Euthanasia - what is it really like?

[RedHorses]

I’ve had two euthanized. One with sedation, one without. The one without was more peaceful, and faster than the one with. But I still feel the one with sedation went quickly, and have no complaints.

I was there for both, so they’d have some familiarity to the end (I kept my hand near a nostril). But on the advice of my first vet I left before the deadstock truck showed up both times. I know the essential spirit that was my horse was gone, but I don’t need to see their shells being handled like the large, heavy, unwieldy objects they had become. I don’t want that memory.

I don’t particularly want the memory of collapse either, but my first horse had a fear of vets and I would not leave him to face that alone. It was important to me to be there to reassure them, but I advise letting someone else handle it if you can’t keep yourself calm enough to prevent upsetting the horse.

[Mango20]

I’ve had three euthanized, all with tranquilizer first, and all went well. The first one was the most “textbook”, I think. She had a badly broken leg, got the tranquilizer, then the shot and it went smoothly and easily.

The second one was a bit more difficult and resistant, because he had become totally blind and was NOT okay with that. He was very nervous because something strange was going on with the vet there. It still went well, but it did take him a lot longer to become totally still than the first one. No wild thrashing about or anything, just took longer to stop breathing and moving.

The third one was the fastest and easiest, as it was an exhausted 33 year old pony who had gone down and couldn’t get back up. I had actually scheduled his euthanasia for later that same day, but woke to find him down so had the vet out as soon as possible.

[trubandloki]

Shooting is only more traumatic for the humans involved, not for the horse. Horses do not know what a gun is. Horses do not stand around worrying that there is a gun there. If done right (a phrase that applies to pretty much everything we do) they have no idea they have been shot, they are dead instantly.

I have personally witnessed four horse euthanasia procedures by a vet.

I think all of them went fine. Though I would not call it an easy to watch procedure. Even when done carefully the act of getting something that weighs a thousand pounds from standing to the ground is not pretty. Add emotions into the mix and …

I do agree that your friend needs to talk to their vet and have their vet talk thru the procedure they use with them.

[khall]

I have been present for euthanasia of both small animals and horses quite a bit, both for my own and for others as a vet tech. After witnessing a horrific cat euthanasia my opinion on PTS any animal is to completely knock them out not just sedating the animal. Much less trauma for animal and for the owners.

We just had one of the worst traumatic injuries to a horse I have cared for (boarded) for over 10 yrs. No question he had to be euthanized when I found him in his stall. Vet was there in 30 min, she sedated him, then anesthetized him with ketamine (what you would do for a castration) and then when he went down she administered the euthanasia drug. As quick and easy and peaceful of a an ending for a horse that was in shock and pain. We think he had a bad colic and in his struggle during the colic fractured his LH just above the hock. It was a complete and open fracture. HIs owner was there but did not witness his last moments under my advice. She really did not need that horrible picture of her beloved horse as her last one of him. HIs death has affected me even more than losing my own personal horses. Not the way you want a good horse to go:(

[beowulf]

I’ve been present for several now and I have to say after seeing my own and other people’s horses go, I prefer heavy sedation and chemical euthanasia over anything else. Just my personal opinion, that if you have the option between either and no restriction on burying the remains, that the chemical way is much more peaceful and insured…

Having held the rope I am not sure I agree with csaper58’s post that they know they are being “killed”. I think they know they’re with the vet but not sure how a horse could draw from the situation that the vet is there to kill them - horses only know what they know from past experiences and the vet has never killed them before… my horses have good experiences with the vet (for the most part, except my most recent project who is a little too familiar with the vet and as they say, familiarity breeds contempt…) and I think they think it is just another routine vet visit before they get an apple and go back in the herd.

Hugs to your friend, I’m sorry she is in such a difficult situation.

