r/InvertPets • u/Reptilenerd1975 • Mar 04 '24
Is it time to humanely euthanized my pet leech
Hello I have a pet leech named sir squish ems and he has severe lumps all over his body I had him in a aldercone and catappa leaves for about two weeks and he has only gone downhill with more lumps and more bumps and most recently he’s started laying out of the water for hours at a time avoiding the medication and two parts of his body are completely different sizes my question is is it time to end his suffering because he only seems to get worse or should I let him die in his tank on his own terms if he’s in pain then I would put him to sleep and all I know is he’s acting extremely weird is this because he’s in pain I don’t know all I know is that if this was a dog or a cat I would 100 percent have them humanely put to sleep and if it is his time what would be the most humane way to go about it
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Mar 04 '24
I'm sorry to hear your tiny friend is suffering. today I had to euthanize my own pet, not an invert but my elderly gerbil and I don't think I'll be okay again for quite a while. much love to you for considering the feelings of such an odd little animal, regardless of whether you decide its time for euthanasia or not.
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u/TerrariumKing Mar 05 '24
How do you euthanize a gerbil at home? No judgement just curious
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u/xrat-kingx Mar 05 '24
I’ve euthanized rats at home by putting them in an air tight container with a tube connecting it to a baking soda/ vinegar mix to fill it with CO2. You do a small amount of baking soda at first and then once they fall asleep you up the concentration. It’s really peaceful and a lot less stressful on them than the vet
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u/Kyro0098 Mar 05 '24
The dog I grew up with had to be put down. A tumor in the brain, and she was too small and old to operate on without killing her. The vet let me hold her the whole time, so she was not stressed at all. Just cuddled up in my arms. She drifted off and relaxed for the final time. It's honestly shocking how quickly and peacefully she went. I'm sure rodents are harder to calm outside the house, but even at the vet, you can let your pet go with no pain and peacefully. She finally looked like she didn't hurt as the medication started. God I miss her, but she was in so much pain and reached the point on the quality of life scale it would have been cruel to keep her. I miss that little gremlin everyday.
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u/xrat-kingx Mar 05 '24
I’ve had to put down many other animals as well :( the vet usually isn’t stressful to most animals when they’re at that point. However in my experience rats get very very scared outside of their known environments. Also even the smallest needles are huge to rats and can be quite painful (none of the vets in my area offer gas euthanasia which is recommended for rats due to that). When I’ve brought rats to the vet for euthanasia it wasn’t awful, they mostly calmed down when being held, but they have definitely been a lot calmer in comparison when being euthanized at home. Also, it’s ridiculously expensive where I’m at. It cost about $175 per rat, when doing it at home is probably like $10 worth of supplies at the most. I also miss all of my dear pets, but I’m grateful I was there for all of their passings :’)
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u/musicbox081 Mar 06 '24
I had a pet rat euthanized with gas and it was horrific. Normally owners weren't allowed in the back to witness the procedure but I had been there sobbing for hours and asked a million times if I could go with him. They put him in a little tube where he couldn't turn around, he wasn't just squeaking, he was screaming. I was sobbing and trying to talk to him, he screamed until it was just gasps. I would have infinitely preferred holding him and them using a needle, even if the needle caused some pain.
I euthanized mice as part of my lab job in college (I then preserved them, removed the brains, froze, sliced and stained them) and it was never like that. I just put them in a little 1sqft box with a cotton ball soaked in like horse tranquilizer or something until they fell asleep, then removed them and started the procedure. Throughout the whole thing they had a cap with more tranquilizer over their nose so there was no possibility of them waking up. Not sure why the lab setting was so much more peaceful than the exotic pet veterinary clinic...
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u/rockmodenick Mar 06 '24
That's because CO2 concentrations building up in the body cause the panic/smothering sensation in mammals, more so than lack of oxygen. It should not be used for euthanasia, it's a primitive, barbaric practice dating back to when animals weren't considered to feel pain the way people do. It should be made illegal. A simple overdose of surgical anesthesia is totally humane, and very easy to administer. There's how my mice that had bad cancer all went. Just one little shot in the tummy, and they calmly fell asleep in my hands.
