How to PTS?

[fexpress]

I know I've read before there are better and worse ways for a vet to put a rat to sleep. Can someone give me some help with this? I'd like to be able to phone our vet (and then others if necessary) and find out the methods, so that when the inevitable happens for Olive, I can take her to the best possible place. Thoughts anyone?

(This is a terrible decision, but I'd rather do some research now before she gets to the point where I have to take her without knowing what will happen)

 

[hopefloats]

Generally they gas them first then they use an injection to the heart that is the most humane way for rats.

 

[fexpress]

Do many vets allow you to be present? I think she'll be scared (although if she needs to be PTS, she may be past the point of caring/knowing...don't know)

 

[victoria]

Do many vets allow you to be present? I think she'll be scared (although if she needs to be PTS, she may be past the point of caring/knowing...don't know)

That depends on the vet and the province. My vet does but when I lived in Ontario, none of my vets did no matter how much I pleaded. I have no doubt they were treated humanely and with dignity, I think it's a question of liability and professional standards.

 

[hopefloats]

I make sure my rats are drugged prior to them taking them from me. They give them a shot that sedates them pretty heavily. Their last thoughts are in my hands as they drift off. I dont think we can go back to the room with the gas.

 

[EDK]

Ya my vet usually gases them, which puts them into a sweet deep sleep so they feel nothing, then a simple injection. My vet also offered for me to be with them as they are gased for their final rest, but I've never been able to accept watching it. I'm just glad in the few moments they give us time to say our goodbyes before the final call...I hate going through it either way...

 

[SQ]

The rattie needs to be given the same mixture of oxygen & gas that is given for surgery.
The rattie will become deeply unconscious.
When the rattie is deeply unconscious, the rattie is injected .... lower right abdomen not hitting any organs, or the liver (is suposed to be ok), or into the heart.
The rattie is kept unconscious with the gas ... after awhile they will stop breathing and awhile later, the heart will stop beating.

Many vets do not know how to do it correctly.
It is important to discuss the proceedure before hand with your vet.
IMO, it is also important to stay with your rat, holding your rattie, comforting him/her, petting, cuddling .....

A conscious rat should NEVER be injected ... that would cause horrible suffering!

For a discussion on this topic, please see: http://www.jorats.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... how+to+pts

Edit: I hold my rat in my arms petting him/her and I administer the gas by holding the tube close to my rattie.
This is safe and no probs in a well ventulated room.
I think that the concerns about liablity are just an excuse some vets use to keep people out.
Vets and their staff are in rooms giving animals gas for hours every day during surgeries.
If there was a real concern about gas, then they could just have people sign a legal waiver.

 

[RKEM]

Well I don't know about the liability issue mentioned but my vet (in Ontario) allows me to be present for as much or as little as I want yet a vet in Quebec wouldn't. At first she would only allow me after the gas was administered so I would go in once he had the little mask on and before they do the injection. But I figure she realized I wasn't going to flip out and tell them to stop after it had started and now I can be there for the whole process and I like that because I know there is nothing to hide about the procedure and I got to see how there is indeed zero pain for the rat when they do the injection.

 

[crumbilina]

I think it really depends on your relationship with your vet. The first few that were pts with my vet were taken to the back to have everything administered (method mentioned above, gas then needle) and then they were brought back to me. Now that I have been his client for a few years, he lets me go back with them and lets me be there when he administers the gas and needle. If I have a different vet in the clinic, 2 things can happen: If I show up without notice and there is no communication with my regular vet they take them and then bring them back to me. If my vet has a chance to talk to the other vet, he lets them know I go back with them and they take me back.

I'm so sorry that you have to think about this, but it is a good thing that you are. My first experience was horrible, all because I didn't look into it first.

:hugs: