Euthanasia - what is it really like?

[MissAriel]

I have a close friend who may be putting her horse down. I don’t want to share many of the details, but the horse appears healthy, but is no longer ridable and he is a horse that needs a job. Retirement won’t work - she tried the pasture “tincture of time” treatment at one point, and it was a disaster. She had to pick him up before he killed himself or destroyed the facility. She is considering euthansia, but it is clearly hard to make that decision when she has gone through so much with this horse. She also in the past has mentioned witnessing a horse euthanized with a severe neuro problem and apparently the experience was traumatic for the horse. In addition to the normally difficult nature of this decision, I suspect she is worried about this as well.

I would like to support her in her decision, but I don’t have direct experience with euthanasia of a horse. Could you please share your experiences? I would like to believe it is quiet and simple and the horse doesn’t worry. If that is the case it makes the decision a tiny bit easier.

And thank you in advance for taking the time to share your difficult memories.

[tazycat]

The one i euthanised went well, vet heavily tranqed horse then gave lethal injection. He said he always heavily tranqs so horse lays down first ,then does the final shots. Horse i did went peacefully just layed flat out and was gone fast. I’ve done two last one was already down so just heavily tranqed then lethal injection given.He also went fast no struggling on his part.

[kashmere]

I don’t have a ton of experience to share, but I did hold the rope for my dear old gal a couple of years ago.

The tough part - aside from, you know, the whole sad thing - is how they go down. Once the drug does it’s thing, they really are dead on their feet, so they don’t go down gracefully. My mare didn’t drop flat like a shot, she sort of sunk down and her legs bent up around her in a very odd position. Once she was down and the vet confirmed there was no heartbeat, I had to get out of there to sort of shake it off and take some deep breaths. While I was doing that, the vet and BO very kindly rolled her onto her side into a much more normal-looking position and I went back in to sit with her and say goodbye. I’m very grateful to them for doing that, because it was quite unsettling to see her the way she had fallen.

All told, I am glad I was there for the experience. It was very sad, and I’m tearing up a little remembering it even now, but I promised that sweet mare I would be there for her at the end and it is comforting to know that the last thing she experienced was kisses and being told she was a good girl.

[tabula_rashah]

Working for vets, I have seen it many more times than I would like. I have seen it go well- horse goes down easy and peacefully and I’ve seen it go badly where the horse “fought it”. There’s really no way of knowing what the reaction will be. 9 times out of 10 it’s gone smoothly. I’m sure the vet will talk her through the process. Also know that even after the horse has passed, you may here something that sounds like a deep shuddery breath and see some twitching- it can be disconcerting if you don’t know that it might happen.

[Nestor]

The ones I’ve overseen have been fairly uneventful. Both times, different vets, they gave a sedative and then the euthanasia drug. The horse goes from standing to down pretty quickly. Generally they are “gone” mentally before their knees even buckle. It can be shocking to witness if you haven’t seen it before and aren’t prepared, but a 1000+lb animal collapsing is never going to be graceful. The two I was there for were not at all stressful for the horses, and I couldn’t have hoped for a kinder ending for them.

That said, you hear stories of this going wrong, with horses reacting poorly to the drugs and fighting them. For this reason, I didn’t argue when my vet at the time asked me not to stay for the euthanasia of my first horse. I would have stayed for him, but I do appreciate not having the image in my head of anything but him alive and happy. For that reason, I will happily stand in for friends if they need someone to, and have done so.

[Angela_Freda]

Putting Yo down, as hard as it was after 23 years together, was way easier than watching Melly die slowly, horrifically.

Putting Yo down was not dramatic in any way, really. I was lucky and took it as a sign that everything aligned just right when the time came… I got there in time even though I told them not to wait for me, the Vet got there even though she was on her way somewhere else [Bless you Maria!], the guy who takes the remains and reassembles the skeletons was even in town to come get him [it was important to me that his body not go to the dump].

In many ways the last hours of Yos life were similar to the last few years with my dad… so sad to say goodbye, so many challenges that were less than pleasant, but what needed to be said/done got said and done, and I feel like I have real closure because of the way it unraveled.

Yes he was sedated first and went down a bit fast/hard but I was sobbing and didn’t really see that part. I know it happened because I heard it, but that sound is not what sticks with me, or what I remember when I think of it.

