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Mnementh
Yearling
United Kingdom
537 Posts |
 Posted - 18/08/2010 : 16:03:12
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As a way of Euthanising , please read the following link .
After noticing on this and other forums on how to euthanise snakes , including non feeding hatchlings , by freezing or decapitation I thought I would link to a paper that was written on the subject .
I was also at a well known and respected breeders house this week and I brought the topic of non feeding hatchlings up , apparently they can go for quite a time after hatching without feeding , longer than I suspect a lot of people believe , months as opposed to weeks .
http://www.anapsid.org/decap.html
Also have provided a video of a headless snake which is going the rounds on the internet atm , the video is a bit gruesome so be warned .
http://battlezoo.blogspot.com/2008/10/decapitated-snake-still-alive.html
Thanks . |
One last jump , that's all we have to take Holth .
Wearily the old queen gathered heself to spring ;
Moreta gratefully began her litany .
Black , blacker , blackest -
They went between . |
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BurnedAtTheStake
Yearling
United Kingdom
915 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 16:12:30
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I have killed animals for food and have had to kill wildlife out of mercy ie, cats' offerings/myxomatosis rabbit, but I'm a wuss and can't watch your videos, though I agree these things have to be faced up to.
I have often thought that swift decapitation is the kindest death - with a small snake maybe a sharp pair of secateurs could be used.
Though, as I say, I haven't watched it, I suspect the 'snake still alive after decapitation' has been filmed while the muscles go on moving of their own accord although the animal is definitely dead. Hence the saying: 'running around like a headless chicken.' When gutting newly killed rabbits and discarding the innards, I have often noticed the intestines still moving.
Sorry if anyone's about to eat their tea! |
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n/a
deleted
180 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 16:15:51
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Whoa, thats certainly some interesting reading. I suppose snakes are more resilient to a lot of things than people think.
That video is just freaky man....
BATS, after watching the vid i can definitly say its not just muscle spasms cuasing movement, the snake is actually trying to strike in defense. |
09 Amel Corn
West Mids
STU
Wishlist - Snow, Anery Lavender, Stripe of some sort, Diffused Caramel, Whiteout, Tessera.
Plus a Royal Python. |
Edited by - n/a on 18/08/2010 16:17:26 |
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BurnedAtTheStake
Yearling
United Kingdom
915 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 16:25:24
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I see your point, but I still feel it could be a case of the snake repeating movements it would have made in life.
I WILL try to watch it ... honest .... |
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3070 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 16:33:40
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| I read a while ago nthat snakes can live for upto 2 hours without their heads but never really known why, or even wether there was truth to it. |
0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky
0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha
Location: Liverpool |
Edited by - DannyBrown91 on 18/08/2010 16:34:11 |
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n/a
deleted
180 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 16:35:46
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quote:
Originally posted by BurnedAtTheStake
I see your point, but I still feel it could be a case of the snake repeating movements it would have made in life.
I WILL try to watch it ... honest ....
its not as bad as you may think. |
09 Amel Corn
West Mids
STU
Wishlist - Snow, Anery Lavender, Stripe of some sort, Diffused Caramel, Whiteout, Tessera.
Plus a Royal Python. |
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Sta~ple
qeeun speler
United Kingdom
6129 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 17:21:15
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I guess snakes are like headless chickens :D
We have had to kill some animals out of mercy before, smacking them on the head with a shovel is normally how we do it.
Seems like its actually quite heard to kill a reptiles :/
Man that video is freak *_* never seen a head move before after it being cut off from the body. |
   
A very special super, duper thanks for K :3 |
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness
United Kingdom
4428 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 18:31:06
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Killing a snake humanely is hard unless you are happy to get your hands very dirty, I definatley would not cut its head off.
A vet will do it by injecting a huge amount of barbiturates directly into the heart, and then cutting the snakes spine where it joins the skull. |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 20:39:56
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that's providing a vet can actually locate the heart - difficult in particularly large or small specimens - they may need to use ultrasound to help them so even THAT option isn't as straight forward as a smallie  |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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lee2308
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
3348 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 20:41:23
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| interesting read,snakes have been known to bite once decapitated |
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eeji
The Morph Master
United Kingdom
4335 Posts |
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BurnedAtTheStake
Yearling
United Kingdom
915 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 21:54:13
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| Right - so you'd have to brain it like a pinkie - either bash the head or use something, like scissors or secateurs, to snip or crush the skull ... horrible subject but if there was an emergency it would be better knowing what to do - hope I never do have to do it. |
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mikerichards
don't say the 'M' word!
