How actually does a vet put a rabbit to her final rest?

[HippityHopMom]

Vets are closed now.  (Only opened morning hours on Sat. in my city, so I am unable to call to ask my vet).    My question is exactly how does a vet put a rabbit down?   Do they have to find a vein and inject in the vein ?  I think I recall my vet stating in the past that it was hard to inject into a rabbit vein ?  And yes, my vet is a rabbit vet.  ~~~~    My poor girl is 12 yrs old and failing greatly.   She is unable to clean herself.  When I give her a bath, it is now stressing her.  I imagine her old bones get so sore when handled too much now.  She also falls over at times and she can not get up.  I have  woke in the middle of the night hearing her struggling to get up …so I have to get up and help her.   The fact she can not clean her underside is a huge problem.  You do not realize how low they move around until you have one that can not clean themselves.  Several months ago, she got to where she uses the bathroom in and OUTside of her litter pan, so I have to keep puppy pads down for her.  I clean her cage constantly but she still gets poo all stuck under her belly.    The last time my vet saw her, he said she was the oldest rabbit he had ever treated.  She has had a good happy life here with us.   I know now it is time to help her cross the bridge where she will be more comfortable. 

[{Alli}]

I am so sorry for your loss I can’t help you with saying how they put rabbits to sleep but I really am truly sorry. I hope you will be okay Your big girl has had a lovely life with you.

[Tessie]

I’m sorry your baby is suffering

In my experience at least, they give an overdose of anesthetic, so they just drift off to sleep.

[JackRabbit]

Its pretty much the same as with any pet. They give you time with them, let you hold them if you’d like, inject the meds, and they gently go to sleep with you there to comfort them.

[mrs. coach]

Sorry to hear, but sounds like you’ve given her a wonderful life and are being thoughtful and caring to the very end.

[Sarita]

Well my vet does isoflourine gas and then an injection. I would ask your vet the protocol though that he/she does. And I definitely suggest that your vet does the gas before the injection as it is a kinder way to go. I’m sorry you have to do this but you want it done in the most humane possible way and it is important to know how your vet does it – if he/she does not due the gas prior to the injection, please insist upon it.

[JackRabbit]

Sarita — what does the gas do?

[Sarita]

The gas helps them relax – it’s an anesthesia.

[Megabunny]

Sarita’s right on. The gas puts them under without the potential for multiple needle sticks. Especially in an old/sick/debilitated rabbit, you might not have such great veins to choose from. They inject into the ear. I don’t like to be with any pet smaller than a good sized dog(good sized veins), because if there is any kind of discomfort for them, I don’t want to know about it and have it stay with me…or have them think that I’m a part of it in their final moments. Gas anesthesia first is absolutely the way to go, though my last vet apparently started with the vein and if that didn’t work they went to gas. That’s fine, too, because if they can get right into a vein it’s quicker than waiting for them to have the gas take effect,

[JackRabbit]

Is the gas done through an oxygen mask thing? I’m wondering if that’s what I’ve seen and didn’t know it was gas.

[Megabunny]

Yup. They put their nose into a cone and hold it on. Very humane

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