will be froze soild in less than 6 minutes. Does any one have any info on freezing, versus co2, or other methods? I would like to understand the science of why these opinions exist, not just more people giving their opinions. Thanks, but even if it is best I am with Joe, I could never decapitate one of my animals. It is about $115 to have an animal of any kind put to sleep at the local vets. They have only I price for a horse, cat, or chameleon.

laurie, I would like to clarify one thing. Decapitation does not = physically destroyed. Smashing with a brick was described by Dr. Stein as destruction of the brain. There is the possibility of the brain continuing to function with decapitation.

Just thought I would clarify that for someone who is reading this.

I would prefer to never use that method as well, but for the sake of the animal would not rule it out. Drastic times call for drastic measures. I would choose the shot first over any other option.

 

[jojackson]

I have heard this many times, but my question is how do we know. My vet said to get the chameleon wet put him in a plastic bag and put him in a meat freezer. The cham will be froze soild in less than 6 minutes. Does any one have any info on freezing, versus co2, or other methods? I would like to understand the science of why these opinions exist, not just more people giving their opinions. Thanks, but even if it is best I am with Joe, I could never decapitate one of my animals. It is about $115 to have an animal of any kind put to sleep at the local vets. They have only I price for a horse, cat, or chameleon.

How do we know Laurie? Ever been inside an industrial freezer for 10 minutes?
Reptiles have a nervous system, feel pain. Freezing occures slowly, A large % of an animal is water, water expands as it freezes, meaning tissues including nerves do too, its not hard to understand. A reptiles metabolism means its brain requires little oxygen, so it will stay concious but merely unable to move
as its tissues slowly freeze. Reptiles can experience very low temps overnight and in winter in some cases, but they dont lose conciousness and drop dead in under 6 minutes just because its cold, no matter how fast the change.
At freezing temps especially when wet, tissues will begin to freeze alot faster than the animal will lose conciousness. IT'S A MYTH!
We know because more than a few scientist have conducted such research,
(with differing conclusions)
if they had not, why would any vet recommend it?
I think your vet is either ignorant (relying on outdated data) or lying to you for YOUR sake.
Theres no way in the world it will freeze solid in 6 minutes wet or not. Try an experiment with a steak or meat of same weight,
And when it finally freezes rock hard, ........KO your vet with it!

If you spend money on vet bills over the life of your pet because you care for it, why would anyone quibble about $115 (or whatever a vet charges) to do your pet one last kindless at the end of its life?
I know you dont care about money spent on your animals Laurie, But scientists are few and far between on this forum, if you want to understand these opinions why not visit a university and talk to a few biologist who study them?

Specialised Reptile Vets are also few and far between, many treat exotics having a basic understanding, but I think many more just call themselves specialist to capitalise on the growing market and lack of availability, and therefore are simply not that caring of reptiles, since mammals are their bread and butter.

Personally Id rather find a younger vet who schooled specifically in Reptile Medicine from the word go and has no outdated pre-conceived notions from another time based on mammal biology, and is up to date with Reptilian science and modern practice!