Advice - Hamster being put down

aileth

Hi all,

Does anyone know anything about how hamsters are supposed to be put down? My sister has just gone to the vet with her poorly hamster, the vet manhandled it, stabbed it in front of my sister with an overdose of anaesthetic. Now, that sort of behaviour seems dodgy enough, but isn't there a special chemical they use to put them down rather than causing them to OD?

Thanks.

mcja

When our hamster was PTS the vet laid its head in an oversize mask and just gently sent it off. Very dignified and gentle.

aileth

Yes, my sisters previous hamsters were put on gas, the vet gave her the option of being present or not, and then gave them an injection, though I'm not sure what of. Seems a bit brutal if ODing them on anaesthetic is standard practice, although I suppose if they're already 'out' with the gas then they won't feel anything.

Just really shocked as hamster was very poorly but still somewhat responsive, i.e. being stroked and it was responding a little, so my sister is in bits thinking that it might've felt the OD as it had no gas.

TBagpuss

there isn't a 'special chemical', euthanasia generally involved an overdose of one kind or another.
I can't comment on whether an injection would be the normal route, rather than inhalation, although this might depend on the size of the surgery and what type of procedures they normally carry out on those premises - if it is small, and then normally do operations requiring anaesthesia at a different location, they might not have suitable masks etc, and may have felt that an injection would be less stressful for the animal than further delay and transport.

If your sister feels that they were insensitive or handled the hamster roughly then of course it would be fine for her to raise this with them.

Person_one

When my rats were put to sleep, they were place in an adapted box like a tupperware container with a tube attached with their favourite treat. Then the gas was put in through the tube and they went peacefully and calmly.

To euthanise small animals by injection, I believe you have to go straight into the heart because their veins are too small. That's why gas is more humane.

If I were your sister and I was planning to keep more small animals, I'd swap to a vets that is better able to care for them properly. Its actually considered an 'exotic' specialism surprisingly.

aileth

She normally goes to a specialist 'hamster' vet at the practice, who is really lovely and put down her other hamsters via gas, he was always so gentle and careful with them.

Hamster in question was fairly elderly but had been doing very well, we think perhaps it had a stroke overnight and had gone rapidly downhill, so she booked her in as an emergency as she didn't want her to suffer and there was no chance she was going to survive.

I think she might bring it up with the practice when she's feeling clearer of mind.

Thanks for the input everyone.

teddysmum

I've only ever had two pts, the first being at the PDSA. This was done in another room, but I heard it squeak, briefly. Years later, when it was necessary for another I asked my vet about method and he said they used an injection into the abdomen , which could cause brief pain, but was more reliable than gas as some rodents can fight it. It was done out of my sight though.


I haven't had hamsters for years (having had as many as five at a time, most of whom died naturally).

mtbbuxton

I recently said goodbye to one of my pet ferrets and my lovely Vet explained the process to me. They need to be given an injection - which is basically an overdose of anaesthetic - into either the heart or kidneys. The gas is used to make the circumstances less distressing for both pet and owner rather than a guaranteed method of euthanasia for small animals .
I find it terrible that this procedure was carried out in such an insensitive manner

M x