Nitrogen for pet euthanasia
 

I recently had to put down my 14yo cat, who was down to 9lbs from his peak at 18lbs in only a year or two. Almost lost him a few times before earlier on. He hung on for me I'd like to believe. That cat chose me from the start. So many memories.

Still thinking about all the mistakes I'd made over the last decade and there were many. The dynamics of stubborn dog/stubborn cat/stubborn human could have been handled differently. He was so social. He would try to sleep with the dog and there would be a musical chairs growling session every night until he gave up and slept elsewhere in the house or went down to look out the window. I could have had him on a towel instead. Even with three kinds of food he'd yowl at me while cooking and I should have given him more love then and there. Too late now. So many things could have been done differently. I'm not a cat person by nature but he was the greatest ever made in my unbiased view. Would walk out to greet neighbors with dogs on the sidewalk. Always at my my right as soon as soon as I sat down on the porch. That kitty who chases off a coyote to save the human kid? That would have been him.

A small cold turned into another round of full blown seizures and he was unable to walk. We had a good evening together watching a movie together and some purring sessions where I managed to get a few needle-less syringes of water into his mouth, but he threw up everything else. The procedure did not go as smoothly as it could have. After not eating or drinking for three days he was completely dehydrated. He got a sleeping shot before the final of pentobarbital/oxybarbiturate but the vet couldn't get a good vein at first.

I asked the vet about nitrogen and was told it was not applicable for some animals and not 'tested' enough or 'certified' by the powers that be. They replied they would look into it as a possibility. I've heard it is used in assisted suicides successfully. In retrospect the gas would probably not be safe to store inside a closed heated facility, and any long-term safety of a pressurized tank is always a concern.

It is used in executions though:
https://oklahomawatch.org/2018/07/17/puzzle-of-nitrogen-execution-could-present-issues-for-state/
Several breaths can render a person unconscious, with death following in four to five minutes, according to Copeland’s report. That’s based on experiences of people who have used nitrogen for suicides.

Did all my weeping and recognizing mistakes..
Moral of the story is love 'em while you got 'em.

We had a skunk problem in our neighborhood. A mamma skunk had dug a den under a concrete pillar for the neighborhood wall. We hired a skunk trapper. He caught the mom, and 4 kits and "took them to the farm" actually his farm, and he uses nitrogen to euthanize them. He says they just go unconscious and die painlessly. No one at all wants a skunk dropped off near their property.

And sorry for the loss of a beloved pet.

Sounds similar to using clove oil to euthanize my fish when I can’t save them….i really hate that part of the hobby

In the last year, my sister had to put her Aussie Shepherd down because of old age.

I forgot the exact number...but it was over a few hundred for the entire process.

Sorry for your loss, John. Don't beat yourself up for your perceived short comings. None of us are without short comings. It just bothers us more when it has an impact on our 4 legged companions.

Remember the good times, my brother.....

Sad to hear John. It has been almost 5 months since I lost Tilly. Not a day goes by where I don't think about her and suffer remorse for not spending more time with her. Now, she is gone.....and I wish things were different.

RIP Kitty

Very sorry for your loss. It's only human to feel the way you're feeling, but as you said, he chose you--and for that I imagine he was grateful.

Last year, my Dad lost blood internally (stomach ulcer) and had fluid in his lungs. He could not get enough oxygen into his body and looked very afraid while panting. He knew something was very wrong.

Nitrogen would replicate this sensation, yes? The animal/human is simply being asphyxiated and will know?

My hate side wants a murderer to feel pain but the logic side does not.

No way on a pet.

Not really. The get nitrogen narcosis like symptoms.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_narcosis

They feel happy and numb and die.

I like that better. It makes me shudder to think of essentially drowning.

John70t - I am sure your kitty knew you loved him and that is all they really want. We do all we can to care for our fur-kids and believe me, I know how hard it is when it comes time to say goodbye. It was the right thing to do so they do not suffer. I hope you get another pet when the time is right.

Sorry for your lost.

Had to put my baby down about two years ago and it still hurts.

I am considering getting another cat but the memory still haunts me.

I'm no vet but what is wrong with the usual (at least around here) lethal injection?

I originally thought it was caustic chemical thing but I guess they just use an overdose of opiates. Worried about the the pollution aspect at first, before doing research, and though it would be a better experience. Didn't think about the downsides of the gas side. It is never someone wants to go through. I'm sorry for your loss as well. The family lab was 17 and went out like a light. Vet said some fight it and some are ready.

At the end he was dehydrated and the vet had to use a couple of tries/bottles to get a vein despite being already asleep. It could have been better. Just thinking out loud.

We lost 2 dogs recently. Both horrible experiences. The second was one of the worst experiences of my life. She was a big dog. She was stitting up and we weren’t ready and the vet injected her and she literally dropped dead. This is not something I can forget. It haunts me. I blame myself. It has taken every bit of mental strength I can muster not to tear that vet’s GD head off. Just thinking about this makes my blood boil.

There's a manual on the animal type and accepted euthanasia method. The blue bug juice (fatal plus) is the current standard. Barbiturate cocktail/OD.

oh wow....that is an awful experience to have. Apparently the vet was in some kind of hurry. I have never experienced anything remotely similar. I can totally understand your feelings towards the vet. Shame on him/her for such horrible behavior at such a time.

If it helps... Your dog didn't feel any pain and was definitely riding the dragon to the afterlife.

Not all vets are the same type of person.

This isn't animal research. They are very considerate of pain and suffering of the animal...

We were shocked. Our dog was well known and well loved by everyone at this office, especially by the vet. I jut cant believe she didnt help us to get her to lay down. The IV line was in but I didnt know she was going to do it at that moment. It felt like an assassination.

I dont know what to think any more. The dog had a hard tumor on her skull for 2 years and then one day she could not jump up on the bed which was very unusual. We thought she injured her back or something. This was on x-mas eve. The vet did an xray and said her lungs were full of cancer and she needed to be put down immediately. As in, right now. huh?

We took her home for x-mas and brought her back the next day.....I am full of regret and sadness. I should have looked a those X-rays or gotten a 2nd opinion. We have 2 other dogs and I seriously fear the future. I have begged my wife, no more dogs. I cant handle any more of this sadness.

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