Is it normal.....

[Jaycee]

to be able to feel a horses pulse for awhile after its been put to sleep?
Need to reassure a friend, but not sure what the answer is.

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

depends how long a while is

 

[ridefast]

Depends how it's been put to sleep

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

Depends how it's been put to sleep

That was my next post!

 

[Jaycee]

It was done by gun (don't know if that is different to a humane killer?)
She said it was a couple of minutes at least. It was a big horse 16hh ish don't know if that makes a difference?

 

[POLLDARK]

I should think it is normal. Shooting destroys the brain immediately but you will still get reflex actions ( not requiring the brain) & really the heart, therefore the pulse, is a reflex. ie automatic. My theory anyway.

 

[Nightmare before Christmas]

Yes it is normal for a short period of time

 

[Jaycee]

Thank you Polldark, that makes sense, she was just so shocked to have felt it when she stroked her neck afterwards.

 

[Jaycee]

Yes it is normal for a short period of time

Thank you for the re-assurance

 

[*hic*]

Until the heart stops, yes. But perception of time is skewed in such stressful situations and it may well be that what felt like a couple of minutes was in reality only half that time. Once the bullet or bolt has entered the brain the animal is rendered unconscious and "brain dead", the heart and other muscles carry on for a short time which is the twitching that can be seen or the infamous "headless chicken" stories. When we kill our animals here we bleed them out, which accelerates the process but for the horseowner that would, I suspect, be too gory and unpleasant to witness so is not often done.