putting down a kit

[SterlingSatin]

i had on of my kits hop out of the nest box at 9 days old yesterday and caught it's foot in the wire. it has a compound fracture of the femur that can't possibly be set. it's in a lot of pain and bloody and i can't do anything for it i don't think. how can i put it out of its misery? i know how with adult rabbits but i've never done it with a kit before and i shudder to think how the best way to do this is. so dissapointed and sad that this happened. and kicking myself for not having a hard surface on the cage. i wasn't expecting them out for a few more days. i wish i could let it die on its own but i know that will take too long. can anyone offer any advice for how to dispatch it?

 

[Cowboy1]

To be blunt, blunt force trauma to the head.
Be confident, accurate and swift.

I hate to see any animal suffer.

 

[3mina]

Sorry you have to figure this out Cowboys option is the quickest, better than what I'd thought of

 

[SterlingSatin]

can i do cervical dislocation with the tip of my thumb? rest its chin on my index finger and then pull up while pressuring down at the back of the neck with my thumb? I can almost see myself doing that. i will bash it if absolutely neccesary though.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I used to dispatch mice by putting them in a brown paper lunch bag, and whacking it against the wall. That way you don't have to "look". Just make sure to swing hard.

Sorry about your little kit, Sterling! It is terrible when the little guys are hurt.

((Hugs))

 

[SterlingSatin]

putting them in a brown paper lunch bag, and whacking it against the wall. That way you don't have to "look". Just make sure to swing hard.

thanks MSD. i think this is how i'm going to do it. here's to hoping it doesn't scream. this sucks. never had to do it this young before and i hope i never have to again.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I hope it goes well and swiftly. :clover:

 

[ladysown]

you hold the kit securely in your hand with its head sticking out. (it's back will be on your fingers) You want to be calm and reassuring, it helps the kit to settle and makes the death easier.

then with the desire to follow through with the movement you whack the kit against a hard, immovable object.

This I find is more humane that the other methods out there.

 

[SterlingSatin]

i used MSD's method. first blow was fatal. minimal post-mortem muscle contractions. it was horrible, but quick and as humane as i think it could be. i feel horrible and i hope i don't ever have to do that again. however, i guess i was "due," never having to kill one of my own rabbits in 3 years. wish it didn't have to be a 10 day old though...
i feel somewhat responsible for the injury. if the nest box had been deeper they wouldn't have hopped out. or if there had been a solid surface in front of the box for them to land on... i guess we learn and move on. i put tiles around the NB so if another one tries to jump out it won't break its leg going through the wire.

 

[SarahMelisse]

I used to dispatch mice by putting them in a brown paper lunch bag, and whacking it against the wall. That way you don't have to "look". Just make sure to swing hard.

Sorry about your little kit, Sterling! It is terrible when the little guys are hurt.

((Hugs))

That has worked for me too. You can't help but feel bad for the real little ones.

 

[ZRabbits]

My heartfelt sympathies for the lost of the little one. All we can do is learn and move on.

Karen

 

[fuzzy9]

I'm so sorry you had to do this, I've done it too, and it's extremely difficult with such young babies. I'm glad you were able to find a method that worked for you. For reference, I did try the first method you mentioned, but it was way to hard, I think more emotionally than physically. I found using a sturdy stick, and a whack to the back of the head worked best for me, and was the quickest.

 

[Cowboy1]

You did the right thing. Don't beat yourself up.

 

[SterlingSatin]

thanks all

 

[newhope]

I'm sorry you had to do that.
The method you used is what I used for my rats and mice.