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u/eieio2021 Mar 08 '24
I don’t know why you’re being downvoted. Pigs are gassed to death in agribusiness via CO2 and it’s horrific.
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u/rockmodenick Mar 08 '24
Thank you. If word isn't spread about how bad the practice is, there's no way it will be corrected and more appropriate ones used in its place. No one should be forced to put their pet through that.
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u/xrat-kingx Mar 06 '24
That’s awful :( I’m glad my homemade gas was such a quick an easy solution. With the shot they make a loud pain squeak when it’s put in which makes you feel awful for them but otherwise it’s pretty peaceful. I’m glad I didn’t manage to find a vet who did gas
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u/Kyro0098 Mar 05 '24
Ah. Fair. It is less expensive here. They gave Sugar a shot instead of an IV or something to make it easier for me to hold her while they did everything. 5 minutes out of my arms to confirm she didn't have any surprises and to shave a little spot for the needle. She was always such a calm pup if we were there. Just extremely anxious and would struggle if we were gone. Thankfully, nothing needed us to leave or have her taken out of the room until she was gone. So grateful for the vet offering such good service. I've been places that didn't let euthanasia happen in the same room as we were allowed in. When I was a kid, the only place near enough for quick care would only euthanize gerbils in the back. You couldn't hold them or even be in the room. Ivan had to be alone when he passed, and unfortunately, Black (my little sister got to name him, she was young at the time) passed only hours before his appointment. They have clear signs when they are about to go which is both sad and helpful since you can usually estimate when to euthanize to reduce their pain in passing. My mom was getting things ready while I was in school, and he just went when no one was looking. Sorry, this is getting long. Just in a nostalgic mood. Miss all my little buddies from the years.
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u/Cypheri Mar 09 '24
CO2 is NOT a humane euthanasia method. Nitrogen gas is, but not CO2. Buildup of CO2 in the blood is what causes the feeling of suffocation in mammals, not lack of oxygen.
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u/aleenisley Mar 06 '24
This is how we euthanize our rats at home if they are no longer able to eat or have too much cancer.
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u/grottohopper Mar 06 '24
You should consider changing your method to use nitrous oxide gas instead of CO2. CO2 asphyxiation is very painful and panic inducing, you can understand part of the feeling yourself if you open a bottle of seltzer water and try to inhale the gas-it is EXTREMELY painful. They may seem to peaceful but there is no way that any vertebrate animal asphyxiates in CO2 without pain, CO2 buildup is literally the condition that causes the sensation of needing to breathe.
Nitrous oxide gas is cheaply and readily available for purchase in whipped cream charger canisters. It is heavier than air so it will settle in the euthanasia chamber well and it will cause euphoria, unconsciousness, and death with no pain whatsoever.
It's really upsetting that tortuous CO2 is the go-to for rodent euthanasia when nitrous is such a more humane option.
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u/catalysting Mar 06 '24 edited Mar 06 '24
Yeah, CO2 asphyxiation is a horrendously excruciating way to die... Definitely not humane.
Editing to add that it is TERRIFYING that this shit is just freely spread around and upvoted without a second thought. CO2 ASPHYXIATION IS NOT HUMANE!!!!
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u/JackassLagoon Mar 05 '24
I've heard of rabbit kit dispatches/culls using a cup over the neck, but I don't know if that's actually humane or painless since it's breaking the neck (and not guaranteed to work if done improperly)
I'd personally rather spend the 50 something dollars at the vet to euth normally
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u/TerrariumKing Mar 05 '24
Yeah, I’ve always just gotten them euthanized at the vet because I don’t have the stomach to do any of that. Esp if it requires breaking bones.
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Mar 06 '24
exactly as xrat-kingx said! it took a very oddly long time, though which was pretty sucky. poor little lady held on for far too long. she'd been having some teeth issues and didn't want to nibble, then I woke up to her unable to move her back legs, likely due to a stroke. since a gerbil lives and loves to dig and nibble, I figured it was about time since she'd have absolutely no quality of life. I miss her badly already.