For my own personal horses, the first went fairly well. He was very fit and healthy but had a catastrophic injury that just could not have been salvaged and the only option was to PTS. We were worried given his vitality that it might not go well and the vet sedated him quite heavily. He was always a ham for attention and was hamming it up until the last moment. He didn’t necessarily fight it but I think because he wasn’t necessarily sick, it wasn’t as rapid as normal… he went down haunches first and just softly fell. There was some spastic movement but not much and he was gone well before he hit the ground.

My most recent was hard to watch but he went very peacefully, and it was sobering and shocking to see how hard he had been fighting to “hold on” day to day… he was older and neurological and the vet mentioned with neurological cases you never know how it goes. She tranqued him more than one would normally and like my other horse he was gone before he hit the ground, but it was incredible how quickly he went. She had hardly pushed the plunger and I could see it.

I’ve seen a couple that did not go so well and two were neurological, but those vets also did not sedate heavily. Just my opinion but it is worth the extra $50 or so and it’s not like you need to worry about side-effects.

[danacat]

I couldn’t even read any of the posts here. Don’t want to know that it can go badly. I’ve had to have 7 of my own personal horses euthanized over the years (and another will happen fairly soon - within the next year or two) and I ALWAYS leave the barn area (after horse is fully tranquilized) and stay away until it’s over.

Any images of my horses going down and taking their last breath is not something I EVER want to see, let alone remember.

The heart horse I put down 2 years ago was the worst emotionally. I laid down on the ground with him (after he was gone) hugged him and cried for hours. If I had seen him go down I would be scarred for life. Peaceful in life and laying there peaceful after death is enough. The ‘in between’ just isn’t worth witnessing. It is what it is – it’s going to be what it’s going to be.

[kashmere]

Just wanted to add - it was really helpful to me to spend time with my mare beforehand and just let myself do what I needed to do. I didn’t want to cut from her tail when she was gone - I knew I wouldn’t feel good about it - so I trimmed out a nice lock of tail hair a few days beforehand. I also, kind of spur of the moment on the day the vet came, cut out a lock of my own hair and braided it into her mane so we could both take a piece of each other.

I knew I didn’t want her to be buried with her halter on - when I bought her she’d been wearing an old, awful too-small halter that left a big dent in her nose and I didn’t like the idea of keeping one on her - but as I drove away from the farm I called my sweet BOs who were burying her for me and asked them to put her leadrope in the ground next to her so she would always have something with her that had connected the two of us together.

Beforehand, I wouldn’t have known I wanted those things (minus the tail hair), but I’m really glad I just let myself do what I felt like doing when the day came. A little part of me was saying “don’t be so silly/you seem like a loon” but I know I would have regrets if I had held back from doing those things. I’m lucky to have had a bunch of supportive people around me - my BOs and my mom, plus the vet who had been working with my mare for a long time, and they just let me do my thing and were extremely kind to me. If you can be one of those people for your friend and help her feel like she can do whatever she needs to feel ok - that will be a huge gift.

[Dbliron]

A lot depends on the practioner. The vet I have now is wonderful. Our horses know him well, and are relaxed with him, so when the time comes there is nothing strange or stressful for the horses. I handle many clients’ horses for this, I agree with Danacat, most people find attending too difficult, and I think their distress is often communicated to their horses. I agree with those who’ve found that tranquilizing prior to administration of euthanol is best, and I don’t think that the horses know this is the end. Having had general anaesthesia many times myself I feel confident that there’s no need for fear, and it’s a gentle end.

I think the worst experiences happen in traumatic situations, and when people wait too long to make the decision.

[trubandloki]

@beowulf

Having held the rope I am not sure I agree with csaper58’s post that they know they are being “killed”.

I have no doubts that Csaper is wrong with that whole paragraph in their post.

That paragraph is just mean.

[tazycat]

The last and most recent horse i had put down was hard. He was in distress and down already unable to get up i sat with him till vet arrived. Before vet gave tranq i offered horse a few mints which i knew he loved,even in pain and distress he took the mints and ate them. Then vet tranqed him heavily i held his head while vet gave final shots his last memories where of me petting him, and telling him it will be ok. As he took his last breath i told him i loved him and we would meet again someday on the other side.

