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Saying goodbye to a much loved family friend can be
incredibly hard, but it is important to judge your horse’s
quality of life objectively to help you to decide when
euthanasia is the kindest option. It can help to share
your concerns with your vet as part of the decision
making process.
Consider his demeanour, behaviour and body condition.
A diary with photographs can help to track any changes.
In the case of chronic illness, in agreement with your vet,
put in place a timeline for significant improvement. It is
advisable to make a euthanasia plan in advance to avoid
difficult decisions in a time of stress.
Methods of euthanasia
Once the decision has been made to euthanase, it is
important to consider the method you would prefer. There
are two forms of humane destruction commonly available
for horses; by injection or using a gun. Both provide a
quick, painless death for the horse and the decision of
which to use is based on the owner’s preference, the
body disposal method and the cost.
l
Injection
- an overdose of anaesthetic is injected into
a vein in the horse’s neck, which anaesthetises the
horse before stopping the heart. This procedure can
only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon.
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Humane killer pistol
- can be performed by a
veterinary surgeon, a hunt kennelman or a licensed
slaughterman if they have had the appropriate
training and hold a current firearms licence.
(Note: Depending on the individual horse, an injectable sedation may be given
before either procedure but this can only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon.)
When to say
goodbye
17
Old Friends...
Caring for the
older horse