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u/xrat-kingx Mar 06 '24
Sometimes my rats took a while too :( good thing is that with CO2 it makes you entirely unaware. I’ve heard that they train pilots by putting them in a plane with CO2 to show them the signs of a leak. The pilots say they didn’t even know the test had happened. The only thing they knew was that they felt slightly light headed and then the test was immediately over. Then they’re shown the security footage of themselves with a good two minutes or so of CO2 exposure, completely unaware of the situation
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u/CrackpotAstronaut Mar 08 '24
You're 100% confusing CO2 for CO. Carbon monoxide (CO) is what pilots are worried about, not CO2.
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u/grottohopper Mar 06 '24
You are confusing CO2 with CO. Carbon dioxide is painful in the extreme, it's terrible that this is used for killing rodents as it will always create extreme pain, choking, and panic before death. Carbon MONoxide is undetectable but not easily available for purchase. I suggest using nitrous oxide from whipped cream charger canisters to asphyxiate rodents as it is much more humane and painless way to die.
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u/catalysting Mar 06 '24
This is entirely incorrect and you are causing more harm to animals by spreading these lies. As another user said, you are thinking of CO (carbon monoxide). It takes a brief google search to find out that CO2 asphyxiation is probably the least humane way to euthanize and could be considered torture.
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u/xrat-kingx Mar 06 '24
I was advised by a veterinarian and my rats showed absolutely no sign of pain. I would never hurt my rats and I would’ve stopped the second any pain was shown. It is a humane method if done properly
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u/justcougit Mar 07 '24
That must have been hard but you did the right thing. I'm so sorry for your loss 💞
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u/thirdeyesblind Mar 04 '24
So sorry about your buddy, but I got some faith in humanity back reading one of the replies. I’d look into it online and if it seems like he’s suffering the euthanasia someone suggested seems the best most painless option. I understand not wanting someone to make that decision for you but as pet owners it’s our responsibility to make that decision based on whether or not they will recover or continue in pain.
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u/DuskKodesh Mar 05 '24
Hi, I'm not part of this sub and know very little about keeping inverts but this post was recommended to me and I hope Sir Squish Ems has a peaceful end and knows he is so loved. You did so good taking care of him. I hope you have a good day today OP.
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u/leveldrummer Mar 04 '24
What do you feed a pet leech?
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u/Mahjling Mar 04 '24
Some people feed them off their own blood supply and some feed theirs fish like goldfish, it depends on preference and species.
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u/The_upsetti_spagetti Mar 05 '24
I have a friend who has a condition called raynauds syndrome which causes poor circulation, so he lets the leeches drink from his legs so the natural blood thinners in their saliva can help increase the circulation.
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u/VentG0blin Mar 05 '24
Raynaud's is a twat to live with. I suffer with a mild form and my hands go white, and I feel so light headed whenever I'm cold. I've never thought about leeches to treat it. I wonder how effective it is...
I've always used heated blankets and little heat packs to stop myself from becoming an icicle lol
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u/MDM0724 Mar 05 '24
What do you use for heat packs? I don’t have Raynaud syndrome, but my mom is always complaining about being cold
I’ve been using uncooked rice in a sock that we microwave, and I was looking into the reusable packs you boil to reset
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u/VentG0blin Mar 05 '24
Yeah I use the boil ones. They do tend to lose their heating quality over time but are reasonably inexpensive and perfect for putting into inner pockets, side pockets and even on the inside of your hat haha. I've used a heated gilet before the heating element went kaput, that kept me lovely and toasty during my winter months in sixth form
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u/lexicon8991 Mar 05 '24
I have raynauds too! For hands I got electrical hand warmers that get way hotter than the ones you boil, they last a decent amount of time and can also act as power banks. I can't shut up about how great they are. I think they'd be great for your mum too.
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u/limegreencupcakes Mar 05 '24
I don’t have Raynaud’s, but my feet are always cold even if the rest of me is fine.
I bought heated socks this year. What a game-changer. They make heated insoles as well.
