SOS: euthanizing a dragon

[ChristinaM]

please don't judge or assume.

i need to know the best way to euthanize a dragon.

I have snakes, and euthanize their prey. So I am ok with whacking.

Is that ok to do for a dragon????

( don't say vet, because home methods can be just as painless )

[vanderkm]

With reptiles, complete descruction of the brain is considered equally humane to death by lethal injection. It should be done with one crushing blow, precise enough to completely destroy the brain, so putting it in a sac and 'whacking' it on concrete may not be enough to kill it, though it will stun it enough to render it unconscious. While it is unconscious, the brain should be crushed - either by a blow to the top and base of the skull or with pliers (flat, wide jaws) to ensure that it never recovers consciousness.

Injectable euthanasia can only be performed by a veterinarian, as the required drugs are not available to lay persons. Often with an animal in severe distress, the experience of travel and the office visit is more traumatic than being killed humanely at home (even if the home method appears 'brutal').

Other methods used for mammals (CO2, neck breaking) may not be as effective for reptiles as the respiratory rate of reptiles may not support the rapid absorption of CO2 and the brain of cold blooded animals may retain some conscious ability even when blood supply is cut off.

Freezing is used by some people for reptiles, but again, it does not insure lack of consciousness before the animal feels the pain or distress of cold exposure. Being put into a fridge or freezer is not the same as induced brumation, and cold blooded animals still seek to maintain a stable body temperature, so undoubtably suffer distress when put at 4 degrees while conscious. It does mean that the person doesn't have to watch them die though - I suspect that has much to do with why it is popular and 'accepted'.

sorry to hear you have to make this difficult decision - best of luck with it,

mary v.

[ChristinaM]

thank you.

[infectedgecko]

Yes but vet sometimes can use a gas mask with some kind of gas that they just fall asleep and die. No pain at all. Unlike whackingm or neck breaking. Plus they could still live.

[thunder]

i personally do not whack reptiles, not clean enough. decapitation is better, and very sudden.

[Bartman]

How about co2 like people use with rodents?

[Jungle Jen]

I am sorry you have to make this difficult decision.
I wish you lived closer so I could help you out. (I'm a veterinary technician)
I found a link for home euthanasia http://www.alysion.org/euthanasia/
Maybe if you use the CO2 method (I have even heard of exhaust fumes from a car working quite well to render an animal unconscious/dead) and once the dragon is unconscious and hopefully deceased, place him in the freezer just as an added precaution due to the different metabolism of reptiles.
Unfortunately decapitation is supposed to be fast and humane, but very difficult for the owner.

However you decide to do it, I wish him a quick and painless death, and also extend my condolences on your loss.