Euthanasia ???

[Myzomela]

As for cats, my favoured method is an intracat injection of a substantial barbiturate overdose. This of course requires one first to catch the cat, which is sometimes the hard bit, and is not a method available to everyone because of the difficulty in obtaining barbiturates without professional assistance. + =

Most barbiturate solutions are extremely alkaline and so very irritant and painful if not given intravenously. I am not sure of the composition of the ones you have access to Matty.
From a welfare point of view I cannot agree with injecting any animal with euthanasia solution "intra-animal". I even have to tell other vets this. They first need to be sedated/anaesthetised before being injected in the body to eliminate the pain- or make sure you get it in IV first time. We have a policy at work that all animals must be anaesthetised or sedated before being euthanised with IV euthanasia solution, including wildlife & birds. Alternatively I have soaked cotton balls in neat anaesthtic solution eg halothane or isoflurane, stuffed these at the end of a syringe case and placed the bird's head into the open end. The anaesthetic fumes quickly overpower the bird and death occurs fairly quickly. Obviously these products may not be avialable to all, and bring up some OH & S issues.

For birds I agree that the most humane & quickest technique for most people at home is blunt trauma to the head or atlanto-occipital dislocation as described already. However, this can take a little practice to do correctly. My advice is to be firm, fairly quick and make sure you follow through. Perhaps try it first on a bird which is near death.

However, I can also appreciate that for some this technique is too violent. CO2 gassing or taking the birds to a vet to be humanely euthanased are alternatives to this and are better than just letting a sick bird suffer because we are too scared to do anything. At least as caregivers we can stop an animal's suffering.
Pitty we can't do the same for ourselves...but that's another philosophical discussion for another forum!!

[jusdeb]

Well I must say I did have a good chuckle at some of these repiles , waiting for the conscisnce to give me a slap on the wrist now .

This could be a opportunitly for a smart player following the success of the book " 101 ways to kill a cat " .

Nah just joking .... best way to put a bird to sleep ? Hand it to hubby and walk away , have a sook and get over it .

Bigger birds (touch wood havent had to ) would go to the vets for an injection .

[mattymeischke]

Most barbiturate solutions are extremely alkaline and so very irritant and painful if not given intravenously.

I wasn't aware of that; I will stop it.
Thank you Myzo.

The scenario is a feral cat in a cat trap, which we contain with hessian sack pushed from the open end and try to shoot IM into hind quarters.
I say intracat with some jest, but it is very difficult to control a feral cat and hard to be totally confident where the tip of the needle is.

We have a SodaStream; perhaps CO2 if I have to catch another feral....

[maz]

How do you decapitate a live mouse without it biting you?

Best way in my experience to do a rodent is hold by base of tail and whack head against very hard surface, instantaneous and humane IMO. Also means you don't get bitten.

[Tiaris]

The scenario is a feral cat in a cat trap, which we contain with hessian sack pushed from the open end and try to shoot IM into hind quarters.
I say intracat with some jest, but it is very difficult to control a feral cat and hard to be totally confident where the tip of the needle is.....

If the cat is trapped & you are shooting something into it, maybe lead into the cranium would be most humane.

[Mortisha]

Mr Bitey my cattle dog knocks off mice, rats & feral rabbits quicker than I can blink.
He knows anything with feathers or scales is permanently off limits though. So I have to do that myself
Found it is much better to learn the art on a few dead animals first when you find them or when some else has already put them out of their pain.
Worst thing you can do is end up torturing something because you lack the skills or the confidence to do it right the first time.

There are also resources like these that may help people who can't do it manaully or don't have someone they can ask.
http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets ... en-001.pdf

[Myzomela]

Hi Matty,

You probably have access to other sedatives/anaesthetics that you could use IM in that situation.
We would probably use medetomidine or diazepam(midazolam)/ketamine or alfaxalone IM to get them under control. PM me if you like & we'll go through what you've got available.
I may be slow with my replies as I have just moved and have had problems with internet at home.

[TheFinchMan101]

love going out shooting especially when we come across wild cats. much larger than your typical homing cat and best part, no mess to clean up with the added good feeling that you've done good for the environment.

[desertbirds]

love going out shooting especially when we come across wild cats. much larger than your typical homing cat and best part, no mess to clean up with the added good feeling that you've done good for the environment.

This post just gets better and better

[gomer]

For me once I relise a finch needs euthanasia.Without sitting there thinking about it.I catch the bird as normal.hold it in my left hand and remove its head swiftly with my right hand.as you would ring a rabbits neck.being quickly bend the head back as pulling down.The head is removed quite easily and quickly in a split second.And Is a relief that it is so quick.I could not imagine a more humane way then this for the bird.I will say for some it maybe a little bit off a shock having a finch body in one hand a seeing the head on the floor for the first few times.But hey its all about the birds comfort for me not mine.

P.S if I ever need to be euthanaised please give me the drugs.Dont ring my neck.