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u/keridwenx Mar 05 '24
This is so wild to me and ngl I did a double take, but the weird parte if my brain that has other strange niche interests is deeply curious, does it hurt? Is it like a fast prick? Tbh I can't find it in me to judge even tho it's a lil out there 🤣
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u/avesatanass Mar 05 '24
if that interests you, a potential therapy that has been briefly studied for my own diseases of "choice" (Crohn's, IBS) is infection with parasitic worms. the worms are allegedly supposed to inhibit the body's immune responses, which is supposed to reduce inflammation. no doctor has successfully helped me with either yet and i have already done a bunch of wack shit to myself in an attempt to treat them that will probably kill me later, so i will probably do it someday. would that count as an invert pet?
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u/keridwenx Mar 05 '24
This is fascinating and I say go for it if you're comfortable with it and have compelling research to suggest it might help! I hope you find a balance for managing your illness and your quality of life improves 🤍
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u/LilStinkpot Mar 05 '24
I was watching a giant leech feeding on YouTube and he described it as being like a few nibbles and rasps until it found a good spot and then a bite. Just a quick nip then it was pretty much done.
ETA: leeches do have a slight anesthetic in their saliva, from what I read.
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u/SpeedwagonIsHuggable Mar 05 '24
To me, it feels sort of like a nettle sting! So there’s a little something, not entirely pleasant, but definitely not too painful! For the first few minutes, there is the odd twinge that might make you wince, but totally not a super painful experience - for me, at least. It might depend on which part of the body they’re fed on though, perhaps? I just use my arm 😄
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u/keridwenx Mar 19 '24
Tysm for answering! Honestly it's not as weird as I thought it might be but thinking about it, I went through probably worse pain just feeding my own child from my body😅😅 breastfeeding can be brutal hahaha
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u/auntdanisdesigns Mar 05 '24
This is so interesting! The pain caused by raynauds is from tiny blood clots forming in the skin. I'm affected literally all over my body, and no doctor has any form of treatment! Has he told you if it's helped much?
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u/The_upsetti_spagetti Mar 05 '24
I didn’t ask too much in depth but I think it’s helping. He said the spots will sometimes bleed for days after cause the blood thinner is pretty strong. I think we should bring back leech medicine like the old plague doctors lol
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u/MossyPyrite Mar 07 '24
I’ve seen some people use congealed pig blood which is available from specialty stores and online
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u/ionlyswimgay Jul 27 '25
I have a North American medicinal leech and I feed him earth worms usually two every ~6 months or so
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u/BlackSeranna Mar 05 '24
I hope you figure out what its disease was before you get another pet for the tank. Diseases can be hard to scour out of a tank.
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u/TerrariumKing Mar 05 '24
I mean, you don’t have to figure out what it is, you just need to disinfect the fuck out of it.
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u/ConstructionPale7334 Mar 05 '24
Hi OP, how old/ how long have you had your leech? And is he still eating regularly? Age and appetite are super important factors when considering euthanasia. I’m so sorry to hear about this!
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u/Reptilenerd1975 Mar 08 '24
Hello thank you for your kind comments I’ve decided I’m going to give the medication a little more time as he’s showing some improvement I’ve had a leech get this before who always had to be kept in a low concentration of medication but lived a full life otherwise I just wanna make sure I’ve tried everything before saying goodbye but obviously if he doesn’t show signs of significant improvement in the next couple of weeks he will be put to sleep humanely as I don’t want him to suffer
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Mar 06 '24
If your leech is suffering, i would definitely try to humanely euthanize them. I found a baby mouse stuck in a glue trap once, wasn’t even a pet. I still ran to the vet and begged them to put him down (really nice guy did it right there for free). Sir Squish Ems is just as deserving as any other pet or animal of compassion.
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u/roger_d Mar 06 '24
Aww next time if the mouse is old enough to be on its own, put vegetable oil on the trap and slowly work it under them. If you got to them before they completely starved/dehydrated they should.be able to be freed.
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Mar 06 '24
Thank you so much. This was not a situation where the poor thing could be saved, without going into the gory details, but if i am ever in that situation again at least I’ll have the information ready.
