Advice, having horse put to sleep

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Maxwell83

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Hi i need some advice please. I've come to the very hard decision to have my 28 year old horse put to sleep tomorrow. I dont know whether or not i want to be there to hold him or to ask a close relative. I understand how hard it will be, but feel he would be more comfortable with me there and i feel as if i owe it to him, is he going to know whats happening and be worse if hes with someone he doesnt know? What have other people done? any advice would be greatly appriciated at this sad time. thanks
 
My horse was pts at Liphook. I decided I did not need to see her die. So I left her in the capable hands of the vets. Your will NOT know what is going to happen. Save yourself the extra heartache and let a trusted friend, or better still a professional hold him.
 
Its a very personal thing, no right or wrong, just do whatever you think is best for you. I chose to be there and I was glad I did. The vet was superb, sensitive and respectful. My mare knew nothing about it and it was peaceful and gentle.
I'm so sorry you're going through this, its so hard to say goodbye. Wishing you all the courage and strength you need at this sad time.
 
I'm always with mine but you know your horse better than anyone so if you think it will be a comfort to him to have you there, then be there unless you are going to be so upset that you upset him. It's one of those times, if you decide to stay, that you have to put your feelings on the back burner while it is done and show a stiff upper lip even if you are breaking inside, it's the only way to get through it and your vet will appreciate your composure as it's a horrible job for them too.
I'm sorry for your pain and you must cherish your memories together, maybe plant a tree or bush in his memory.
 
I was there for my old boy; so glad I was with him right to the last; but equally I'd be quite happy for a friend - who could be responsible but impartial, to be there as I know that she would take a very professional approach and wouldn't be personally involved like I'd be. Horses are sensitive creatures and will know if their owner is upset, and I'm not sure I'd have wanted my boy to have dealt with that.

So up to you really, if you do have a friend or a professional that could be with your boy then I'd say go for that, BUT my (very sensitive) vet said that they advise people NOT to be around when the body is collected.

Sending you lotsa hugs.
 
As horserider says, it is a very personal decision, I chose to be there when my old boy was PTS and wouldn't have stayed away for anything. I did have the advantage (if you can call it that) of having seen many large animals PTS previously, mostly cattle so I did know exactly what would happen which helped me make up my mind.

I hope sincerely that tomorrow goes as smoothly as it possible can.
 
As others have said, it's a personal decision, and you have to do what is right for you.

I sadly had to take this decision earlier this week for one of mine.

Like BigRed, I use Liphook vets, and they are fabulous. I took the pony there - she didn't mind travelling, and quite enjoyed it, having done lots of showing as a youngster. It made the disposal bit easier - I could leave it to Liphook. Plus there isn't then the memory of a particular area at my yard being where she died - have had that before at a previous yard, and could never look at that spot without remembering. One of the receptionists came & stood with me while the vets got ready, as I was on my own, which was incredibly kind of her. Then we led my girl to a grassy spot out of the way, and I let one of the assistants hold her, while I stood by, as I was worried my emotions would upset her. Then she was heavily sedated. I took some of her tail to keep, and will have made into something later. Then I said my goodbyes, whispered sweet nothings & the last things I needed to tell her. Then I left. I know my vet, and trust him wholeheartedly, and know he will have looked after her in the last moments, which she was largely oblivious to anyway, due to the sedation.

My personal opinion is that as an owner, you just dont' need your last memories to be of them falling to the floor - a horse is a big animal, and it can never be very dignified. I've done that before with one years ago, and still have it in my mind now. I feel obliged to stay with them until they're sedated, so that someone they trust is there. But after that, I feel it is best for everyone if I go.

But that is what is right for us. Only you can work out what is right for you.

I hope tomorrow goes as well as it can for you. xxx
 
So sorry to hear this. All good advice above - no rights and wrongs in this area I think - just what works for you and your horse. I have been there twice and have no regrets and would have always wondered if it was peaceful (which it was) or not. I did cry but only quietly (silent tears) and it did not upset them at all. It was good to see them ready to go and for our voices to be the last thing they heard. A trusted friend or vet will do it just as well though.

Best wishes for a peaceful day tomorrowx
 
I'm sorry to hear that. I recently had my 30 year old pony pts. I had been dreading the day for years but in all honesty it wasn't that bad. I stayed with her the whole time. Yep I sobbed the whole time too but she didn't seem bothered. She was a very one on one mare and I think she would have paniced if I wasn't there. It was all very peaceful and quick. As someone else said I opted not to watch the body being removed. X
 
Sorry to hear you are going through this.

I recently went to a lecture by my vets, where one of the top vets at Redwings gave a talk as well as one of the vets. Regarding the euthanasia, they talked through the options, lethal injection or shooting. The vets were very positive about the injection, advising us that there were 'issues' with it originally as the drug that was used was not designed for PTS. However, there is a specific drug now manufactured for the purpose. If your horse is ok with injections, they will be given the injection, grow 'drosy' and then fall to the ground. Some involuntary movement can happen (please be assured that this is involuntary, the horse is not suffering) This is the option I have chosen when the time comes (I currently have a 30 yr old and 25 yr old)

Re shooting, often the vet will sedate the horse. My vet uses an actual gun (not the captive bolt) and becuase they are vets to the racecourse, are licensed to have a silencer, not all vets are so there may be a loud bang. The reason I chose injection over shooting is that the vets said to expect quite a lot of blood, and I don;t think I could cope with this.

I will be very upset and am not sure if I will hold it together before the event, however, my horses have been my shoulders to cry on for many a year and I think they will assume I am having boyfriend trouble!