United Kingdom
2901 Posts |
Posted - 18/08/2010 : 23:24:21
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Barbituates will kill even if not injected in to the heart, just not as fast, but its still quick!!
I was holding Badger the rat when he was PTS a couple of weeks ago, he wasnt injected into his heart, just his body cavity, but it was still quick, and thankfully very peaceful, its the reflexes after death that are the nasty ones!
I know people who have frozen snakes to kill them, using the reasoning that the snake will die of exposure before actually freezing, i guess that isnt true!!!
If you wanna save yourself a few quid, then a couple of bricks will do the job very effectively. |
Location : Worthing, West Sussex
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness
United Kingdom
4428 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2010 : 09:16:28
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quote:
Originally posted by eeji
the only 'humane' way to euthanise a snake (or any reptile) at home without access to drugs is total destruction of the brain - any other way is not instant :(
Thats what I meant by getting your hands dirty. |
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pastie
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
28 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2010 : 09:37:58
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if its your reptiles the vets can charge alot of money to put the animal to rest :\ £200-400+
a couple of bricks is also useful for castrating cats and dogs if your a bit short on dosh |
0.2.0 Common + Amel Corn (Mclaren & Bugatti)
Location: Buckingham, UK |
Edited by - pastie on 19/08/2010 09:40:13 |
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BurnedAtTheStake
Yearling
United Kingdom
915 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2010 : 10:15:35
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quote:
Originally posted by pastie
if its your reptiles the vets can charge alot of money to put the animal to rest :\ £200-400+
a couple of bricks is also useful for castrating cats and dogs if your a bit short on dosh
CRINGE!!! (LOL!)
Would always prefer vet, and have got a 'rainy day' fund for that. But if it was an emergency - like being in the middle of nowhere with no transport, or finding a badly injured snake in the wild and having nothing to carry it in to the vet, and no transport (I haven't got a car) - it's agood idea to know what to do.
Worst case scenario merchant, that's me ... |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2010 : 11:08:16
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quote:
Originally posted by mikerichards
Barbituates will kill even if not injected in to the heart, just not as fast, but its still quick!!
unfortnately an animal in shock with low blood pressure and slow circulation can take a while to die if the injection is just 'intra-animal'............with mammals if a vein is collapsed the other options are heart or kidneys (not always an alternative means with a rep)
from my experience, with reps their ability to slow all their body processes down means anything injected can potentially still take a considerable time to work |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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lee2308
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
3348 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2010 : 14:55:01
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quote:
Originally posted by pastie
if its your reptiles the vets can charge alot of money to put the animal to rest :\ £200-400+
a couple of bricks is also useful for castrating cats and dogs if your a bit short on dosh
my vet charged £18 to put my king to sleep |
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gingerpony
Queen Bee
United Kingdom
10455 Posts |
Posted - 19/08/2010 : 15:35:49
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quote:
Originally posted by pastie
if its your reptiles the vets can charge alot of money to put the animal to rest :\ £200-400+
wow!  don't think i'd go to your vet lol, we don't even charge £200 for a large dog with a private cremation and ashes returned in a nice box!! |
cornsnakes, ratsnakes, bullsnakes, boas and day geckos
Location:Leeds/York/Selby area |
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eeji
The Morph Master
United Kingdom
4335 Posts |
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Mnementh
Yearling
United Kingdom
537 Posts |
Posted - 20/08/2010 : 13:49:54
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quote:
Originally posted by eeji
thankfully I've only ever had to euthanise two hatchlings,a pair of pliers did the trick. Hopefully its not something I'll have to do again :(
Damn m8 , don't think I could do that , but then when I start breeding it's those sort of things I may have to do |
One last jump , that's all we have to take Holth .
Wearily the old queen gathered heself to spring ;
Moreta gratefully began her litany .
Black , blacker , blackest -
They went between . |
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Topic |
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Decapitation or Freezing of snakes
