PTS.... Injection or Gun?!

I had my old boy Walt put to sleep nearly a year ago by injection, he had colic and was in a very bad way with his body going into shock. It was very peaceful I stayed with him till the end where as if I had had him shot I couldn't of stayed with him. I saw it as my duty to him after all he had done for me to have the corage to see it through. I think i's a real personnal choice and is so very dependant on the circumstances of whats going on there and then with the horse,owner,yard and also being able to get the appropriate people out in time to respond to the needs of the horse.
 
I had my young mare put to sleep by injection and was worried about her fighting it but she didn't - dose of sedation in the stable walked to the paddock where it was being done and it was unbelievably quiet ,quick and peaceful
 
kerraz,

the upshot of this (and many other threads on the subject), is that with a timely, a calm, and a relaxed approach, either method will work as well as the other.

For BOTH methods of humane destruction, if an animal is stressed at the point of euthanasia, then there may well be problems, and at that point, there is little so certain as a free bullet.

No one will expect you to be calm and relaxed, should you decide to be present, and it's for this very reason that it's better if a caring and experienced person stands at your horse's head. Be there if you wish, but it would be better for your horse, to have a 'groom' standing there, if you're anything other than cool. The tears, and we've all shed them, are for when the deed is done.

I know that it's difficult, I hate it, despite the practice.

Alec.
 
I echo Alec's excellent post; I was always pro shooting, but having witnessed a few injected and seeing a shooting go badly wrong I'd prefer injection for mine now - providing the practitioner was happier doing this. Both methods are humane and it really boils down to personal preference.

Being able to stay strong and calm for your horse until the deed is doneas Alec says is one of the things that I think is really important; having to get a severely injured dog out from under a car the other week while the owner was screaming and rushing about hysterically has haunted me, as the dog was watching her with its eyes full of fear, it sadly died and I hate to think that the owner like that was the last thing it heard and saw. :(
 
After working in vets i would say injection!! a cafater is put in the neck and a mild sedation, we then would let them graze for 10 mins, then the injection is put in by vet before you know it the horse is down after seen the both ways done it would be defo injection for me, so sorry to hear your situation xx
 
To be honest it depends on who is euthanising the horse. In our case it is always the gun....we have two excellent vets who are extremely competant, calm and bring dignity to a horrible situation. I had to put to sleep my long term partner Dolly in October. She was shot in the most calm and dignified manner with a mouth full of polomints. I think what puts some people off the idea of shooting is the violence associated with guns yet it is not a violent death for an animal. I have held several to be shot including some racehorses (both ours and others at point to points) but I knew with Dolly it would be different as did my vet as she was such a longtime friend. Watching my gruff, unemotional vet wipe away a tear after she was gone was one of the most heartwarming things along with the lovely text that evening that he was raising a glass to Dolly! My vet if asked would advise that it is up to the owner but if pressed would say he prefers to use the gun as it is an instant quick despatch. Alec's post is superb and vocalises the position of the despatcher beautifully. Good luck with whatever you decide....it is not an easy choice to make but I hope you have peace and dignity with whatever you decide.
 
I have had all my horses pts by injection bar one.
All injected horses apart from one died peacefullly, none of them had been sedated. The one that was sedated fought it for ages. It was very distressing.
My mare that had to be shot had severed her leg through the fetlock, she was a nervous mare. It was late at night in the middle of a field. The vet brought out a shotgun which quite surprised me.
But I was glad that she shot her. It put her out of her pain instantly without more stress.
Yes there was that bang and all the blood but I'd choose shooting for a horse in great pain and injection for others.
 
xgemmax said:
For me, it would have to be injection. It may sound selfish, but there is no way I could stand there and watch my horse be shot in the head.
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Leviathan said:
^5 Exactly this and hearing that gun shot - blood and that gun shot in my mind for ever more
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I would hope that you will understand my intent, and accept that it's not to offer criticism, but at the point of euthanasia, we're acting on behalf of the horse, and not ourselves or our perceived sensitivities.

Stressed and anxious owners, and it's regardless of the method preferred, will only ever add to the tension and many horses will pick up on this. In such situations then horses will throw their heads about, for the person with the gun, or they may very well fight the chemicals which are being let in to the body.

All those who are present at the passing of a horse, have a duty and that duty is to the animal, not themselves, and those who are likely to add to the animal's distress should go for a short walk. Sorry, but that's the way that it is.

Alec.
 
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