bearded dragon euthanasia

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:45:50 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Marie - if GA first and you are going to pith anyway, why mess about with pentoject?

I can see GA and inject into tail or heart OR GA and pith, but can't see a logic in doing all 3?

(unless just to practice IVs.............)

[/quote]

I often find that they are still responsive to painful stimuli so the idea of sticking things in their brain, in what is probably better termed deep sedation than a true surgical plane of GA, makes me uncomfortable. Pentobarb is the cheapest, easiest bit anyway!

Marie

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:37:54 GMT

Marie - if GA first and you are going to pith anyway, why mess about with pentoject?

I can see GA and inject into tail or heart OR GA and pith, but can't see a logic in doing all 3?

(unless just to practice IVs.............)

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:31:15 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Bose"]Is it the same for a gecko?[/quote]

Same principles but they have an unfortunate tendency to drop their tail with any manipulation preventing easy venous access in a conscious animal. The alternative is anaesthetising first (I prefer 15mg/kg alfaxan IM but volatile agent in a chamber will work eventually if you aren't in a rush) and then giving pentobarb into the tail vein or directly intracardiac, followed by pithing.

Marie

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

HMC — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 13:49:01 GMT

[quote user="Marie Kubiak"]

It's not that bad I promise!

Intravenous injection is often easier in beardies than many domestic species. The coccygeal sinus is on the underside of the tail, I prefer to have the animal held upright with ventrum towards me, then place the needle at a 90degree angle, perpendicular to the midline of the tail at around 1 inch below the vent (lower in a big, fat animal). Advance until you hit bone then withdraw with slight pressure on the plunger till you get blood flow into the hub, then inject! If this isn't clear I have a video I can email - not sure how to upload it here. For an adult beardie 1.5ml pentobarb is plenty. It usually takes 1-2 minutes to get a non-responsive animal.

After they are completely flat then pith them, this is the unpleasant bit. Since they can cope without oxygen for a while they need brainstem destruction to ensure they are completely dead. I inject a further 1ml into the brainstem at the cisterna magna - you just walk the needle down the back of the skull till you find the entry point and inject. Or you can mechanically pith them with a metal rod but this is less nice if the owner is taking them home.

I also make a point of doing this away from the owners as it is a little unpleasant!

Marie

[/quote]

Is it the same for a gecko?

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

mariette asselbergs — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:30:15 GMT

[quote user="bob lehner"]

I'd refer it to the St George's Veterinary Group practice - (near Wolverhampton).

I'm sure they'd be good at slaying the odd dragon....?

[/quote]

Ha ha Thanks Bob, at least we'll know now for the next one.....!

Mariette

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 15:14:10 GMT

[quote user="Alexa Bardell"]I've just been told by receptionist that no longer coming in now as passed away over night.[/quote]

And yet they already knew it was dying yesterday- and reptiles die very slowly. People's attitudes to their exotic pets makes my blood boil.

[quote user="Alexa Bardell"]At least I'll know for next time [/quote]

Absolutely-and good on you for trying to do your best and not just going for the '10ml of blue juice into a cavity' aproach!

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

bob lehner — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 14:25:36 GMT

I'd refer it to the St George's Veterinary Group practice - (near Wolverhampton).

I'm sure they'd be good at slaying the odd dragon....?

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

a.bardell — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 14:19:04 GMT

Thanks for your help and prompt replies.

I've just been told by receptionist that no longer coming in now as passed away over night.

At least I'll know for next time

thanks again

Alexa

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:51:06 GMT

If you don't like the idea of pithing you could do what I do - after the iv injection I just tell the owner to leave it in a cardboard box (or do so myself if going for crem) for 24hrs. It is then very obviously dead with no chance of recovery.

I learnt my lesson when I told an owner their iggy (post horrible op) was dead - confirmed with doppler- only for it to start breathing (albeit very temporarily) 30 mins later.

As far as the injection- if you've got plenty of cow bleeding experience then extrapolate. Get someone to hold the lizard facing away from you on a table and then pretend it's a cow's tail- same method needed! (Just make sure you avoid the hemipenes if it isn't a terminal procedure!)

Re: bearded dragon euthanasia

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:31:50 GMT

It's not that bad I promise!

I also make a point of doing this away from the owners as it is a little unpleasant!

Marie