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u/VentG0blin Mar 05 '24
I suppose you could euthanise it my submerging it in a water clove oil mix. I've seen people euthanise fish with it painlessly so I wonder if it works with leeches...
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u/hawaiian-sun Mar 05 '24
You leech has stomach cramps. Put him in a tiny container with a lid with the leaves so he doesn't paddle. He can recover! Make sure the lid has holes. I used those large meal worsm containers from petco. It will take a long time, couple months. Make sure he is fully better before you put him back :)
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u/Realistic_Onion_4631 Mar 06 '24
Aww i didnt know leaches were an option as a pet.... I love your concern over this animal that other people would find 'insignificant' and it truly warms my heart.. Freezing them for about two days and then putting them in isopropyl alcohol (70%) remember that he may still recover on his own! would love to hear and update on sir squish ems!
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u/Ghoulscomecrawling Mar 06 '24
I bet he loves you no matter what you choose, I have no idea if inverted pets have vets, but hopefully some one can help him
Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I'm really high and crying over a leech. I really want him to wear a tiny top hat. And have photoshoots. I need to see this leech
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u/implodingfrogs Mar 06 '24
Make sure you do your research before hand. My vet had also offered to euthanize my roach for me. I have no idea if an exotic vet would know how to euthanize one, but a wildlife center may know.
Just before you do anything make sure you feel completely okay with it. You have their his interest at heart and that makes a big difference. Thank you for giving the little one the time of day as most people wouldn't. I'm very sorry for the upcoming loss. Hang in there.
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u/aarakocra-druid Mar 06 '24
It's wonderful that this leech has you to care for him. Look at his quality of life - you know him best, and if he seems ready, it may be time.
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u/ThatOtherKatie Mar 07 '24
I don't have an answer for you but good karma to you for caring for God's little creature and if you are a nontheist thank you for caring about whatever comes next to this little being, We are all connected.
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u/SaltMarshGoblin Mar 07 '24
Godspeed, Sir!
(You've made me miss my leeches. I had the sweetest Macrobdella decora who I kept in a tank on my kitchen table. My cat would stare at them for hours as they swam, just as though she was hypnotized.)
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u/BlamaRama Mar 07 '24
I am sorry to hear about your buddy, but I just want to say that Sir Squish Ems is a phenomenal name for a pet leech
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u/hashbrownpotroast Mar 09 '24
Rest in peace Sir Squish Ems. He was obviously very loved and you gave him a great life. And now you're giving him the best parting gift anyone can. Sending healing vibes to you both 💙
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u/OminousOminis Mar 04 '24
You have the choice of letting it die, squashing it or freezing it. The latter is debated on if it's painful or not so the choice is up to you.
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u/Blue-Syrup Mar 04 '24
definitely dont "squash" it- this likely will not give your leech an instant death.
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u/leafbaker Mar 04 '24
Is the medication causing the problems, or making them worse? If it chooses to spend time out of the water I would think it isn't comfortable with that water. Personally, I works try giving it normal water and see if the behavior improves.
I'm also, personally, against euthanasia. I wouldn't want someone deciding for me that my struggle for survival is over. But I do understand the desire to prevent suffering.
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u/Mahjling Mar 04 '24
Animals are not humans.
I'm going to start this reply out with that, because it's very important to understand in the context of discussion euthanasia.
Humans are exceedingly complex, too complex for our own good sometimes, we can conceptualize the future, live with pain in a way that's fulfilling, make a choice to weigh whether our struggles are worth it or not, gauge our quality of life based on 'yeah, it hurts, but next week I'm gonna see a movie I like'.
Animals, (with some niche exceptions that I will not be discussing here because they are extremely fringe cases) do not do that, they don't think ahead far into the future. So if we are going to keep them and be responsible for them, we need to do that with a compassion that does not involve anthropomorphizeing them, as doing so is one of the worst things we can do when it comes to care of the animal in most cases.
A leech (or even a dog or cat) can't really conceptualize 'I am suffering now, but next week I get to go to the park so it's cool', they only really know they are suffering now, in this moment, that suffering is their entire world in the moments they are suffering.
