From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-08-05 22:14:10 UTC
Subject: RE: Euthanasia Question
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7713718.1091744050454.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Ardith, the ways we have had ferrets receive their mercy shot have been:
1. The ferret gets a traquilizing shot first (not in vein) and when the ferret loses concsiousness the final method such as teh shot to the heart is done.
2. Gas is used to relax the ferret first and get the ferret to pass out and then the final shot is used.
3. An overdose of gas is given till the ferret passes out and then dies.
4. A shot directly to her heart was given to one of our's who was so out of it with constant grande mal seizures that she she didn know what was happening or register anything. (advanced lymphoma in the pancreas and then elsewhere after 9 months of treatment). This method was also used for one who was brain dead at that point for even the reflex at the inner conrer of the eye and she already had pain meds in her and was fully unconscious from her lymphoma.
Personally, we find the first to be the most gentle and we hold, cuddle and share sweetness with the ferret while the ferret gets some pain help and passes into a gentle sleep in our arms. Steve leaves then because it is just too hard on him; I sometimes do depending on the ferret and if I feel dizzy.
If the gas is used I recommend using a chamber for the initial passing out because it can be interesting to ferrets whereas the mask can sometimes scare them; that varies among individual ferrets. The chamber is more expensive because of more gas used but...
I have asked about the vein shot and have been told these reasons why for ferrets the other approaches are felt to be better:
1. Placing the needle in their veins in harder due to vein size and tough skin so is more likley to cause needless pain to them.
2. Some of the compounds used to do that damage veins so with such small veins there is the risk of causing a lot of pain that way due to the vein size.
3. Because of the two things above it doesn't always work so then something else would need to be done, anyway.
Hope that helps, Ardith.
It's a hard time, but a mercy shot is often the final gift of kindess and love which can be given.