I sat with him after he was gone just bawling tears running down and dripping on his head. I’m glad i stayed with him in his last moments of life. Those last memories are hard but i wouldn’t trade that for the world. Writing this brings back those emotions i had that day,and the tears are once again flowing.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

Hold horse by lead rope.
Have vet give horse a strong sedative that knocks the horse out. Horse will gently lie down just like going to sleep. No thrashing, no falling.
Then vet administers the Euthanol.
Horse dies quietly.
Make sure vet checks to make sure horse is deceased. No heart beat, etc. Double check.

While it is always traumatic for the owner, no need to make it traumatic for the horse. Using a strong sedative to let the horse become unconscious will alleviate a lot of guilt on the part of the owner. It is worth the extra cost. I have never had a horse struggle or react, as I’d be so upset at any of mine feeling afraid or in pain that I’d probably freak out if that happened to one of them. I always make sure I am there. One of the responsibilities of ownership is being there at the time of death.

I would only shoot a horse if it was an absolute emergency like a wreck on the interstate or when I could not dope up my horse at home until a vet could come with the sedative and Euthanol.

I get upset even seeing this thread now as I’ve had horses all my life. It never gets easy. Same with the dogs and cats I’ve held all my life.

[WildandWickedWarmblo]

@khall

I have been present for euthanasia of both small animals and horses quite a bit, both for my own and for others as a vet tech. After witnessing a horrific cat euthanasia my opinion on PTS any animal is to completely knock them out not just sedating the animal. Much less trauma for animal and for the owners.

We just had one of the worst traumatic injuries to a horse I have cared for (boarded) for over 10 yrs. No question he had to be euthanized when I found him in his stall. Vet was there in 30 min, she sedated him, then anesthetized him with ketamine (what you would do for a castration) and then when he went down she administered the euthanasia drug. As quick and easy and peaceful of a an ending for a horse that was in shock and pain. We think he had a bad colic and in his struggle during the colic fractured his LH just above the hock. It was a complete and open fracture. HIs owner was there but did not witness his last moments under my advice. She really did not need that horrible picture of her beloved horse as her last one of him. HIs death has affected me even more than losing my own personal horses. Not the way you want a good horse to go:(

Yep, you totally knock them out with a sedative. I’ve never had any of my dogs or cats or horses react when I held them when being Euthed because I paid for a strong sedative, I guess ketamine although I never asked what it was, to make sure my animals were totally unconscious when they died.

My horses all lay down just as they did when taking a nap. No hard falling, no struggles as the sedative worked well each time. Probably different sedatives as I’ve had several horses Euthed over many years, and many more dogs and cats Euthed during the same time frame.

Pay extra, get the heavy sedative, no struggles, no pain.

[sascha]

@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.

OMG, shooting livestock should NOT go that way. If the person doing the shooting knows where to shoot, shoots at point blank range, and the person holding the animal keeps them calm, they DO, in fact, crumple quietly and instantly. It is rare for it to be anything else in my experience and is far kinder than making a suffering animal wait for a vet.

I am very sorry that you have witnessed unskilled folks putting animals down. That is heartbreaking.

[BeckyS]

Regarding having horses put down by a shot–

I’ve had my share of oldies. I’ve had three (ages 45, 37 and 22) put down by a good marksman. My husband most recently put down my gelding in January.

It went really easily. Horse was eating his alfalfa slop, husband shot, horse was dead before he hit the ground. I bawled my eyes out for an hour or so, felt like I’d been punched, but it went easy for the horse. We were able to let my young gelding see the body, which helped his grieving process. He understood.

Ah, I miss the hell out of that horse.

I could definitely see where shooting a horse could go wrong. But for me, it was easier to deal with it at home, with just my husband there, than trying to deal with a death in the presence of a vet.

[csaper58]

@trubandloki

I have no doubts that Csaper is wrong with that whole paragraph in their post.

That paragraph is just mean.

It was not meant to be ‘mean’.

