euthanasia - what's more humane?

1398 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Nibbler, Mar 27, 2012

rollerderbygirl

Discussion Starter · Mar 27, 2012

I wrote a little while back about my asf rat Nimh having tumors and wondering if I should put her down. She's still been eating normally and hasn't been rubbing at her tumors too much so I've been waiting out the faint hope that she might be okay even though I know I will have to put her down soon.

(The breeder I got them from said he would put her down with carbon dioxide for me for free - the most humane way in his and my opinion.)

I guess the main reason I've been keeping her alive is because of her sister Pipsqueak. They came from seperate litters but have been together ever since I got them at one month of age. They are now almost a year and a half old. They have never fought. Always sleep together, eat together, groom each other, and run in their wheel together. Ever since Nimh got sick Pipsqueak has been very protective of her and will attack me if I try to touch Nimh.

I will be sad to lose Nimh but I will feel better knowing she is no longer in pain when she is put down. But I'm sure that Pipsqueak will miss her and be lonely. I adopted two of them because they are social animals and need to have a friend, if not a whole family of rats to keep them company.

Even though Pipsqueak shows no signs of tumors, should I have her put down too? Would it be cruel to end her life when she is in good health? Or would it be more cruel to keep her alive and have her become sad and lonely and miss her sister?

Would really like some help with this, thanks!!

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lilspaz68

· #2 · Mar 27, 2012

OK so you have decided on the horrible euth, fine, but make sure he does it right. If he's a breeder does he not have another female you can adopt for your remaining healthy girl?

Never euthanize a healthy animal when you have options, only do it if they are both sick, but one has to be pts now and the other is sick as well and will decline once their friend is gone.

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rollerderbygirl

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 27, 2012

lilspaz68 said:
OK so you have decided on the horrible euth, fine, but make sure he does it right. If he's a breeder does he not have another female you can adopt for your remaining healthy girl?

Never euthanize a healthy animal when you have options, only do it if they are both sick, but one has to be pts now and the other is sick as well and will decline once their friend is gone.

i would get another rat if i could, but african soft furs usually need to be introduced to each other within the couple of months after birth otherwise they will likely kill each other or the older one would kill the younger one

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Nibbler

· #4 · Mar 27, 2012

if your choosing to have her put to sleep i suggest bringing her to a vet, not letting a breeder do it from his own home. free or not, a vet is your best option.

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