PTS - sedation and captive bolt shooting versus sedation and injection. Any advice?

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dalesponydiva

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Hoping for help and advice please....my friend has decided to have her 2 horses PTS this week. She has been to see the Vet and has ordered oral sedatives to administer prior to the vet arriving. He will then, at her request, inject them into the muscle to further sedate and then shoot them with a captive bolt gun. He would rather inject them to PTS but she specifically asked for captive bolt. The vet does not have a free bullet gun.
Has anyone else had experience of this? All advice is most welcome...
 
I have just had my horse pts today, I would recommend getting your local hunt to come and pts esp if your friend wants to have them shot- I feel they are much more experienced with the gun than the vets who I feel 'faff' around as don't feel happy with it.
I much prefer this method and with no sedation its so quick and the horses love the huntsman, mine went quite happily with him to the spot.
 
I just get the hunt. They arrive, shoot horse (never had sedation), and then remove it. Quick and simple.
 
I would strongly recommend your local hunt if shooting is the preferred option, usually much more experience of the method and in my experience very good with the upset owner as well.
 
Very few vets (in my area) seem to have experience/be happy with captive bolt or gun options nowadays. That is why I always use the hunt; that is the only option open to them and consequently they are much more skilled and adept at the use thereof and so deliver a better service.
 
I would always use the local hunt, it is instant, and imho the most humane method.

I have held horses for friends that have been pts by injection and it is not something I would choose for one of my own.
 
Don't they have to pith afterwards to ensure death with a captive bolt? Personally I would inject, particularly as the vet wants to do this. Nothing worse than a vet shooting a horse if he has little experience. I'm horrified to be honest!
 
Splash, so sorry to hear of your sad loss...hugs to you and yours.

Unfortunately, we are not near to a hunt kennel. So this is not an option..
 
I don't think Captive Bolt is recommended any more?

Has your friend had a previous bad experience that is making her want to choose the method she has?

Regarding the options, I have had one PTS with sedation and free bullet, and two PTS by injection.

I have no preference personally, different situations dictated different methods. All went very quickly and quietly.
 
As above, experience of both (hunt shooting and vets injecting) and recommend hunt. I am not a hunter and have no agenda on that front. Friend is a vet and says herself that they have v. v. limited training and experience using gun. Injection can sometimes take ages and that is probably more distressing for you than horse. Don't think horse would know anything about it at that stage. Hunt didn't hurry matters at all. Their attitude was always - it takes as long as it takes. I gave mine sedatives as they were quite alert and it made the job that bit easier.
 
thanks for your replies......i am very worried as i would hate it to go wrong.
the big horse is a 17hh dutch warmblood ( approx 850kg ) who is very sharp and suspicious - hence the sedation. I think a free bullet would have less chance of mishap?
 
gunnergundog said:
Very few vets (in my area) seem to have experience/be happy with captive bolt or gun options nowadays. That is why I always use the hunt; that is the only option open to them and consequently they are much more skilled and adept at the use thereof and so deliver a better service.
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Ditto this basically.

There are pro's and con's to either method - tho' I thought the "captive bolt" method had been phased out years ago TBH.

I had my old boy PTS by sedation & lethal injection. This was my old vet, and it was all done with a great deal of dignity and expertise. I would have it done this way again.

My old pony was despatched by the hunt, many years ago. I wasn't there at the time so can't comment on how it was.

But I don't think many vets (apart from perhaps vets at Racing places like Newmarket) nowadays are experienced with the captive bolt and/or firearms; and IF the vet isn't happy to do it by this method, or more importantly is not experienced or confident, then I would steer well clear.

Get the hunt, as others have said. They know what they're doing, have plenty of experience, and adopt a professional approach, plus take the "bits" away immediately afterwards promptly.
 
I have my doubts about the captive bolt as i understand that the animal has to be "pithed" to ensure brain death. I am positive this will be distressing for my friend...Have googled captive bolt and thought it was no longer recommended except in extreme circumstances.
 
I have had 4 elderly horses put to sleep with injection by vet. They all went quickly and peacefully and this would be my preferred method. If you want them shot I think the hunt is the best idea but this method is not fool proof. A friend of mine chose this method for her 17.2 warmblood and it was a disaster. The first shot missed somehow then the thing jammed for the second shot. The horse was finally dispatched on the third attempt but not before the horse was distressed and the two owners were wailing like banshees. Its a difficult decision but I hope it goes ok whatever you choose.
 
