Page 16 - Equine Matters - Autumn 2013

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15
EQUINE MATTERS
S AY I NG GOOD B Y E
When to say goodbye
to an
old friend
It is important to objectively judge
your horse’s quality of life to help
you to decide when euthanasia is
the kindest option.
Veterinary Surgeon
Lesley Barwise-Munro
XLVets Equine Practice
Alnorthumbria
Veterinary Group
Saying goodbye to a much loved
family friend can be incredibly
hard - but getting the timing of
euthanasia right is vital.
Lesley Barwise-Munro BSc BVM&S CertEP MRCVS
Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group
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Is the horse still eating and not losing
body condition
?
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Is he showing normal behaviour in
the field
?
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Is he rolling as normal
?
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Is he still able to get up from rolling or
lying down without any real difficulty
?
Ask yourself:
It can help to share your concerns with your vet
as part of the decision making process.
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Keep photographs and a diary of his
behaviour to track any changes.
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In the case of chronic illness put in
place a timeline, in agreement with
your vet, for significant improvement.
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If you feel time might be running out,
make a euthanasia plan well before
it is needed. This avoids having to
make difficult decisions when you
are emotional.
The following can help:
Deciding on a method of
euthanasia
The two methods of equine euthanasia are
shooting with a free bullet and intravenous
injection. Both techniques are humane and
result in rapid death. The injection can only
be administered by a vet, shooting can be
performed by a vet or licenced kennel man
or fallen stock gatherer.
Where should it be done?
Somewhere private with a soft landing and
good vehicle access.
What happens during the
procedure?
Injection:
The horse will usually be sedated
and an intravenous catheter placed in his
neck. After the injection there is a short delay
of up to 30 seconds and the horse will fall to
the ground.
Shooting:
The horse will be sedated so that
he is unaware of the gun being placed on
the front of his head. He will fall instantly and
vertically to the ground.
Possible reactions
It is important to be aware that, while the
horse will be unconscious almost instantly and
so will not experience any distress or pain,
some involuntary reactions can occur which
may be unexpected, or distressing to the
owner.
These can include:
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a sudden and/or uncoordinated collapse
to the floor - this can be especially
pronounced if a gun is used;
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twitching muscles, limb movements or
sudden air intake;
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considerable blood loss from the nose and
bullet hole if a firearm is used;
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the eyes usually remain open in death
and the heart may beat for several minutes
after euthanasia.