PTS two horses. How can I limit distress for either? .

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dozzie

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OK. I have two oldies who are not going through another winter.

The one with cushings, despite the vet saying he could go till October, is going to be PTS in the summer holidays. This gives me time to let him have a week on lovely grass and say my goodbyes. He is going to have a bath too! :) The other could go on longer but tbh I have talked to my OH and other people and really think the best thing is to pts at the same time. He wont have a bath as he doesnt like baths!:)

But I dont know how to go about it to ensure neither gets distressed. I could have them separate as one is in the fields up the top (500yds away) and one is by the house (the one with cushings)But I would like Ricky, the one with cushings to have a bit of time on nice grazing with the other chap, Crispin.Even if only a day or so. They have been together all their lives virtually.

So really asking if anyone has had field companions PTS at the same time, how did you go about it?

Sorry if it sounds morbid but I really dont want their last minutes to be stressful.

If i do them separately, timewise, I could afford to pts by injection, as the cost will be spread over three months, but if they go together they will need to be shot by the hunt. It will be harder for me as i am determined to be there. That is my responsibility. If i do them separately one will go in August and one mid October (half term) so I will be grieving twice. Hence my feeling that August is better. I will have time to grieve as it will be in the summer holidays.

For now i just need advice on how to go about it.

Please dont send hugs as it will just upset me more. I know it has to be done so please save your hugs for later. I will need them! Just not now. I will appreciate them but just dont want them right now as i am in tears just writing this. It is just the way I am. I need to be logical rather than emotional at the moment.

So please, just objective advice so I can get my head round it. .
 
What a horrible situation for you to be in. If it was me I would do both together if they are field mates. Personally I would go for the injection as I find it very quick and peaceful. I know the bullet is also quick but it would possibly upset the other horse and I know it would upset me, selfish I know.
Would your vet let you pay in installments if you had both pts by injection together?
 
OK, no hugs yet. What a hard decision.
I would have them both done in the same visit, and provided they will go away from each other happily, just take one out of sight of the other, let him go. Then the same for the one left, without him seeing his friend or knowing what's happened. Then it's just another day for them.
 
I am so sorry, what a tough thing to do.
I think I would give them a couple of days together then seperately on the same day to get it all over with at the same time so you can just grieve for both. I had mine done with injection but have heard that the hunt does a great job too. Very sensitive and quick and not as dramatic as you might think. There is another post going on just now about it.
 
I would have a chat with who ever you propose to use. Explain what you want to achieve and see if it can be done. Only then you can make a decision.
 
Brave decision to make and I think I was also want them to go together. I would go for injections, the vet would only take moments to PTS one then the other, I don't think either would find it stressful as they wouldn't have time to realise what was happening.

I also think for grieving it would be best. If you keep one until October you are likely to be upset everytime you see them as you've lost one and know you will be losing the other.
 
Tbh if it was me I would keep them in their fields they are in now so nothing changes and do both by injection on same day. Neither will know about the other. As for putting the other pony with cushings on grass as a goodbye treat I'm sorry but I wouldn't. My worry would be that because cushings and laminitis comes hand in hand he could go stright down with laminitis which would be awful. I wouldn't change anything And do it in their fields without any change
 
What an awful situation.
If it was me, I would have them both done by injection in October. This way by delaying it 3 months, its the same as doing it in Aug and the other in Oct x x
 
Tinypony said:
OK, no hugs yet. What a hard decision.
I would have them both done in the same visit, and provided they will go away from each other happily, just take one out of sight of the other, let him go. Then the same for the one left, without him seeing his friend or knowing what's happened. Then it's just another day for them.
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That's what I would do and I would want to use our hunt staff too. Just tell whoever you're using your plan so they know what they're dealing with. Sorry but right move I think as the one left would probably pine if you left him until autumn and TBH, wouldn't one day of awfulness be better than two and having to syke yourself up for the next one?
 
I'd have them done together.

I'd practise separating them at least a week before . Take one out to the house and leave the other in the field with a dinner, before coming to get him too. When the time comes, take one to be shot first (out of sight), then come back to get the second, as you've been doing before, and have him shot there.

