Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This interesting topic came up on another forum and I thought I'd bring it up here....

see: http://www.b2g2.com/boards/board.cgi?action=read&id=1125439062&user=kyherpsoc

What do you think?
Is freezing heprs painful?

I have often wondered if over the counter barbituates (given in human dosages)...like sleep-aid, etc. would be more humane in just causing sleep and the heart to stop.

Thoughts?

Despite common belief, freezing herps is not considered to be a humane form of euthanasia. While it does induce a state of torpor, well before the animal dies ice crystals have begun to form in the blood and tissue, which is considered by most veterinarians to be painful and inhumane (I personally can't imagine ice crystals forming in my tissue to be pleasant, either).

The inhalation of gases such as chloroform, methoxyflurane, and carbon monoxide are considered to be humane ways of euthanasia for herps. The most commonly used (and humane) method of euthanasia for herps is the injection of barbiturates into a vein or (less preferably) the coelomic cavity.

Hope that helps
~Mike

http://www.bvzs.org/euthansiaguidelinesreptiles.htm

This link supports your take on this subject, but it doesn't say WHY freezing is "unacceptable".

Can it be proven that the animal is awake and capable of feeling pain when the ice is peircing the tissue? I'm sure it's ALIVE...but...my thought was that the heart rate and breathing slowed down to the point where the animal was essentially in a deep coma-like sleep during exposure to extreme cold.

Thinking of, for example, a "mortally wounded" snake on the road...I'd always think a bag in the freezer is the best method, maybe I'm wrong. I'd hate to think I'd be torturing the animal.

Without access to gas..., drugs or a gun...a blunt strike to the head would seem to be the method of choice. Tough thing to make yourself do.