Humane rat euthanization?

Question

I have a pet rat that's about 2 years old and has a tumor under his right arm about the size of a marble and its growing fast. Its not time to do the deed yet but some day in the not so far future he will need to be put to sleep (killed). No signs of pain yet.

Thing is I can't afford to take him to the vet. Whats the best way to get this done at home? I'd like it to be clean and painless.

Answer 1

I had the same dilema. I was tired of seeing my rat suffer, and she was hours from death anyhow and no vet I could take her to. I gave her human medicine. I used a baby medicine dropper and gave her some childrens fever medicine and she just fell asleep.

Answer 2

After doing research for one of my web pages, and talking to many other rat-keepers, we agree that C02 is not a humane way to euthanize a rat. Rats have been known to fight their death by this method. The only people who use C02 are labs and reptile keepers and their compassion is lacking for the death of a rat.

There is no humane way to euthanize a rat at home, especially because we are amateurs and any home procedure can be done incorrectly, causing more pain then not.

For $10.00, this is what my vet does for my rat:
The rat is first anesthetized by putting it in a chamber that is then slowly filled with Isoflorine gas. Slowly because this keeps the rat calm as it "falls asleep". Then, while the rat is unconscious, there is the final injection to the heart.
Depending on how sick the rat is, the gas alone has been known to end the life.

spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat...

Answer 3

There is no humane way to do it yourself at home. Why dont you start saving up now? You should have enough time to get enough together. Have you checked with the vets to see how much it is to have a rat put to sleep? It shouldnt be that much(probably less than what my vet charges-£25).
I'm on benefits and I make sure that I have enough money put aside so that I can take them to the vets when they need it. To me its part of being a responsible pet owner. I also keep enough money aside to get them individually cremated and bring their ashes home.

Answer 4

I am very sad to hear that! *crys a little*

I have a pet snake and we kill the rats that she eats. I know this is your pet and not food, so I'm sure you want the simplest method.


an easier way that is less traumatic to the mammalian prey animal, ensures immediate unconsciousness followed almost instantaneously by death. This is done by setting up a tank, be it a deep aquarium, bucket or rubber or plastic wastebasket set aside for this use, and filling it half full of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. Once the tank is thus 'charged,' the prey animal is placed inside (be careful to not get your head too close to the tank as the gas is quite capable of knocking you unconscious, too). It is immediately rendered unconscious and is killed within a few minutes. The killed prey can then be removed (it is recommended that you use long kitchen or barbecue tongs), and set aside to be fed out or frozen for later use. Let the gas dissipate outside by setting the tank outside for a couple of hours.

You can get CO2 relatively inexpensively in a gaseous form in tanks from welder's supply shops, and in solid form (as dry ice) from ice houses; these suppliers may be found in the telephone yellow pages.

Taken from a website : http://www.anapsid.org/prekill.html

Answer 5

You should call the vet and ask them if they can help you out. Most vets will do it for little or no cost. If they won't do it they can at least give you some ideas on what would be the most humane way to go about doing it at home.

Answer 6

Sorry to hear the bad news about your rat. They make excellant pets....as you know. I also would call a vet and ask them for help. They might help you out.

Answer 7

Call some vets. I had one with a tumor, too, and they only charged me $5 to put her to sleep.

Answer 8

i think of you ought to have saved all of humanity etc. from a available non O2 respiration entity via twist of destiny. The cerebral dislocation restoration is evidence of that. thank you from my freinds , family members and doubtless others for the previous between the ears. it ought to no longer be eauthanised yet.

Answer 9

I would call some aniamls shelters sometime they can help. Sorry about your rat I use to have one too

Answer 10

CO2