PTS... advice please :(

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0310Star

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I've made the decision to have my mare pts at the end of this month. She has various problems (Ringbone, DJD, navicular and side bones) and it is apparent now that she is struggling even on bute, though we've managed it well for the past 5 years I think its time to say good bye before she's really starts to suffer.

I've never had a horse pts before and I was planning on vet, then removal to be cremated but someone has told me she saw a horse struggle for half an hour as the drug didn't take immediate effect and I am terrified that might happen.

Can I please have experiences of, and opinions on what people deem the 'best way'?

Sorry for such a morbid start to a Monday morning, but I feel sick with the thought as it is and I need to decide what to do and make sure its the right choice of method and I wont have any regrets.
 
There will always be someone who has had a horrific experience but having had several pts by injection, as well as a few by the gun, I can honestly say they all went quickly, if fact the last pony dropped so fast the vet didn't even have time to finish and pull out the needle before he hit the ground.
Go with whichever method you are comfortable with, make sure you talk through the process before it starts, have some support for yourself and walk away before the loading takes place, they will give you time to say goodbye if you want to, apart from making the call the loading is the hardest part and the one you can avoid.
 
Everyone has their own personal preferences but I would choose the injection every time, the horse simply goes to sleep and is given an overdose, its very peaceful especially if you are going to be there.
There will be stories of things going wrong with both this method and the gun if you ask enough people, but you will have to go with what you feel most comfortable with. Its a very hard thing to go through and I hope whatever you choose goes as smoothly.
 
Injection every time for me I am able to stay with horse until they have at least had their sedative I have never had a bad one all have been very peaceful. The first one is always the hardest but made easier by being prepared like you getting information. The last one I did the vet arranged the pickup so the timings were good because the after waiting for collection can be tough.

Best wishes for when you choose to go ahead.
 
Do what feels right for you. Have you priced up your option? If finance does have to come into it then a gun is a lot cheaper and efficient. Cremation options also vary in cost, single with returned ashes costing a lot more than the other options.

A good vet or knackerman will talk you through what to expect beforehand so that muscle jerks ect do not come as a big shock.
 
Sorry you have had to make such a hard decision.

Have only had to do this once so not a lot of experience. Horse was taken to an accessible part of the field for pick up, was grazing when given injection, he just dropped and stopped breathing. Very peaceful. I would say it is important that you feel the vet who is administering injection is sympathetic. My vet was great, gave me plenty of time to stay with my horse and say my goodbyes and rang the crematorium for me and arranged everything.
 
I've seen three pts by injection and all were quick and peaceful. I chose injection for mine because I wanted to stay with them. I walked away when the drugs went in so didnt actually see her fall.
 
Injection - quick and simple. Choose the place carefully so that removal is straightforward and try not to put our human feelings "onto" your horse because they don't know what the plan is and therefore will have no sad or regretful feelings. Its a brave decision you are making.
 
0310Star said:
I've made the decision to have my mare pts at the end of this month. She has various problems (Ringbone, DJD, navicular and side bones) and it is apparent now that she is struggling even on bute, though we've managed it well for the past 5 years I think its time to say good bye before she's really starts to suffer.

I've never had a horse pts before and I was planning on vet, then removal to be cremated but someone has told me she saw a horse struggle for half an hour as the drug didn't take immediate effect and I am terrified that might happen.

Can I please have experiences of, and opinions on what people deem the 'best way'?

Sorry for such a morbid start to a Monday morning, but I feel sick with the thought as it is and I need to decide what to do and make sure its the right choice of method and I wont have any regrets.
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I have had 4 pts by injection, all went peacefully and did not struggle, we have also had 4 livereis also pts by injection and all of them went to sleep peacefully and I stayed with all of them except my donkey as she went at RVC. I am not saying some don't but most go peacefully.

I would stay wioth mine till the end
 
Having been with horses that have been pts with both methods, I'd say both were quick and pain free for the horse and both vets and knacker men were kind and professional. However, from an owner point of view, I did find the injection less traumatic for me. Don't be around when the horse is taken away though, that is best avoided. So sorry that you have to take this decision but when its time, it's the last kind thing you can do for your horse. x
 
Thank you everyone, that's really helpful... I'm welling up just reading this as she has deteriorated so fast and this is something I didn't think I would have to do for a while yet, but at the same time I don't want to wait until she is REALLY bad and suffering.

I think the part I was mostly worrying about was the loading after so I am glad I don't have to stay to watch that part... I was planning on going the cremation route but I am unsure whether or not to have the ashes back or to just keep a bit of her tail as I am having some photos done before the time comes professionally so I have a nice photo to put up at home and I was going to put some of her tail in with it. Do you think its a terrible thing to not have any ashes back?
 
My only experience of PTS was when I lost my mare last Summer.