Hope everythihg goes to plan and you are comfortable with whatever you decide.
 
I'm sorry to hear that you have had to make that final hard decision. Sadly, I had my 26yo mare PTS last week, and in the end I got my OH to hold her whilst I took the dog for a walk. She knew and trusted my OH just as much as me, so I knew she would be OK with that. However, I was there when our old pony was PTS a few years back, but must admit that I wept buckets over the poor vet.

I think much depends on the temperament of the animal and how they respond to different handlers.
 
I know it's hard to make the right desicion. You can take comfort afterwards knowing you have done what's right and you're not been selfish and doing what you must do as a responsible owner and carer. We always go for injection. First a sedative is given, then the euthanasia. I leave after the sedative shot and let the vet do the rest. She advised us to leave as she has had adverse reactions to the final jab, such as fighting against it as says it can be very upsetting. As soon as she is satisfied all is well she lets us know. We then go back in and spent those last couple of minutes together. We have had this three times in the last 2 years. I hope it's the last for many more years.
 
it is entirely up to you as to whether you would want to be there throughout, leave after sedation or not be anywhere near by.

i left when my mare was pts a few years ago, she was already on the ground with her head in my OH's lap, he stayed with her and helped load her into the trailer afterwards.

i've been present for alot of friends horses over the years and the last 5 have been done by injection, they were all dead very quick and there was no 'problems' with the injection, each of them though went down differently.
3 of the owners made it clear they were going to stay while they were pts, 1 owner left when the vet turned up and the last owner had said she didn't want to be there at all but in the end she chose to stay and she has said she was glad she did as it was a very dignified ending. the mare went down gracefully which was a comfort to the owner.

there is no right or wrong about this, it's a very personal decision and also depends on the people around you.
at this moment in time i tell people i don't want to be there when my big lad goes, but i know i can change my mind if need be and if i don't then either my OH or friends will be with him, he knows and trusts the people i would have there and also i trust them.

thoughts and hugs to you for tomorrow.
 
Thank you all for your kind words and advice, you've all helped me some much with putting myself at ease with the decision i've made. Thanks again
 
So sorry you have to go through this :(

I've been there for each of mine bar one and I regret that one dreadfully. My advice would be if your horse is shot then don't be there, and if injected then be there if you can. I never stay for the removal though, that somehow upsets me more than I can cope with. Sounds simple put like that, but its my view formed over many years of having horses pts both ways holding the lead rope each time, but ultimately it is a very personal choice, no right or wrong answer or method. Just have someone there to support you if you can.

{{{{Comforting hugs to you}}}}
 
I experienced this with my 28yr old IDX last October, he was PTS with lethal injection. It was very peaceful. I carried a bucket of feed down to the field as I led him down to his place of rest with the vet, he was totally unaware of what was ahead.
Vet sedated him first then administered the meds everything was peaceful and my boy I feel was unaware and felt no pain.
Big hugs for when it comes around, if you do decide to be there have a friend with you for support.

Hugs xxxx
 
I was there for my boy, I couldn't have not been. But it is a very personal decision.

He dropped very gently and I'll never forget that moment one second he was looking at me and the next he was gone. But I'm so glad I was there for him.

big hugs. x
 
I think I was at the same talk as Brandy.
I would just suggest that if you decide to be there have a friend on hand - 3 reasons
1) If at the last minute you decide you can't face it you have the option to hand over.
2 It's good to have a shoulder to cry on /make tea / remember the good times with afterwards
3) Get them to deal with whoever takes the body away.

I found it helped to sit quietly with Pickle for a while afterwards. She was sedated & shot by the Vet & we had arranged for the Hunt to collect her an hour or so later so her field mates could see & sniff her body. They weren't bothered but I had a cup of tea & sat with her til they came & it was so peaceful knowing she didn't hurt anymore.
 
I lost my gorgeous girl this week, having had her for 24 years. She was lying down anyway, was sedated, and went to sleep in my arms. It was so incredibly peaceful and dignified. The vet was amazing, and my girl is buried at home with a tree now planted over her grave. I wasn't sure if I could be with her, but once the decision had been made, I wanted to hold her and talk to her whilst she drifted off.

My thoughts are with you over this heartbreaking time.
 
I have seen it done a number of ways. Captive bolt is quite violent and I found it upsetting. I also saw a lot of blood, not sure whether it's supposed to be like that?! That was a horse of my dad's.

My old mare was PTS in a field, by a 'cow' vet. The blue stuff went straight in to her vein and she took a while to stop 'thrashing' I regret this too. It was horrible.

Then, years later, I got a new vet who has put to sleep all of my horses since then. The big difference? He sedates the animal FIRST, then injects them with the euthanasia drug. This makes ALL the difference, they go down gently and quietly and in a very peaceful fashion. I wish I had known this vet years ago. I have been there for all of the animals in my care, personally, I feel like I owe it to them. I always fall apart after I feel their light has gone out......fine up until that point. Oh, and don't be there for when they shift the carcass. That's probably the worst part of all.

Well done for making the brave decision to do it.
 
(((((hugs)))))
hope you are ok. i would deffinantly want to be there for my mare, i have only had her for 8 months but if she get laminitus serious again she will have to be PTS.
thinking of you at this very hard time
 
I would advise being there, if it's done by sedation then injection it's incredibly peaceful and not as bad as you expect.
You need to be aware you have to stay right at the end of the leadrope as they crumple, and that there can be a few breaths, but having seen many many horses euthanised, with a good vet it's truly nothing to be scared of.
I am sorry, but 28 is a good age and dying where he lives in familiar surroundings is the very last gift you can give him.
 
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