However if they are stressed about being separated then I would have them both PTS by injection, at the same time. Have them both heavily sedated (part of the process anyways) then PTS one after the other. Most vets will do a payment schedule for it.

My thoughts are with you - it's the hardest part of owning horses:(
 
My friend was in a similar position last year - 2 oldies who had been field companions for 20+ years.
They had a day in the field and came into the stables in the evening. They had their tea and lots of polo's :-)
The vet then came and put them both to sleep by injection. It was very peaceful and they weren't stressed at all as it was their usual routine.
It was a very sad day for everyone as they were a couple of fantastic old ladies. But it was also a very quiet and dignified way to go.

I thought afterwards that that is what I would want for mine, although hopefully one at a time.

Its not a nice decision to make, but this worked for these 2 old ladies. I hope you find the right way fo you to let your 2 go.
 
Im dreading having to go through this.

I'd choose injection for both at the same time, that'd give me comfort knowing they went to the field in the sky together. I'd be choosing injection too as I have no doubt the hunt do a marvelous job but the sound goes through me after not knowing a horse at a place I worked was having this until hearing the noise- obviously then looking to where the noise came from to see an umplesant sight. At my yard, afew have had the injection and even though distressing still it seems an easier way.
 
Firstly, what a horrid situation, but I understand why you are making this choice and - if my opinion counts at all - I think you are doing the right thing.

I would always opt for the hunt - purely because they have always done a professional, quick and efficient service for me in the past.

I would also have them both done on the same day. I would, like it was suggested earlier, practice seperating them for a few mins a day - bringing them into the stable of whatever... Then on the day itself, take one, give him a fuss and head in bucket. He wount even know what is going on. Then go to the other and repeat. So that the second never needs to see the first one.

My only 'practical' advise is to consider where you get them PTS as the logistics of moving a dead horse can be complex!
 
Monsters said:
Tbh if it was me I would keep them in their fields they are in now so nothing changes and do both by injection on same day. Neither will know about the other. As for putting the other pony with cushings on grass as a goodbye treat I'm sorry but I wouldn't. My worry would be that because cushings and laminitis comes hand in hand he could go stright down with laminitis which would be awful. I wouldn't change anything And do it in their fields without any change
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Agree with this to an extent BUT you could give them 24 hours together. I did with a charity pony who was a laminitic and in pain. With the vets consent I filled her to the brim with painkillers and let her out onto lush grass for her last day, it was over for her anyway and she toodled about fine stuffing her face, she also got spoiled rotten with lovely treats and feed before she was PTS and pampered for hours by children which she loved, she was shining like a new pin and her mane plaited by the kids. I don't see any harm in spoiling them for the last short time but that is my opinion only.

Just wanted to give you some support anyway, how brave you are.
 
Maesfen said:
That's what I would do and I would want to use our hunt staff too. Just tell whoever you're using your plan so they know what they're dealing with. Sorry but right move I think as the one left would probably pine if you left him until autumn and TBH, wouldn't one day of awfulness be better than two and having to syke yourself up for the next one?
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Sorry should have made it clearer. At the moment they are not together so they wont pine.But i do need to consider their pals. Dozzie cannot be shown a dead body as the last time she went ballistic and tried to jump out of the field. She is with Sorbs so has a friend. Harry will be with Crispin but he is on loan so dont want to risk him being injured. I think my best option would be to put the two oldies out together and the others in the paddocks well away. I know i am risking lami with Ricky and that is why I am choosing August. If I leave him till the Autumn then the risk increases. Hence early August. My feelimg is if he goes down with Lami we bring the day forward. Ricky is on pergolide and has not had lami in the past.
 
I had my two oldies PTS at the same time a few years ago. They had been together for 15 years and used to get stressed if they couldn't see each other. They both had the needles put in their necks, then we led them both out into the field together. Both were grazing in hand and the vet heavily sedated them both. Needles were already in their necks so no stress. They were PTS by injection, but they were both sedated by then so neither knew what was going on.

All very peaceful and neither was aware what was happening to the other.
 
dozzie,

your determination to be there is more than just commendable. Some can do it, whilst others can't. If you stay, then you'll be glad that you did. Regardless of the method, done properly, it is virtually instant, and surprisingly peaceful.