It was all very quick. I walked away once she hit the ground but my Dad stayed and said she went pretty much straight away and the vet confirmed her heart had stopped.

My one piece of advice is to have someone with you, even if just hovering in the background in case you have to walk away. I'm glad I stayed with my girl until she went down but I was in bits after that and very grateful for my Dad and the vet taking over.

It's not pleasant for us but it is usually over very quickly.

Really sorry you are facing the loss of your horse. x
 
There are horror stories around with both methods - but in reality they are very few against the number of horses PTS.

Our yard uses the local hunt kennel so I have seen numerous PTS by the gun, but I will choose injection for mine when the time comes so I can spend some time with them if it feels right.

Either way don't be around when they come to remove your horse as it isn't a very dignified process and that isn't a memory you need when you say good bye. Choose a location where it is easy for them to collect her after she's gone.

Sorry to hear you are in this position xxx
 
0310Star said:
Thank you everyone, that's really helpful... I'm welling up just reading this as she has deteriorated so fast and this is something I didn't think I would have to do for a while yet, but at the same time I don't want to wait until she is REALLY bad and suffering.

I think the part I was mostly worrying about was the loading after so I am glad I don't have to stay to watch that part... I was planning on going the cremation route but I am unsure whether or not to have the ashes back or to just keep a bit of her tail as I am having some photos done before the time comes professionally so I have a nice photo to put up at home and I was going to put some of her tail in with it. Do you think its a terrible thing to not have any ashes back?
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I didn't have my mare cremated. One option is just to have the horse taken away without cremation. I chose this because I knew I wouldn't want the ashes back so didn't see the point in paying for cremation. I was more upset that I didn't have time to take some of her tail to be honest.

You should just do whatever feels right for you.
 
0310Star said:
Thank you everyone, that's really helpful... I'm welling up just reading this as she has deteriorated so fast and this is something I didn't think I would have to do for a while yet, but at the same time I don't want to wait until she is REALLY bad and suffering.

I think the part I was mostly worrying about was the loading after so I am glad I don't have to stay to watch that part... I was planning on going the cremation route but I am unsure whether or not to have the ashes back or to just keep a bit of her tail as I am having some photos done before the time comes professionally so I have a nice photo to put up at home and I was going to put some of her tail in with it. Do you think its a terrible thing to not have any ashes back?
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I'm welling up too - I know my big boys time is limited and I dread the day I have to make this decision. It isn't a terrible thing not to have her ashes back at all. Memories are in your head and your heart and that's the most important thing xx
 
It also depends on the horse If the horse doesnt like vets or needles injection is stressful to all concerned Have seen both now and would always chose the knckerman now but be best if a friend at the end stays. Our local man is brilliant, he prefers a friend rather than the owner purely to avoid the preceived trauma. Recently did this for a friend the horse didnt even hear the shot he dropped so quickly. Horses ashes come in a box the size of a large coffee table so personally think a bit of mane or tail jewellry is a great momento
 
To be honest, yesterday I decided and today I am feeling terrible about it as I think its sunk it and I am wondering if I can wait another 4 weeks feeling this dread and whether I am better doing it sooner rather than later.

To be honest, as I have never done it before I don't know the options of the removal (silly as that sounds) all I know is a local one does cremation but I didn't know there was other options?
 
Most are done as a batch so no individual cremation so no personal ashes mine was part of the fertiliser process so basically went back to the land
 
I have had 4 PTS by injection. None by the gun. All were very quick. My mare, however, did paddle a little after hitting the ground. But this is normal in a minority of cases. I am telling you so that if you see it, you will know it is normal and just the last reflexes of the body. The horse is unconcious and unaware by this time. Most just sink down to their knees and go to sleep. I would still choose injection over the gun. I am so sorry you are facing this.
 
0310Star said:
To be honest, yesterday I decided and today I am feeling terrible about it as I think its sunk it and I am wondering if I can wait another 4 weeks feeling this dread and whether I am better doing it sooner rather than later.

To be honest, as I have never done it before I don't know the options of the removal (silly as that sounds) all I know is a local one does cremation but I didn't know there was other options?
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Making the decision and the call is really the hardest part unless it is an emergency, having made that decision sometimes it is best to get on with it, the horse knows nothing about it, will have no idea it has missed a few days of life, it is you who has to come to terms with things and feel it is the right time, whatever day it is you will still wonder if you should have waited another day but in any ways once they are gone there is a feeling of relief that it is not hanging over you any longer, you can move on and the horse is at peace.

I don't see much point in paying for the return of ashes, use the money for something meaningful, plant a tree, have something made out of her tail hair that you can enjoy rather than a box of ash that is no use that at some point will end up scattered about.
 
