Ok, I am sure by the time I got home from our mandatory family
Thanksgiving get together, me and all the ferrets that is, that this
issue will have been beaten to darn death. But I feel compelled to
add my nickel.

First is the warning I give out at least a hundred times a year as a
shelter Mom, and is ignored at least 98% of the time. Do not take your
ferret to a dog and cat doctor, they need a ferret doctor. And that
includes for making the Big Trip. Maybe especially for that.

Second, since I was taught by a caring vet the proper way to do a
euthanasia, peacefully, with no pain, no stress, just quiet, love and a
little time in a happier place I call la la land, it has been the only
way we use when we have that choice. Sometimes Mother Nature takes all
choices from you. But I think we all agree on that point - it should be
quiet, pain and stress free.

Here is what we do. We pre-medicate with torb and ace dosed to weight,
and V E R Y important, diluted in 3-5 mls of saline. Very important
because without dilution, it burns. That shot is given sub q with a
tiny little needle and they seldom realize they've even been poked.
That takes anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes to work during which the
furry, or not so furry any more, child gets sleepy, then dozes, and can
dream good dreams. I've been pre-medicated for surgery enough myself to
know that side of the story, not to mention been the Mom holding that
drowsing face way too many times. The key before the shot and they doze
off is to control your own emotions. Oh I know, easier said than done.
But I won't have their last memory be one of panic, remorse or even
sadness. I want them to feel my love, feel safety and security and know
everything is really good, Mom said so. It's really hard, but I save
the tears for later. Sorry, needed a Kleenex there, we lost two in the
same morning last week.

Once the torb and ace have done their job and the ferret is soundly
asleep, then we take them back to the surgery suite and put them on
isoflorine. Its just extra insurance that there will be NO pain. Once
we are positive they are in that surgery ready state, then we gently
slip the needle between the two fingers we are holding over the heart
and on top of the ribs. When we place the needle we back draw it to
make sure it is in the heart and then do the injection. They are
usually gone before we get the needle removed and can pick up a
stethoscope.

Very quiet, very loving, no pain.

The whole procedure is so simple for a qualified person, hats off to
the CETs - that's a hard job, that I learned it by simply watching it
done over and over again. I have done two myself, with the doctor's
supervision of course and since we started this way, won't willingly
use anything else.

Not all vets will want to comply with so many steps or to take this
much time, 15-30 minutes. But talk to your doctor ahead of time, make
absolutely clear what you want and expect to have done, be insistent
if need be. If your doctor is unwilling, then you can always look for
a new doc.

Hospice and rehab is pretty much all we do here, but as I said, it's
just my nickel.

Respectful of those already gone and those planning departure soon,

Brenda, Momma to the FurpeopleWeyr
FurpeopleWeyr.com

[Posted in FML 6533]