It’s my first time posting so i hope I am doing this right. I am desperate for answers. Please bare with my story. Please note I had many vets examine my horse before he took a turn, i had physiotherapists, farriers, took him on trips to a top equine hospital.
I had my beloved horse put to sleep 4 weeks ago … and to be honest I don’t feel it went smoothly at all. I was wondering if anyone might tell me what happened or is this normal. I have cried myself to sleep nearly every night since it was done. It was really traumatizing.
my horse was only 16 years old. He had been diagnosed with a damaged suspensory ligament before Christmas. Riding was out of the question so I retired him. He had led a life of hunting and tough riding before I got him. I did small riding club activities on him and some beach rides.
everything seemed fine and then his sheath became swollen and he was so lame.I called the vet and we had it cleaned and thought it was all fixed. He went down hill so rapidly after this. He became so lame he would not walk and I had the vet out several times. We checked for any blockages of the kidneys and there was none. I had him on oral anti biotics and pain killers. He improved slightly but the vet suggested putting him down. I decided to give him one more week until we finished his course of anti biotics. He actually improved greatly for about 3 days. And then suddenly he went back down hill. Most of the swelling was gone from his sheath but he was so lame. I stayed up every night with him till about 4 and 5am. He was eating and pooching about his paddock but just so lame. And he began to lie down alot. He was actually getting up quickly but he was crippled when moving and kept spreading his hind legs far apart.
I decided to call it a day. I have helped and seen horses euthanized a few times before. But I never witnessed anything like this. The vet inserted a big needle into the vein in his neck and gave him 4 very big syringes of the drug. I dont know what was used. It was a red / pinky colour. As he gave him the 4th injection he said that’s enough to do it now… well it wasn’t. My horse stood and looked at us all as if he was about to say eh … It’s had no effect. The vet had to run to his car and get more. Luckily it was parked very close. After a good few minutes my horses was like a drunk man swaying around which I know is normal. He ran sideways pulling the rope from my hands but recovered himself. He then ran the opposite way and hit the ground so hard my mother heard it all the way from the stables. He immediately tried to get back up about 3 or 4 times. We had all jumped back because of the way he fell. He was sitting upright with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. I never saw it like that before. I was standing diagonally from his hind quaters sobbing and he turned his head and neck back over his shoulder and sat very upright looking at me with his ears flicking. He seemed to be very aware. The vet injected him more and suddenly the nightmare escalated. He was thrashing around making horrid groaning noises. All 4 of his legs were kicking violently and he kept lifting his head and curling it around to his flanks as though he was colicing. He was thrashing so badly he was actually lifting his shoulders clean off the ground and slamming them down. Eventually that stopped and he was sitting upright slightly. Another minute or so passed and he eventually flopped onto his side and died about 3 minutes later. The vet had to run to his car twice to get more drugs. He seemed to be shook at how my horse reacted. He said he is very big and must have a great heart. He is a very gentle and good vet. But can anyone tell me what happened. I’m so upset after what I witnessed. I regret everything. I feel as thought I did my poor horse an injustice. My heart is just so broken. I have never witnessed such a violent and aware passing.
