Q: "i bought some frozen dead mice and rabbits, they were killed by the
    means of being gassed with co2 (carbon dioxide] my question is since
    these animals were gassed to death with co2 would this be harmful
    to feed my cats and ferrets?"
 
A: This question is a gas!
 
CO2, Carbon Dioxide, is a harmless gas as long as 1) it doesn't exist in
quantities sufficient to cause enough global warming to raise temperatures
high enough to melt lead, 2) you don't freeze it and mistake it for ice
cream, and 3) you don't try to breathe it like oxygen.  CO2 is a normal
by-product of glucose metabolism, and your body eliminates a tremendous
amount of it daily.
 
When used to to kill, CO2 is pumped into a chamber of some sort,
displacing normal room air, which drops oxygen levels.  The death is
reported to be painless the animals just drifts off to sleep--but, because
CO2 levels are critical in respiration, the dying animal is seen to gasp
and make exaggerated breathing motions.  These are normal reactions of
hypoxia, and are not necessarily an indication the animal is in
discomfort.  The greatest draw-back is the long period of time for the
process to take place, time that some argue is long enough for the animal
to become terrified.  Some supply houses use liquid CO2 as a killing
agent, and simply immerse the animal in the frosty fluid.  For small
mammals, death is virtually instantaneous.  A lot of places that supply
frozen mice and rats for the reptile trade use this method.
 
In either case, as CO2 "melts", it turns into a harmless gas.  Bubble it
through tap water, and you have made carbonated water.  It is NOT a danger
to your pets, it will not change the nutritional value of your food, and
it will not harm you.  Provided, of course, you don't try filling your
scuba tanks with the gas.
 
Bob C
[Posted in FML issue 3786]