Knowing that there was absolutely no other choice, no other option was helpful.
The true meaning of gone was never more clear to me though, than once he was. And that was and is the hardest part to me. The complete totality of gone.

To your idea of ‘the horse doesn’t worry…’. I got there as they were walking Yo to the shed where they do this at the retirement farm. He was standing in the doorway, one person at his head, one holding his tail and one at his side. He was stopped in the doorway of the barn where he lived when I jumped out of the vehicle and his eyes lit up, his ears pricked forwards… as if to say, as he always did "Hey! My person is here!’.
It is an image I will never forget and I am SO grateful for.
Because he was already somewhat sedated [he had a bad colic and was down in the stall and not able/willing to get up without a lot of work which I am glad I missed] he had all those helpers assisting him. I joined the march, walking at his side, my hand on his side where my leg lay when I was riding him, talking to him as I would have if I was riding him… and his ear was back to me the whole slow walk to the shed.
It was super important to me that he know I was there. It gave me a lot of peace of mind that he knew that the one constant he had come to know since the race track was there at the end.

I got to say my goodbyes to him in the shed. The hardest thing was being done with those goodbyes, stepping back and saying ‘ok do it’ essentially. How do you do that? Decide you’ve said enough, said what you needed to, pet him enough,… and step away? If I had not made it brief, worrying that the drugs would wear off and he would be in pain again, I’m not sure I could have done it.

ETA, sorry, apparently I can go on and on about this topic and this obviously goes beyond what you asked, but I’ve been meaning to write this and now it seems to be do-able…

As I said, Yo was down in his stall quite a while and they had trouble getting him up. Been there done that with other horses. I am so glad I missed it with mine. But what Yo’s passing showed me, was something I had been trying to do our whole relationship.
When the workers were trying to get Yo up, including the farm manager who is truly the Boss Mare of the operation… not once, but twice the guard dog went into Yo’s stall and went after her, the Boss Mare, for the rough treatment she was clearly needing to use to get him up and out of that stall. Bunkie was willing to defend my Yo, from someone who was the top dog of that place, always. That was incredible to me, and something Bunkie will always have my heart for.
But also every person there was so touched, it was so evident just how much everyone there really loved that horse of mine.
I had spent years showing him, and clinic’ing and trying to share just how special this horse was with others… to demonstrate how special he was… and what it took was him being him… everyday, with the workers…
Knowing others were as upset as I was that we lost him, not just lost a horse, but lost him… including the guard dogs? That was incredible to me. It’s all I ever wanted all those years, for others to know how special he was.

I’ve also been present for many many dogs and cats when I worked in the animal ER. IME, the ones that go ‘bad’ are rare.

[mvp]

@tazycat

The one i euthanised went well, vet heavily tranqed horse then gave lethal injection. He said he always heavily tranqs so horse lays down first ,then does the final shots. Horse i did went peacefully just layed flat out and was gone fast. I’ve done two last one was already down so just heavily tranqed then lethal injection given.He also went fast no struggling on his part.

My vet did this as well. The whole thing was very gentle and quiet.

That said, I’d still be OK if the death was traumatic, so long as everything possible was done to make it less difficult for the animal and, if all else failed, it was quick.

By the time I have decided to euthanize an animal, I think I’m lying to myself or making excuses that the horse can’t afford if I’m hemming and hawing about it. There is something to be said for being able-- physically, legally, emotionally-- to euthanize an animal when that’s the best experience you can give him. So that gives me comfort. There are worse options out there and if I can’t provide my horse a great experience, I’ll take pride in protecting him from worse ones.

[Gestalt]

I’ve never had a bad experience, my horses and dog all went very quietly. The vets did what others have explained, first the tranq and then the drug. I know of one person that had a horrible time when her dog was put down.

What I don’t get are the people that prefer to have their horse shot. I grew up having to help with butchering every fall. I think it’s brutal. Besides the crack of the rifle, the animal doesn’t just drop. They can struggle, and if the shot isn’t just right, well you can imagine what the next shot is like. Hint - not peaceful at all.

I don’t mean to freak you out, vets are really kind and they understand how hard it is for the owner.