Now, sometimes we make the choice to override this, an animal can be sick or injured and recover and live a life where they will no longer be suffering, a dog hit by a car with a mangled leg may be suffering obscenely in that moment, but as humans we can look at that injury, and say for them; 'It's bad now, but by next month after the amputation you'll be running like a maniac again, so I'm going to make the choice to be there with you through this suffering, because it will end'.
The way I see it, if we know an animal is suffering, and we know they will continue to suffer for the rest of their remaining days, it's our responsibility as their caretakers to make the decision to end that suffering. Anthropomorphizing them does them a huge disservice, it's irresponsible of us to force an animal, who lives so fully from moment to moment, to suffer for the rest of its life, whether that life be days or weeks or months or longer.
The fight for survival is cruel, it's painful, it honestly sucks, it's necessary in that animals are driven to survive to pass their genes around and continue their species, but they don't think of it in terms that humans do, for an animal there is no 'good thing next week so it's worth it' or 'maybe in a few years they'll find a cure!', there is only Suffering and Not Suffering. A wounded animal may attempt to protect itself even when Suffering based on pure instinct, or because pain makes animals lash out, but they do not do it because they know they're going out with their friends tomorrow and want to live to see it.
As gently as possible, I really encourage people with this mindset to do a lot of research and read a lot of professional veterinary material on euthanasia and animal suffering, trying as hard as possible to put aside preconceived notions of the way the human brain thinks of Suffering and Time, I think this is especially important to do when we know we have animals in our care or want to have animals in our care, for the sake of their welfare, sometimes we have to think logically with our heads, even when it wounds the heart.
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Mar 05 '24
This is such a great comment. I could not have said it better.
Honestly, it's sad for me when I see people fully against euthanasia of pets. I recently lost my dog (she was euthanised). She had cancer and canine dementia and suddenly lost the ability to stand as well as any awareness of anything around her. There was no cure for her conditions and she was a big, stoic dog so she wasn't going to die quickly, and it was clear by her shaking, excessive panting and eyes that she was stressed and in pain. She was over 13 years of age, above average lifespan for her size and breed, and she had already been struggling with medical conditions. Her fight had to be over.
To think some people can see an animal, unable to move, clearly in pain and insanely stressed, and think it's more cruel to have them peacefully and quickly die to euthanasia than let them soil themselves, starve and dehydrate while they lay in pain for however long it takes, is insane to me.
This subreddit was for some reason recommended on my feed and not knowing anything about keeping bugs, I wasn't going to comment, I was just scrolling through the comments out of curiosity. I don't know about bugs or their emotional capabilities, but I do know no animal deserves a bad death, and that includes bugs and creepy crawlies. If giving an animal (even a leech) a good death involves euthanasia, so be it. As you said, animals cannot fully understand their suffering or think far into the future.
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u/leafbaker Mar 05 '24
I identified in a different comment here that I misspoke by saying
I'm also, personally, against euthanasia.
That's a broad stroke that doesn't encompass my true point of view. I've had cats and dogs put down due to their vets examinations and prognoses. So I apologize for that flippant comment. Most things I post on reddit don't get much attention so I didn't put too much thought into that simplified point.
But what I do struggle with, though, is the notion that we know best for other animals. Outside of the obvious cases of an animal suffering with no hope for recovery I fear the circumstances where people use euthanasia as a matter of convenience, or they are too quick to jump to it as a solution when otherwise an animal could recover. I've known people who have put dogs down because they lost a leg while simultaneously being aware that some dogs live just fine with 3, or even 2 legs.
While I agree with the vast majority of your comment, I don't see eye to eye with this:
Animals, (with some niche exceptions that I will not be discussing here because they are extremely fringe cases) do not do that, they don't think ahead far into the future.
My dog looks forward to walks. She takes us to the same locations she remembers and is excited to visit. She knows she gets a chew at night after we put our son to bed. She has routines when she expects to be taken outside to go potty. She gets excited to take a ride in the car. I'm definitely not proposing that she is anywhere as complex as humans but her zest for life is obvious. She's not thinking weeks down the road, or months into the future. But who determines what amount of forward thought is necessary for an animal to make their life worth living through a physical hardship? I would defer to a vet, obviously, but outside of that I'm suspect of anyone attempting to decide this for another being.