Do give some thought to the person who is to carry out the work. Generally, they find it more difficult when the owner is present. Owners are, understandably upset, and that in itself is upsetting.

I would always prefer that a horse be shot. If they are out of sight of each other, at the time, then the second will not be aware of anything. If the first horse is within earshot of the second, then the collapse will be audible. If they are happy to be separated, then put them in their own paddocks, out of sight and sound, and then put them down where they are, and ask that the vehicle used to take them away is kept WELL out of the way until the time comes when it's of no matter.

I wish you well.

Alec.
 
Had my 2 mares who were sisters and had been together for 19 years done at same time. Older one had cushings and going downhill fast and didn't want to leave other on her own in distress, but had the hunt come out and they were quikly dispatched, no fuss,no stress.
 
studentvet said:
Firstly, what a horrid situation, but I understand why you are making this choice and - if my opinion counts at all - I think you are doing the right thing.

I would always opt for the hunt - purely because they have always done a professional, quick and efficient service for me in the past.

I would also have them both done on the same day. I would, like it was suggested earlier, practice seperating them for a few mins a day - bringing them into the stable of whatever... Then on the day itself, take one, give him a fuss and head in bucket. He wount even know what is going on. Then go to the other and repeat. So that the second never needs to see the first one.

My only 'practical' advise is to consider where you get them PTS as the logistics of moving a dead horse can be complex!
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The logistics are that if I have them PTS at the farm then they will need to be pts in the same small paddock (1/2 acre) due to the layout of our property. If i keep them separate they will be pts in different paddock about 500yds apart, possibly more. Or i bring all the others down to the immediate vicinity of the farm and move the two oldies up the top and pts up there. Easily accessible for removal and well enough away from the road.

It is so flippin hard!
 
studentvet said:
Firstly, what a horrid situation, but I understand why you are making this choice and - if my opinion counts at all - I think you are doing the right thing.

I would always opt for the hunt - purely because they have always done a professional, quick and efficient service for me in the past.

I would also have them both done on the same day. I would, like it was suggested earlier, practice seperating them for a few mins a day - bringing them into the stable of whatever... Then on the day itself, take one, give him a fuss and head in bucket. He wount even know what is going on. Then go to the other and repeat. So that the second never needs to see the first one.

My only 'practical' advise is to consider where you get them PTS as the logistics of moving a dead horse can be complex!
Click to expand...


^^^^ this.
So sorry for this hard, brave decision you are having to make. hugs for you.
 
A freind of mine had 2 done together an oldie and another with a chronic on going eye infection. she had both shot on the same day, they had been together a long time and on the morning were brought in and given hay and some feed, the knackerman came (mega proffesional) and took each mare,led them into a paddock and did the deed. At NO time was either animal stressed, they don't know what's happening and as long as there is someone available who is quiet and competant then they will go with no problems and plenty of dignity, I wouldn't hesitate to have mine done in this way.
 
Can you explain your situation to the hunt and see if they can bring two people - maybe even get them to arrange something with the neighbouring hunt so you could have both done at the same moment?
 
Thanks everyone.I am going to speak to a guy who dispatches for the hunt as he lives in the village and said he would arrange it for me. He will possibly come out beforehand to have a look and see where best we should pts.

I am worried if i get my vet out to inject he will try to convince me to keep going with the other one. My vet is great but at times like this he can be a bit of a softie.
 
I didn't realise there were other horses involved. I'm not sure they need tos see bodies, but really it should normally help them if they see what happens.

Having said that, in your situation I wouldn't. I just take the two old boys away and let them go together. I'd want to avoid one realising what had happened to the other, which if you can't get them out of sight of each other might be easier with the injection. Talk to your vet in advance and he won't try to change your mind on the day.

Hope it works out as well as it can for you.
 
Hi,

can you not sedate first even if only with a few ACP if both have to be shot together? This is one of the only instances I would go for injection, as both can be heavily sedated and won't know a thing about it. There's a video somewhere on you tube of two old horses being done together by injection standing next to each other in a field. Maybe see if you can find it, its very peaceful and surprisingly easy to watch.
 
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