>I'm thinking that it is almost time to help him across the rainbow bridge.
>Any thoughts on this?
>
>Also, I have discussed this possibilty with our ferret friendly, but
>not incredibly ferret knowledgeable (she did not do the diagnosis for
>mittens) vet.  She said that when it is time, a shot to the heart of the
>euthanasia-stuff is the easiest and least painful.  Is this true?
>
>Natalie and the sad furry snakes
 
Natalie -
 
Yes, a shot directly into the heart is essentially instant.  At the clinic
I used to volunteer at we would first administer a bit of anesthesia to
the animal first to have it asleep when the actual "final" needle is given
(this is especially important when dealing with 100 pound dogs who hate
vets and needles, never mind ferrets).  With the dose going straight to the
heart they will pass on before the injection itself is done.  Administered
any place else will take longer.  I believe in rare cases of euthanized
animals injected intervenously some been known to wake from the
"euthanasia" a day or so later -- it is very rare for this to happen and
even more unlikely in a small animal, but not something anyone wants to
have happen.
 
What a horrible decision to have to make, no matter what the circumstances.
I have no great wisdom for determining "when" is the right time, it is a
very personal decision.  Essentially it is a quality of life decision for
most based on whether the animal can live happily in its current state or
recover to a healthy enough state to do so.
 
Huggs and take care.
Lorraine
[Posted in FML issue 3507]