we euthanized some mice today in lab so we could do a practice surgery on them before we do an actual surgery on a rat after spring break...we have to open them up and stick a microchip in their abdomen and sew them back up. We're using anesthesia...sorta....Ketaset and Domitor. We have to do post-op checks with our partner for 3 days following the surgery, and administer post-op pain killers as needed. Should be cool...hope our rat survives! There's a large mortality rate...lol. I don't mean to be morbid about this whole thing...its just the way it goes.
Anyway, we used a Co2 chamber to do the deed, which I found really interesting. I was watching inquisitively, then I looked around and realized that all these 18 year old kids had never seen anything euthanized before (unless they were in with the family pet at the vet or something). They were all good about it, as to be expected, but the looks on all their faces was unique, definitely one I will always remember.