Folk, I have had to do this to our fuzzy friends, and had my own done as well. I use the somlethal solution intra-cardiac, with a 1 inch needle. I know it is disturbing to see a needle enter the chest cavity, so I do explain the procedure in advance. I've never had a patient so much as flinch with this method, so I've never used gas ahead of time. This is how I had Scheherazade done (even though I was crying too hard to do her myself, I wanted her to go quickly with minimal stress in my absence). This is a very difficult decision, and my heart goes out to you. -Dr. Karen [Posted in FML issue 1314]