0310Star said:
To be honest, yesterday I decided and today I am feeling terrible about it as I think its sunk it and I am wondering if I can wait another 4 weeks feeling this dread and whether I am better doing it sooner rather than later.

To be honest, as I have never done it before I don't know the options of the removal (silly as that sounds) all I know is a local one does cremation but I didn't know there was other options?
Click to expand...

Do whatever feels right. I couldn't have planned and waited. I just decided in the morning, phoned the vet and it was done the same day. We are lucky that we have a local 'knackerman' that also does individual cremations. Your vet will have dealt with this a lot so may be able to help with options.

Honestly, you'll feel better when it's done just because you don't have to worry about it anymore.
 
I can add my reassurances. Have used both methods and the experience was equivalent. Have seen injection 4 times now and have seen some "paddling" and twitching. These are post-mortem reflexes and nothing to worry about. I am a sap, so I like to thing of it as the spirit breaking free of the broken body, detaching itself so it can gallop off into the clouds. My sympathies. I feel tears just writing this as it never gets easier. But I have never regretted a thing xx

ETA: I am also not an ashes type of person. Again, if the body is the shell, I don't need it. My memories are in my head, in photos, maybe a little bit of hair for some horses with a striking colour.
 
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0310Star said:
To be honest, yesterday I decided and today I am feeling terrible about it as I think its sunk it and I am wondering if I can wait another 4 weeks feeling this dread and whether I am better doing it sooner rather than later.

To be honest, as I have never done it before I don't know the options of the removal (silly as that sounds) all I know is a local one does cremation but I didn't know there was other options?
Click to expand...

I have had around 9 PTS by injection. No problems and will always use that method with a vet who is good at injecting horses.
I don't see the point in planning ahead and waiting. All it does is give you a horrible few days/weeks knowing what is going to happen. If the horse is not that bad I don't even think of PTS, if it is bad and not going to improve sufficiently to have a reasonable quality of life I ring the vet and ask to PTS that day. I have always had success with this and although it is horrible at the time it does not prolong the agony for me. At my last PTS the receptionist asked if I wanted the practice to arrange disposal. They would have rung the appropriate people and got it sorted if I had wanted.
I am not sure I see the ashes as being any part of the horse. I always take some mane or tail before it is PTS. That, at least, is part of my horse.
Good luck, this is the horrible part of horse owning.
 
Now I have made the decision I am thinking I may do it sooner rather than later. I just want to get some nice photo's first so that I have something nice to remember her by and a bit of tail in the frame I am sure will be a nice option than return of ashes. I was going to bury the ashes at the farm she is kept as that is what some of the other liveries have done but I am not sure (as bad as it sounds) I can justify the money as we are also in the process of moving house (it all comes at once!).

Last night the but that got me was what to do with all her stuff, I've had her over 7 years and we've acquired a lot, and I don't have any other horses and will be taking a break for a while.
 
from experience make sure everything is clean preserved and store it you will get nothing for it and when the time comes for another one it will cost a fortune to replace. If a few years down the line you are sure you dont want another one then part with it all
 
I had mine pts by injection. He was scoffing himself on the grass he didn't really register the sedatives injection, in fact the vet gave him two as the first didn't really take effect.

My friends took me away just as the final injection was going in, so the last sight I saw was of him doing his most favourite thing - eating!

I was told afterwards that all went well and it was peaceful.

The YO cut some tail for me and the Farrier (who happened to be there) took off his shoes and cleaned them up for me.

I didn't have any ashes back - he was a big horse and I remember when my friend had her Lippizaner pts, she got back a huge box of ashes which was really too big to do anything with.

The hardest thing was to make the decision - I made it at around 11 am and he was gone by 3.30 pm as we had to wait for the waggon.

Sending you my sympathies - it is a hard thing to do, but remember that you do it out of love. Hugs.
 
Thank you everyone, this is much harder than I thought it would be...
Luckily her field gate opens out onto the drive so she can potentially stay in there to be done, will have a chat to my yard owners tonight just to see what they want me to do as she is in with others so not sure if they would take them out or what.

I've always said that its the one thing we can do for our pets, give them the dignity to go before it gets too bad! But it doesn't make it any easier..
A lady on my yard said to me yesterday when I was asking her what she thought, that you can hear I am trying to justify it but I really don't have to as the problems she has aren't going away. I guess I almost feel like I am doing a bit of an injustice if she isn't bad enough yet?!
 
I hated the idea of my boy being shot and hated even more the idea of him being fed to the hounds.

When he told us he was ready, he was pts using the injection and was gone before he fell down. He landed as if he was cantering and I lay with him for a long time as losing him was quite sudden and I wasn't quite ready for him to go. The injection meant I could be with him in his last moments and lie with him one last time after he'd gone. He was cremated and his ashes are in a lovely casket so he's always with us.

Sending you lots of hugs x
 
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