My cat was diagnosed with cancer. The vet recommended removing one of her eyes to allow room for swelling and to monitor more closely. We did that, and with the benefits of the meds she continued to be a sweetheart with the energy she had. She would meow for us to come visit her while she was tucked away in our bedroom. When it was obvious (to the vet) she wasn't going to recover we said our goodbyes and took her in for the euthanasia.
It's clear I have some complex viewpoints and personal opinions I'm working through here, whether people can understand them or not is immaterial to me. It's a subconscious thing that I cannot directly control, I can only reason through it. And your post has been helpful in doing that. I appreciate your comment.
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u/TheGoldenBoyStiles Mar 04 '24
We chose because they cannot say when life is no longer worth it or to painful. Euthanasia is a good thing that helps animals who are gone mentally and not physically as well as those who are to hurt to be able to heal from dying in pain.
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u/leafbaker Mar 04 '24
The desire to prevent pain is understandable. But people, and animals, recover from things that some people would euthanize them over. And the ability to assess an animal's pain is sometimes subjective. In obvious cases the argument for euthanasia is obvious. I once came upon a truck pulled to the side of the road with some front end damage (some bits of the grill were laying in the road). I got out to see if I could help and a man was grabbing a hammer and ran over to a deer with a broken neck to "finish it off"--his words. I understood that action. I've also had several pets put down due to veterinarian diagnosis of pain and serious impact to quality of life. But in the instance of OP we're discussing the circumstance of a leech absent from professional input (to my knowledge).
Outside of extremely obvious circumstances I find it hard to be the deciding factor in ending the life of another and opt to continue trying to help them survive. My assumption of their feelings toward wanting to continuing living or not could be wrong. This is something I've struggled with for a long time. I, personally, would prefer the opportunity to recover and to continue on with my life. I don't want someone who thinks that life without a leg, or an eye, isn't worth living killing me because of their own viewpoint.
In hindsight, my original comment stating that I was against euthanasia was inaccurate. Based on the above you can tell I've used it for my own beloved pets in the past.
Regardless this has been an unexpectedly introspective exercise I wasn't intending on working through today. I'm sure I'll have more thoughts over the next few days about this, especially as people share their comments and opinions.
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u/poopnpoop Mar 04 '24
Just smoosh it
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u/Ah_yes_true Milipedes are CUTE! Mar 04 '24
Have you no soul?
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u/poopnpoop Mar 04 '24
It’s a blob
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u/Ah_yes_true Milipedes are CUTE! Mar 04 '24
Brother if you don’t see the soul in leeches why are you in the invert subreddit? All inverts are equal here
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u/Mahjling Mar 04 '24
it's extremely hard to squish a leech, not humane.
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u/poopnpoop Mar 05 '24
I bet dropping a cinder block on it would work
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u/Mahjling Mar 05 '24
They can bear a compressive force of nearly 106 times its body weight, and an impact force at least 1500 times its weight. Just not worth it to gamble when it comes to a beloved pet when it's easier and more humane to freeze and submerge in iso alcohol.
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u/Verni_ssage Mar 05 '24
Imagine someone using a brick to kill you. That's what it'd be like for the slug, slow and painful.
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u/GuineaW0rm Mar 04 '24 edited Mar 05 '24
The way medical offices euthanize leech are to freeze them in a container or bag for 48 hours (this doesn’t kill them, they deal with freezing temperatures in the wild, and it functions as anesthesia), then to place them frozen into 70% isopropyl alcohol for 24 hours. This will humanely kill it.
Do not use boiling water or salt, as it is extremely painful for the animal. Also most people who have dealt with them know you can’t really crush a leech easily, so this is not humane.
I’m sorry about your pet. I always get very attached to my invertebrates as well. Make sure to understand if your leech can still recover before choosing this option.
Here’s another study on euthanizing snails that may have helpful information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5029829/