What the hell???

[ZiggyStardust]

I was talking to a friend today who has a friend that keeps a chameleon. She said that there was something wrong with it and because she didn't have the money to take it to a herp vet, she had read online that a good way to euthanize a lizard was to put it into the freezer. She said that apparently the chameleon would just go to sleep and not wake up. I have never heard of this and it sounds absolutely awful to me.... do people actually do this????

 

[Kath44]

I think people do do this, although it isn't at all great. From what I've read, it isn't a quick or nice way to pass.
Kath.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

Kath I actually shivered when she told me..... I could never in a million years put a live animal into a freezer. I was really mad, actually, as someone who keeps chameleons, that anyone could see this as a solution!! If it's ill take it to the vet!!! If you can't afford it then you shouldn't be keeping animals in the first place!!

One of my horses had colic last year. Thankfully I am insured - the bill was just over five thousand pounds. However, had he not been I would still have spent the five grand and then borrowed it from family or taken out a loan to pay for it.

It sickens me when people let animals suffer because they can't afford to treat them. If you can't afford it then don't have them! Simples!

 

[Lazy Boy]

I use a Co2 chamber for fresh killed rats for my snake. I have heard freezing for reptiles is painful but I have not confirmed this

 

[little leaf]

it is painful , the cells burst- I'm sorry - but WHAT AN IRRESPONSIBLE JERK your friend is - why did she not seek help for it - will she give it to you ? maybe someone on here can take it please do not let her freeze it

 

[Chameleons Northwest]

This is not a question most people really want the answer to. My answer is not meant to be judgmental in any way. We all do the best we can for our chameleons, and can really only follow what we personally deem to be the best advice/methods available. I have heard the "freeze them" advice very often. It seems logical and most people simply don't know that it is not as good an idea as it would seem.

What I was told, by a vet, is that chameleons can go for long periods with very shallow respiration and will live for a short time with no oxygen at all. Freezing is very painful to them. Like what "little leaf" mentioned in his post. I know of one breeder that cuts off their heads. Vet said this is not good because the cham brain will remain alive long enough to fear and suffer. I was also taught that gassing is not the best method for a chameleon (although it works well for mammals).

This is no doubt controversial, but I was taught that the most humane method is to render the chameleon unconscious first. This is best done by a vet giving an injection that is basically an overdose. It will render the cham immediately unconscious and then death follows shortly thereafter. Similar to putting down any other beloved pet.

In the absence of a vet visit, blunt force works to render the cham unconscious. One of our vets worked overseas at times, sort of a vet-without-borders, where they didn't always have access to the best pharmaceuticals. I understand that this is horrific. But the method would be to wrap the entire cham in paper or cloth, gently, lay it down on a hard flat surface. Hit the head (being careful to include the brain stem area) swift and hard with a brick or rock. This, to put it plainly, is meant to be a "crushing blow".

I am not telling anyone to do this. Fortunately, in most areas of this country we have access to vets who, although they may not be chameleon experts, do know how to put a pet down humanely.

 

[carol5208]

I remember this being discussed on here before and it was said to be a painful death. You would have to search the threads but I think what happens physically to the animal was explained and it is not pleasent. Not just painlessly falling to sleep!

 

[fester2226]

oh my gosh that sounds awful

 

[Scoobthenoob]

Simply

I can fully understand vet costs, but I would urge no one to use the freezer as a method, poor thing, well I guess it is no longer suffering.

Honestly though UK she could/should have taken it to the RSPCA, as I think I am correct in understanding they will humanely dispatch of unhealthy pets for free for those with little or no means.



http://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/vetcare

 

[Juliaf3]

Carol I remember that thread. This thread also has me thinking-if ever for some reason I were these people who needed to put down my chameleon and couldn't afford a vet, carbon monoxide seems to me would be the easiest and painless way to go. Aside from the brick method that freaks most every owner out. Most everyone owns a car- take your chameleon, put them in something then run the hose into what ever that is- start the car and let the process run it's course. Is that a crazy idea? I mean- it works for humans- seems like it would work ultra fast for a small reptile. Just a thought. I personally would never own a pet if I couldn't afford a vet- but this is a common occurrence unfortunately.




Disclaimer- this idea can be and is very dangerous.

 

[ZiggyStardust]

it is painful , the cells burst- I'm sorry - but WHAT AN IRRESPONSIBLE JERK your friend is - why did she not seek help for it - will she give it to you ? maybe someone on here can take it please do not let her freeze it

Little leaf- its not my friend who has the cham, it is her friend... so I have no influence....

 

[Craig94089]

Understanding people run into financial hardships I still think freezing is a horrible solution. Since I am not capable of blunt force trauma I would look at a Humane Society or try borrowing money from family or friends if it came to euthanizing. I can't knock anyone for doing what they need to do, but I could only imagine freezing to be slow, painful and stressful.