Golly I didn't even know it was still legal to use the captive bolt on horses any more in the UK. I certainly wouldn't have a horse shot with a captive bolt gun. Either get the hunt or a vet experienced in shooting horses or just have the horses euthanised.
 
thank you all for your help and advice..much appreciated.

many years ago i had to have my own horse PTS and she was shot. it was so quick and she never knew a thing.
 
No one has suggested using the knackerman. Our local chap is absolutely brilliant, really knows his stuff and uses a free bolt. Might that be an option?

Injection is ok, but I would certainly prefer a bullet for mine.
 
How horrid to have to have 2 horses PTS at the same time. It's hard enough having one. However, I think if they are already having oral sedatives and then the vet intends to inject a further sedative, it would make much more sense to me for the vet to then use the injection to euthanase the horse?

Seems bizarre to want a captive bolt if (a) the vet is not overly keen and (b) it's not exactly pleasant (from what I know anyway). We have had two oldies PTS by injection administered by an experienced vet and both went pretty peacefully. Ok, one objected to the initial injection for sedation but then that was him anyway. Both animals were very old and quite poorly by the end (one we think had had some from of stroke).

I know some prefer the bullet and I think, if I needed to - ie in an emergency situation I would opt for this BUT I would want this done by someone experienced in using a gun!
 
I always use a free bullet if I was offered the choice your friend has I would choose the injection .
I always use the vet because I am happier to have the option of sedation If I feel it's needed on the day.
 
I had to have my old mare pts on Thursday, she was done by my vet with injection, it was very quick and peaceful, I would recommend this way, my mare went with her dignity, night god bless Tara.
 
I would always choose shooting by the hunt but when my last horse was pts it was an emergency and the vets were closer and came out with only an injection kit so that was the way she went and it was very quick, calm and peaceful. I would always go with the method the vet feels most comfortable with as they will do a better job that way.
 
I much prefer the free bullet method, without sedation. The horse has its head in a bucket and knows nothing about it. Our local knacker even brings their own bucket of feed! The hunt has also dispatched some of ours and tht went equally well. I've also had 2 pts by vet injection, when they were in extremis and the vet was there - never again if I can help it - horrible experience for all concerned.
If your vet isn't confident to shoot and the hunt/knacker isn't available then better for vet to use injection. You certainly don't want someone who is going to faff about on the day.
 
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You don't need a hunt men just a local knackerman te one farmers use. They are very experienced, and know what to do.
I personally would never inject but that is personal opinion, your friend obviously feels like that too, but i would use local man not vet- they arent used to shooting and from him specifying he would prefer to inject would worry me.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I much prefer the free bullet method, without sedation. The horse has its head in a bucket and knows nothing about it. Our local knacker even brings their own bucket of feed! The hunt has also dispatched some of ours and tht went equally well. I've also had 2 pts by vet injection, when they were in extremis and the vet was there - never again if I can help it - horrible experience for all concerned.
If your vet isn't confident to shoot and the hunt/knacker isn't available then better for vet to use injection. You certainly don't want someone who is going to faff about on the day.
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sorry i dont really have anything to offer as ive only ever saw one horse PTS (while i was on work experience no less!) and it was wth injection, a pony that didnt like needles so had to be sedated firstly, so when it was given the injection to actually put it to sleep it took longer and wasnt very nice to see.

was just posting to ask, pearlsasinger what does extremis mean?
 
I had one PTS by injection and it took ages....it was horrific, I've also had problems with oral sedation taking a while to kick in but understand why you'd want to sedate then captive bolt. The comments above going for a bucket of food and captive bolt would be what I'd go for after my first experience as its so quick.
 
You need a free bullet, not a captive bolt.

And PTS by injection is not always a horrific experience - like everything we seem to write about the things that go wrong rather than the things that go right. PTS by lethal injection can be a very peaceful ending.
 
I used the local knackerman with a free bullet as my boy was very vet and needle phobic and I didn't want him to be frightened in his last moments.

He was gentle and very slick and professional, but then must be something he does almost every day. He was kind and sensitive too.
Although it was the best thing for my Olly it is still a very traumatic thing to see/ hear.
 
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