not sure?

E

emily100

Member
Joined
11 May 2007
Messages
11
Visit site
hi all im new. im emily from suffolk ive posted on here because i have reached a decision that im going to have my old horse put down at the end of the summer as i feel another winter is not fair on him.ive never had to deal with this before so pls give me some advise on what to do. do i go for bullet or leathal injection? just need some advise really as prince is 25 and the only horse ive ever had! thanks
 
Welcome.
It is a shame that your first post is about the most difficult decision we have to make. Speak to your vet ,everyone on here will support your decision but give you conflicting advise and it will be your vet that does it so try to get their advise
 
Hi there, i'm really sorry to hear this. But if you click on this link, there are lots of peoples' opinions on there, which might help you to make the decision. I chose injection for Murph, and would do the same again, but different people have different opinions. I hope you're ok. There are plenty of people on here to talk to if you need to.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/sh...&PHPSESSID=

Louise. x
 
Hi Emily, when i had my 33 yr old put to sleep 2 months ago, it was by injection and it went very well apparently. Do you mind me asking why you think it wont be fair on him to go through another winter?
 
I'v had to have 2 horses pts, one in an emergeny situation so I had no choice and the other was a situation where I chose the time for it to be done. Both times I had it done by injection. I know it should be whats best for the horse but both times it went ok and a injection is much easier for the owner in my opinion.
 
Hi, Emily, I am so sorry to hear that you have to make this decision about you old horse. I had my old boy put down at the age of 28 about 6 years ago. He was TB and because his teeth had worn right down he couldn't digest his food. I tried everything: each Spring he looked pretty awful and then by the end of May, on good old Dr Green, he had picked up OK. But then, in his last year, he still looked awful with muscle wastage and signs of Cushings so I made the decision to have him put down in the Sept.

I contacted our local kennels who came out and did the job, while I held him. I have held a lot of horses, mainly other people's, in my time, so I knew what to expect. Hound Kennels can only take your horse if it is shot - they won't be able to take it away if a lethal injection has been used. You will have to make arrangements for disposal, if that is the case.

Either way, it is very quick, although of course the 'bang' from a humane killer sends a horrible pain through your stomache, but rest assured the horse hasn't heard it.

The decision is entirely your own - don't let anyone try to change your mind, because only you know what is best for you horse.

Horses' Heaven is called Trapalanda - it's a lovely name for his final resting place.
 
It wouldnt be fair on him another winter because he has very few teeth now and cannt eat hay. he is managing ok at the mo with grass but again i dont know long this will be for. Also im moving ABROAD in september and i dont feel it would be fair the move him to!
 
We gave our old horse the injection. But to be honest I think it was more for our own sake than for the horses. Either way its not nice for the owner. He had to hire a digger to dig a whole, this way before the new regulations came into place, so you have to be careful what you do with the body.

Its a horrible decision you have to make but i am sure he has lead a brilliant life.
 
Aw sorry to hear this. The method chosen in having our horses put to sleep is a very personal decision to have to make. I have always had mine shot at home in peaceful surroundings. It is immediate but I can't deny it is quite brutal for the person holding the horse. I've never had any mistakes made and never heard of anyone else personally having something go wrong with the gun, however I have heard many stories of the injection going wrong.

No-one can make this decision for you - you have to weigh up the pro's and con's with both methods and chose one which is best for your horse first, and you second.
 
I had my horse pts in February this year because he was incurably ill with Crohn's disease.

I would say that the only 'right' decision is the one that feels right for you. Everyone is different & you should do what you feel is best & not feel guilty if you don't do the same as someone else.

Cat was put down by injection & we dropped him off at the vet's, said goodbye & left him there. He wasn't a bit bothered cos he'd been there before for purchase vetting / lameness investigation etc & my last memory of him is him happily munching hay. For me, personally, I wanted to remember him as my showjumper, bursting with life, & seeing him lying dead was not something I could have coped with. But lots of people prefer to stay with their horses right to the end.

If you read what other people have to say, you'll be able to find the approach that's right for you and your horse in this difficult circumstance.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top