[MissAriel]

@Angela Freda - thank you, truly, for sharing your beautiful story with Yo. <3

We should all be so lucky to have this kind of horse in our lives, and to be the kind of horse owner that a horse of this character trusts.

[ndirish07]

I had taken my horse had colic surgery and then about 8 weeks later coliced again. I got him to the clinic where I was told he needed another surgery-- which wasn’t an option for several reasons. I had already decided that I was not going to put him through that and knew what my answer would be. He was in a lot of pain and was heavily drugged. While I went outside to make a phone call and tell my mom, they moved him over to the recovery room on the hay and gave him a heavy dose of tranquilizer. I came back in, told them the plan and he was gone in shortly thereafter. I was more upset I think by the fact that they took all his shoes, cut his tail and mane clippings. I felt like he had been stripped of everything that made him “him” before he was even gone. Once they administered the drugs, he was gone in a matter of seconds. He took about 3 deep heavy breathes and that was it. After he was gone he coughed a few times-- but the vets explained that was just his diaphragm expelling air and that he was for certain gone. I also noticed that some of the nerves around his nose and muzzle started twitching. I left soon thereafter. All in all, it was very quick and very peaceful.

[MsM]

When I had to put my old horse down, it was difficult but not horrible. Looking back,the only thing I would change is giving more tranquilizer before. Mine was old and had a very bad colic. When I made the decision we walked him to the back field. The vet gave him more tranquilizer and inserted a catheter. She told me that after she gave him the drug to give her the lead and step back. He ended up staggering around to face the opposite way as he fell. I didn’t watch as I didn’t want that memory.
If I am in that position again I would like to again hand off the lead as he falls and to not watch. But I would also ask for deeper sedation before.

[BravAddict]

OP, what helped me feel less afraid of what I would see was to understand what each drug used in barbiturate overdose euthanasia does. Your friend’s vet will be able to talk through this with her, and if the vet doesn’t use a protocol she’s comfortable with, she could ask for the vet to take additional precautions (like having the horse lie down, as another poster described) or go with another vet whose protocol worked for her and her horse. There is no shame in paying for a good experience, especially one that most people remember with extreme clarity.

So, if we go backwards, the last drug, the barbiturate, actually stops the horse’s heart. Barbiturate overdose can cause excitement and spastic motions, which is what people are describing when they talk about the animal “fighting it.” Not only are these involuntary movements scary and upsetting to watch, but even if the horse isn’t in pain, they’re dangerous to humans and the horse itself. Others with more experience can comment on whether animals given barbiturates alone are “themselves” when they’re experiencing these side-effects, but my guess is not and that this is just involuntary muscle spasms.

The side-effects of excitement and thrashing can be prevented if the horse receives xylazine first. Xylazine also stops the horse from feeling pain, although they do not lose much alertness. My horse gets xylazine for dentistry.

And finally - well, first really - most vets will administer acepromazine (Ace) to help the horse relax because, well, needles and a nervous owner.

Understanding this process really reassured me that when a vet says “He might move after he lies down but he won’t feel any pain” they’re not just trying to make me feel better.

As you and your friend both know, horses seldom lay down elegantly even when they’re feeling their best, and it doesn’t sound like most veterinarians sedate horses to that point before euthanasia, but maybe others can comment on that. And your friend should know that it is normal for animals - including us - to lose control of their bladder and bowels after they die, to twitch or to seem to gasp. But when the horse is lying down, it is already unconscious.

[SharonA]

Making the decision was the heartwrenching part.

When she went down, it was very quick but she did go down harder than I had pictured. The fact is, she went down like a light going out, and then bounced and landed about five feet over, just from the force of 1000 lbs hitting the ground. I knew/believed that she didn’t feel it. I remember that I could still feel (can still feel) the weight of her hooves in my hands, from having picked her feet so many times over the years. To know her so well as to be able to know the feel of her feet in my hands, but at the same time know that she had gone somewhere I couldn’t follow, felt very odd. But, it was the right thing to do, the only thing really, so, that’s the bottom line.

[oldfuzzyhorses]

I’ve seen several and never had a really terrible one. The worst for the horse was the one where she was in too much pain for the tranq to work, and the vet gave her the lethal shot straight up. She didn’t exactly “fight” it but she did spasm rather grotesquely. I suspect it was worse to watch than to feel, just because of the way those drugs work.

