A sensitive 'what if'

Queenbee

Queenbee

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It's something I'm considering because I just don't know how things will turn out for ebony... My first is if I end up having to pts, she is a bit headshy so gun or injection? But this I can look into as there are plenty of threads on here about that. My real question is Ben, if it comes to pass that I have to pts, would you say that it would be best for him to be around and see what's going on? Strange question but I really don't know what would be best for him to help him deal with the loss of his field mate??
 
If you go for injection it may help for him to be around, but not if you do it by bolt.
We had an elderly pony put down in April in the field (she broke her hock so we couldnt move her) we let fieldmate remain in field then left her to sniff the body. She was distressed for a few minutes, whickering and sniffing Amber, but after about 3 mins she walked away to graze. She was a bit quiet for a few days but is now totally back to normal. It was distressing for us seeing her upset but I'm glad we did as they were very good friends and very close and she definitely understood what was happening. Pony in the field next door didn't seem to notice initially but then spent the whole of the next day when the body had been removed stood looking over the fence at the spot where Amber had been laid. :(

So sorry you are having to consider such sad things. Hugs.
 
I had my lovely mare PTS yesterday by injection, it happened in the field with my cob there, cob was very calm, even when normally she gets upset when big girl goes out the field she remained quiet.
It definitely helped her except that she has gone, this morning i took her out for a ride and she was back to her usual self - she is alone in the field now but does have a pony whom she can see over the fence in the next field.
 
I agree with Rhino, the horses i know who've seen the body, fret less and while its hard to watch i think its better for them rather than their field mate just dissappearing and not coming back.
What a difficult thing for you to be thinking about,, but also very caring and considerate
 
We had to have our old pony pts at the vet clinic and his feild mate, for the past 6years, was calling for him for a month or so.....so i would let the other horse she the body as it is what we would have done if we could have.
Sending lots of hugs.
Xx
 
When Rosie was PTS, I doped Nugz up and seperated them into paddocks next door to each other (having already been doing this with a view to reducing stress on the day). When vet came to do the deed he had both options as my concern was that she was never a fan of me brushing her face/forelock and although not headshy in the slightest I didn't want to stress her further. My and OH stood with nugz (head collar on with leadrope looped through) and propped him up (overdid the dose by accident - should've read instructions not listened to vet :o) while dad and vet with Rosie.

Even though nugz was drunk as a skunk, the moment Rosie went down he knew somethign was up - as did all the other horses, and it was really surreal seeing all the horses stop eating and stand as near as they could :(

He started calling, so we led him to her and let him sniff while on the leadrope and he nudged, sniffed and whickered. We left him for about 15 mins and the knackerman said when he walked off and stated grazing that was the time to lead him away out of sight and he'd take the body.

Nugz then got put out in a completely different paddoc next to a stable mate and while he was quiet, he didn't stress once (mind you, he was probably hanging majorly from the sedative). I know if I had got him in, then Rosie PTS and him out without seeing/sensing/sniffing he would've created hari curi.
 
I would agree with everyone else, I'm not sure I would want him to see the actual PTS whatever method, would he then connect her being 'gone' with you, but I do agree he should be allowed to spend some time with her after to make sure he understands. They see death differently to us and seem to accept it more readily but they do appear to grieve.
 
Thank you all for your replies, you are all so wonderful and helpful, it's lovely to be able to discuss this with like minded people who have lived through the decision... I just want to be prepared in case. In my 20 odd years I have been lucky enough to not have to make such a decision about one of my own. I know there is always the argument that they are not pets and not children, but to me they are my everything and I want to ensure I do absolutely everything right by them whatever that may be. The vet came out to ebony with her gastroguard and to test for cushings, another vet who said he really didn't think she would be as bad in the flesh as she was. When we went back to the field Ben was all sweated up and being so sodding weepy it made me well up because I don't want it to be hard for him, he is being such an angel, so good and gentle, like he knows it's just what I need, funnily this journey with ebony has bought me much closer to Ben, I would have thought it would be the opposite, funny how these things work! Well after all the umming and ahhhing it had to be the dext surpression test, they can't do the other... The labs they use don't test ACTH! Ebony tried to boot the vet when he jabbed her bum! She also started her gastroguard today, everytime he made her a bit uncomfortable (drawing blood, jabbing her bum, taking her temp, checking her teeth) he then came to her front and put his arms around her neck and gave her a proper cuddle. Really feels good to have vets who know their stuff but treat your pride and joy with tenderness.

I promise I've not given up, I'm going to keep going all the way until she gets better or until it would be kinder to say goodbye, but I wanted to make these kind of decisions now, so I'm prepared.

Amymay, as I said I'm a weeping willow at the moment... You made me cry! Xx
 
Agree with others, Mine have always been nearby when one is PTS then they are allowed time with the body. They sniff, paw etc but move away quite quickly.

They mourn for about a week but I really do think it helps. My young TB (was 2 at the time)was standing next to his mum (with 2 other horses) at the other side of a gate when she was PTS. They stayed with her body all night as we couldnt move it until the next morning.
I really think it helped him move on and also educated him to death.

As for her being headshy, if injection, she would be sedated (in neck) beforehand.
My vet stitched the needle into the neck/vein beforehand so that when the PTS injection is given, there is no chance of it going wrong.

Fingers crossed for you that it is not a decision you have to make soon. x
 
Well, don't i look an absolute fool, sobbing in the middle of town at the bus stop!

i dont have any advice, as i've never been there when a horse has died, but i just wanted to give you virtual hugs *hugs*
 
Whatever way the horse is pts, the vet will sedate it to make the passing easier for all concerned. When my old mare was pts, it was done out of sight of her field mates, but then they were let into the little paddock to see her. After they had wandered off we buried her and even her field mate seemed to accept she was gone and didn't look for her.

Bless you for thinking ahead, but I hope it will be some time before you need the advice given on here.
 
Thank you all for sharing your stories, it's really helped me, I will be going with the general concensus if it has to happen, and Ben will get some time in the paddock with her after x x but first I fight with everything I can to get her back xxxx my happy thought is that she hasn't deteriorated any further in two weeks and that whilst at the moment we can't get the weight on, the blood tonic is working wonders to keep her spirits up x thank you all so much x
 
I owned a mother and daughter. When mum had to be put down they were stabled next to each other. Mum was pts by injection this was the vets suggestion as other horses around not just mine and he felt it was better for them. I stayed with daughter even though I had mum for over 20 years. I felt that mum would always put her daughter first. Daughter did not realise it had happened. I then opened the door to mum's stable and led daughter to doorway. She just looked. She had to go back in her own stable over night next morning I turned her out and she galloped around clearly upset. She did at least know mum was dead and I felt it was the right thing for her.

I hope you get a lot longer with yours but it helps to have a plan for what you would do.
 
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