Post by Barb Okla on Sept 3, 2008 20:04:23 GMT -6
Humane Disposal of a fish-
Sometimes although we have given our fish the best possible care, they become ill with something we cannot treat. At this time it is in the fish's best interest to dispose of it. It is the least distressing for your pet. Traditional methods were to chop its head off. Now days some are suggesting placing your fish in a bag of water (adding some ice cubes) and putting it in the freezer. Since they are cold blooded animals they lose heat and they slip into unconsciousness and lose sensation. However, more reports are surfacing that states freezing the animals is not the best choice. SEE BELOW:
I received this email from Lisa:
Hi! I like your web page. Just a quick note on humane euthanasia...
The freezer method is OK, but I was informed of a better method by a veterinarian who specializes in fish. I am a third year vet student at U of Pennsylvania and unfortunately I have had some cause to use this method, so I know that it works and it works well. Eugenol is a compound that is used to anesthetize fish; it is better known as clove oil and can be purchased in a pharmacy. It needs to be dissolved in vodka before you add it to the water the fish is in. The proper dose is 1 cc of eugenol + 9 ccs vodka to one gallon of water. When I had to euthanize my rather large oranda I used 2 ccs of eugenol + 18 ccs of vodka added to the 2 gallons of water my fish was in; he just went to sleep very quietly and peacefully. The process takes about 10 minutes. Please post this if you think it could be of help to other goldfish owners; I think its better and certainly quicker than the freezer. Thanks!! Lisa back to top
The following Email was received by Bridey Maxwell from the Salk Institue for Biological Studies
I read your humane disposal of fish section. When cold blooded animals become chilled they cannot move so their death appears peaceful but there is some evidence (I cannot remember where I read this as it was 7 yrs ago when I was researching this subject in regards to humanely killing frogs). However, the animal can feel the pain of ice crystals forming in the body while it freezes. The eugenol method as written above is far more humane since I believe it is an overdose of anesthetic which stops nerve function thus eliminating pain. We switched from freezing to using an overdose of an anesthetic (the active ingredient in Anbesol) for frog euthanasia.
The below information is from BuddyHolly
Preferred Method: Clove Oil and Tank Water Method
Buy pure clove oil. You can get it at a health food store for under $10 for a ½ ounce bottle. Put the fish in a medium sized mixing bowl in his own water from his tank. In a small jar or something with a lid (I use a cleaned out jelly jar) mix the clove oil with tank water. Put the lid on and shake it like crazy over and over until the liquid in it is white. Then pour a little into the mixing bowl with the fish. Swirl it with your hand. The fish might fight it just a little bit and then slow down. Then pour a little more in and swirl again. He should just go to sleep and appear dead. If he doesn't, try a little more of the clove solution, always shaking very well before an addition to the bowl. When he goes to sleep, leave him in the solution for a good 10 minutes and then put him in a small cup or zip-lock baggie and put him in the freezer. Pain free death. Very humane. We should all go so easily.
Clove Oil and Vodka DON'T USE!!!!
The clove oil and vodka method is often sited as a humane method of fish euthanasia. Clove oil (eugenol) is used as an anesthetic in fish for surgery. The vodka is used to disperse the clove oil in the water. The clove oil/vodka mixture is placed in water and then the fish is added and supposedly dies peacefully. This doesn't work! Use the clove oil and tank water method described above.
Taken out of text from:
[url=http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#lice
]link[/url]
Sometimes although we have given our fish the best possible care, they become ill with something we cannot treat. At this time it is in the fish's best interest to dispose of it. It is the least distressing for your pet. Traditional methods were to chop its head off. Now days some are suggesting placing your fish in a bag of water (adding some ice cubes) and putting it in the freezer. Since they are cold blooded animals they lose heat and they slip into unconsciousness and lose sensation. However, more reports are surfacing that states freezing the animals is not the best choice. SEE BELOW:
I received this email from Lisa:
Hi! I like your web page. Just a quick note on humane euthanasia...
The freezer method is OK, but I was informed of a better method by a veterinarian who specializes in fish. I am a third year vet student at U of Pennsylvania and unfortunately I have had some cause to use this method, so I know that it works and it works well. Eugenol is a compound that is used to anesthetize fish; it is better known as clove oil and can be purchased in a pharmacy. It needs to be dissolved in vodka before you add it to the water the fish is in. The proper dose is 1 cc of eugenol + 9 ccs vodka to one gallon of water. When I had to euthanize my rather large oranda I used 2 ccs of eugenol + 18 ccs of vodka added to the 2 gallons of water my fish was in; he just went to sleep very quietly and peacefully. The process takes about 10 minutes. Please post this if you think it could be of help to other goldfish owners; I think its better and certainly quicker than the freezer. Thanks!! Lisa back to top
The following Email was received by Bridey Maxwell from the Salk Institue for Biological Studies
I read your humane disposal of fish section. When cold blooded animals become chilled they cannot move so their death appears peaceful but there is some evidence (I cannot remember where I read this as it was 7 yrs ago when I was researching this subject in regards to humanely killing frogs). However, the animal can feel the pain of ice crystals forming in the body while it freezes. The eugenol method as written above is far more humane since I believe it is an overdose of anesthetic which stops nerve function thus eliminating pain. We switched from freezing to using an overdose of an anesthetic (the active ingredient in Anbesol) for frog euthanasia.
The below information is from BuddyHolly
Preferred Method: Clove Oil and Tank Water Method
Buy pure clove oil. You can get it at a health food store for under $10 for a ½ ounce bottle. Put the fish in a medium sized mixing bowl in his own water from his tank. In a small jar or something with a lid (I use a cleaned out jelly jar) mix the clove oil with tank water. Put the lid on and shake it like crazy over and over until the liquid in it is white. Then pour a little into the mixing bowl with the fish. Swirl it with your hand. The fish might fight it just a little bit and then slow down. Then pour a little more in and swirl again. He should just go to sleep and appear dead. If he doesn't, try a little more of the clove solution, always shaking very well before an addition to the bowl. When he goes to sleep, leave him in the solution for a good 10 minutes and then put him in a small cup or zip-lock baggie and put him in the freezer. Pain free death. Very humane. We should all go so easily.
Clove Oil and Vodka DON'T USE!!!!
The clove oil and vodka method is often sited as a humane method of fish euthanasia. Clove oil (eugenol) is used as an anesthetic in fish for surgery. The vodka is used to disperse the clove oil in the water. The clove oil/vodka mixture is placed in water and then the fish is added and supposedly dies peacefully. This doesn't work! Use the clove oil and tank water method described above.
Taken out of text from:
[url=http://www.goldfishinfo.com/ailment1.htm#lice
]link[/url]