The worst for me was my boy having his head downhill where he had fallen before the vet came. He was drugged to the gills and snoring at the end, but watching that blood pool - well, I didn’t look much… just enough to keep my hands out of it as I held his head. Sorry, TMI…

We also had one where the horse was still breathing the next day when they came to bury her - out cold, no conscious response, no pain response, but the autonomic functions were still going. We figured she had a clot or blockage somewhere that kept the drug from dispersing properly. It was eerie - especially since she was stone still when the vet left the first time.

My advice is to ask the vet to give the horse a knock-out dose of sedative if, for some reason, that is not already their standard practice. It’s just that little bit less stress in the horse’s last moments - and it certainly makes us humans feel a touch less awful.

[MissAriel]

Thank you all for being willing to revisit a difficult experience in order to share it with others. Your experiences and explanations have been very helpful.

[beau159]

I have not witness an euthanization personallty. I had to put down my gelding about 5 years ago. My mom took care of it for me. I could have been there if need be, but they picked him up for me (from where I board) and to took him home to the farm. The vet came out and euth’ed him and then my dad buried him with the payloader.

My mother said he went very peacefully and quietly. I saved a braided portion of his tail before they took him home, and his halter. I still miss him but it was the best choice. He was only 14 but unrideable and starting to have personality changes.

About 2 years later, my mom had to put down her horse. I offered to come and do that same she did for me, but she said that wasn’t necessary. Same vet came and again, my dad buried the horse with the payloader.

So we have had two good experiences with euthanisia. Well, as “good” as euthanisia gets, anyway.

[rockymouse]

[/QUOTE]
What I don’t get are the people that prefer to have their horse shot. I grew up having to help with butchering every fall. I think it’s brutal. Besides the crack of the rifle, the animal doesn’t just drop. They can struggle, and if the shot isn’t just right, well you can imagine what the next shot is like. Hint - not peaceful at all.
[/QUOTE]

My sweet husband kindly shot my first horse when we went out to feed one night and my gelding was in terrible distress. The horse was more than 30 years old. My husband shot him and then very quickly shot him a second time, though there was likely no need to do so. There was some post mortem twitching, as someone upthread noted could happen, and perhaps one deep shuddering breath…but he was gone already. The action itself was lightning fast and humane. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, if we had to.

Just my experience.

[csaper58]

@MissAriel I would strongly suggest your friend speak to her vet ASAP about her fears. The vet may be able to modify his/her usual euth routine to better suit your friend’s sensibilities. This is not a conversation that should wait until a crisis situation is happening.

I have witnessed and ‘held the rope’ for several horses and my personal opinion is that the horses know they are being killed. If they are ready for death…due to illness, pain, or advanced age, etc… they go peacefully. If they are not ready they fight it. I would strongly urge that any horse that does not seem ready for euthanasia be given as much sedation as the vet feels is safe.

Some vets dislike sedating prior to euth because they feel it slows the horse’s circulation and makes the actual death take longer, for the immobilized, but sometimes conscious, horse. Thus some vets believe it is crueler to sedate. This is why your friend should talk to her vet.

Also some vets, in some states, may be having issues getting certain chemicals.This is due to extremists worrying the chemicals will change hands and be used to execute humans who have been sentenced to death.

Make sure your friend understands that having this discussion with the vet does not mean she is obligated to schedule the euthanasia to happen, it is just a fact finding talk.

Hope all goes well whatever she chooses to do.

ETA…Your friend should also investigate how she is required to dispose of the horse post euthanasia. Can she bury him where he lives, will winter, or rocky ground, interfere with digging a hole, that sort of thing.

[csaper58]

RE shooting a horse.

It can be necessary in areas remote from vet service, when an animal is suffering.

It is always recommended if the carcass can not be buried or cremated because scavengers are at high risk of being poison by consuming the chemically euthanized animal’s flesh.

It is also being done when the horse’s owner wishes to donate the horse’s remains to a refuge for large predators (lions, tigers, etc.) to be used as food.

[tazycat]

Shooting them works IF the person shooting is a good aim ,and knows where to shoot horse. If shot correctly horse is dead before they hit the ground. Not something most would want to be present for, it’s a lot more traumatic way of putting a horse down. Not sure i’d want to be present to have one of my personal horses put down by shooting.