I think the thing that causes many owners to avoid and put off euthanizing is the fear that the animal they love will feel betrayed because their death could not be prevented, or will suffer when that death does occur. And the owners also feel a lot of guilt that the pet’s death had to be approved of and planned.

It may not help everyone to believe animals know that their lives being ended and can be OK with that, but maybe it will help someone.

[csaper58]

With regards to shooting a horse, if done by a competent marksman on with an appropriate caliber weapon it is as humane as other forms of euthanasia.

[walktrot]

Our vet uses two shots. The only difficulty was with a wonderful old Appy gelding named Scooterbug who was an outstanding therapy horse. He was out in the field enjoying his favorite snack, iced tea and donuts. But he was afraid of needles, and they had a hard time when the vet got there. Once they were able to get the needle in it went okay.

I may not be able to watch my guy go down, but will be with him for the 2nd shot, and for a little while thereafter. The vets who have put my cats down also used 2 shots, except for the most recent. She used one, which I didn’t know she would do. With the first shot I always felt that they were asleep, and the 2nd one stopped the heart. Maybe not true, but it made me feel a little better.

[McGurk]

I have had to put several down, most by injection and a couple by gun. The ones done by gun are hard to watch because the gun just seems more violent, but in both I witnessed it was very quick, nearly bloodless and the horses were gone before they hit the ground. Both were done by professional hunt staff, and performing this service is part of their job description - they are very good at it. One horse had his head in a bucket of grain and never knew what happened; the other was in too much pain and shock to be interested in food so the kennelman kept rubbing and scratching the horse’s head until they relaxed enough for him to bring the gun around into position.

Not for the faint of heart, but it is a good, quick, painless death.

I’ve never had a euth by injection go bad, but it is slower - the light goes out of their eyes before they crumple and it takes a few moments for heartbeat and respiration to stop.

The worst part, for me, is handling the body after the euth. I knew not to watch when they hauled my beloved 35 year old pony’s body away to be buried; because I was previously traumatized by helping the farm manager handle a horse for burial.

My BFF and I used to have a pact that we would handle the euth for each other’s beloved horses - we wanted someone they knew and trusted to be there, but we didn’t want it to be us.

So, to the OP, for your friend. Definitely have her discuss the procedure with her vet so she knows exactly to expect. Once a date and time is set, stick to it. Better a week too early than a day too late. Have the arrangements made for disposal of the body beforehand. It is a great kindness and gift to her if you would be willing to arrange do this for her.

[hosspuller]

I have been part of 4 horses being put down. 2 by vet injection and 2 shot by me. I’ve held 3 dogs while they passed in the vet’s office. The animal knows nothing about death. The whole procedure is something akin to a vaccination or dental work to them. They stand still for it because they trust us. If they have any fear, it’s communicated from us.

Every time, it was a hard experience for me. There is just no avoiding the pain of losing a companion, when one is doing right by your animal. To avoid the pain is to put yourself before the animal’s suffering.

OP: Support your friend in doing the hard and right thing. It is not easy in anyway, so don’t build expectation of a peaceful passing. That causes fear in us. Focus on euthanasia as doing the right thing for the horse. We suffer loss so our animal companions don’t suffer pain.

[khall]

I really want to make something clear here. When a horse is laid down using chemicals to induce unconsciousness it is NOT sedation but anesthesia! Sedation makes them sleepy but not lay down.

My preferred method for euthanizing a horse is SEDATION (rompum is what my vet usually uses), ANESTHESIA (ketamine) which will render the horse unconscious, then the EUTHANOL to stop the heart. Same with the small animals, sedation, anesthesia and then euthanol.

I have seen when a horse has been sedated but not anesthetize and have them flip or struggle after the euthanol is being administered. My vet has told me horror stories of horses going down hard. Yes by the time (but not always) they hit the ground they are dead, but having that unexpected fight to witness is not fun. (I have seen one flip over backwards, and the vet had to administer a second dose of euthanol before the heart would stop.