Humanely euthanasing? serious keepers only please!

[GothGirl]

This is a queston for the serious and experienced keepers please.

I've recently finished an animal managemet qualification, as part of that we were given the option to learn the defra regulated short course in humane euthanasia methods for some of the more common companion animals in captivity, mainly rodents, small mammals and birds.

Though a horrible subject to touch on, I took the course to gain the qualification because in my opinion its something very useful to know, it can certainly save a lot of suffering if done properly.

Defra reguations have specific ways that animals have to be euthanised for it to be classed as humane, and I wanted to know if any keepers were aware of what the reccomended ways to euthanise reptiles are, and if there are any short courses run anywhere, similar to the one I took that show you how to do it properly as far as I know defra do not have regulations for the humane euthanasia of reptiles, and I am adamantly against freezing.

Serious replies only please, i know this is a horrible subject to touch on but that doesn't mean people need to be immature in their replies.

[vickyholt13]

i have also done a course a couple of years back covering the same area of humane euthanasia these as you stae were the moe common animals kept in captivitey although ours coverd some farm animals but again like you humane euthanasis in reptiles was not covered . so unfortunatley i cannot help. and although not a pleasnt subject would also be interested in replies of a sensible nature, at the end of the day you never no when you may be in the situation that a life is needed to be endded swiftly for the benifit of the animal and by the time a vet would have been reached the animal would have suffered greatly.

[GothGirl]

Originally Posted by vickyholt13

i have also done a course a couple of years back covering the same area of humane euthanasia these as you stae were the moe common animals kept in captivitey although ours coverd some farm animals but again like you humane euthanasis in reptiles was not covered . so unfortunatley i cannot help. and although not a pleasnt subject would also be interested in replies of a sensible nature, at the end of the day you never no when you may be in the situation that a life is needed to be endded swiftly for the benifit of the animal and by the time a vet would have been reached the animal would have suffered greatly.

Thank you for a serious reply

Did you do the defra regulated course also?

We did cover farm and livestock, though for the majority of livestock below a certain wait it is barbituate overdose and above a certain weight it is mailnly CBG.

[Paulusworm]

I think that if and when I get my breeding projects up and running I would do that course or something similar. We did a similar thing during the forensic medicine unit of my degree. Understanding the mechanism of how each method worked was really interesting .

[GothGirl]

Originally Posted by Paulusworm

I think that if and when I get my breeding projects up and running I would do that course or something similar. We did a similar thing during the forensic medicine unit of my degree. Understanding the mechanism of how each method worked was really interesting .

Thank you for another serious reply, it quite interesting in amorbid way but I maintain a very useful thing to know, upsetting yes but people are put off by that I believe when they shouldn't be.

[Paulusworm]

I won't post a suggestion for reptiles on here but will pm you once I have dug out and checked my old uni notes from that unit. Just want to make sure that I have got my facts right before I go suggesting anything.

[GothGirl]

Originally Posted by Paulusworm

I won't post a suggestion for reptiles on here but will pm you once I have dug out and checked my old uni notes from that unit. Just want to make sure that I have got my facts right before I go suggesting anything.

Thank you, I would like to know the theoretical aspects of it, but wouldn't even consoder doing it until I've been shown how to do it if you know what I mean?

[oakelm]

I have never heard of any short courses, but if they are practical and humane ways it would probably save a lot of reptiles being PTS the wrong way. As far as I am aware the only method I know of is the one a vet has to do which is an injection either in the heart or around the heart, thankfully never had to do it. But honestly dont know of a humane way for smaller reps or hatchlings.
Weird really I know more about humane ways for rodents than for reps.

[GothGirl]

Originally Posted by oakelm

I have never heard of any short courses, but if they are practical and humane ways it would probably save a lot of reptiles being PTS the wrong way. As far as I am aware the only method I know of is the one a vet has to do which is an injection either in the heart or around the heart, thankfully never had to do it. But honestly dont know of a humane way for smaller reps or hatchlings.
Weird really I know more about humane ways for rodents than for reps.

I've had to have reptiles euthanised at the vets before, they give an overdose of barbituates into the heart and then freeze them for a minimum of two hours, that was geckos and baby beardies anyway

[Paulusworm]

Pm'd you Gothgirl .