monet
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 1,423
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Post by monet on Feb 12, 2009 17:00:21 GMT 1
I have to be honest and say that in all my years of running an animal sanctuary and we have lost a good few horses and pony's over the years that injection is the only way i will see a horse put to sleep. i cant comment on the humane killer as i have never seen it done to an equine, but i have seen cows done and it distresses me. we lost dear old William a few months back, it was not an emergency but his quality of life was going and we planned the PTS. it was a stunning day and i lead him out to the field, gave him a huge bucket of feed while the vet did what was necessary. he looked up and gazed over to wards the moors and then gently fell to the ground, with me holding the rope so he did not bang his head. it was very peaceful and respectful.
I have been there for all 10 equines deaths and all by injection and all were the same, never any problems even with a feral pony who hated the human hand.
I do think it depends on the owner and you should support your friend with what she decides to do.
xxx
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Post by andywilkes on Feb 12, 2009 17:15:45 GMT 1
SHOOT THEM at least you know they are gone instantly
sorry to be so abrupt
andy good luck
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devongirl62
Grand Prix Poster
Olympic Poster
Back to work after 6 months xx also allowed to start riding again slowly
Posts: 1,342
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Post by devongirl62 on Feb 12, 2009 20:38:10 GMT 1
When I lost Sonny in August we used injection..... it was so lovely i held him and cuddled him ..... he was taken away and cremated .... Still miss my best friend ...... Other friends of mine would only use the Gun, and then feed to the hounds...
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Post by stybba on Feb 12, 2009 20:59:10 GMT 1
I have only had one experience of equine euthanasia, and that was when my little Welsh A was put to sleep. She had the injection, and it was very peaceful. She just sank to the ground and went to sleep. As she went, the vet whispered to me; "Take her headcollar off and let her run free".
Shortly afterwards, I let the other two out to sniff her body and say 'goodbye'.
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Post by Lisa in Plymouth on Feb 12, 2009 22:03:01 GMT 1
Myself and my family have only ever used the injection to have our equine friends pts. It is terribly sad but you can stand with them and feed them and they have always seemed blissfully unaware that anything unusual is going on. In my experience it has been a dignifed and peaceful ending for them. A horse is always going to fall down fairly heavily - they are after all a large animal. I don't think this can be avoided with any method. I've always let the other horses see them after they have been pts to help with the grieving and then they are buried later in the day.
A friend had had a very bad experience having her elderly pony shot by the vet and from then i'd decided that i'd never have a horse shot. After hearing her experience and seeing how deeply it affected her (and for such a long time after) I believed it to be a horrific experience for all concerned.
However, after seeing a short undercover film at a proper Britsh knacker yard where a number of horses and ponies were shot i'd have to say that my opinion has changed. I would still opt for injection for my equines but can now see that shooting, when done by an experienced knackerman is equally as quick and dignified. The video in question was made by a very pro-active group of anti-cruelty activists and was made to show the slaughter house in a very negative light but it had the opposite effect on me. I saw a very professional man quietly and calmly pts the horses and ponies. I'm sure if there had been any mis-shots etc that would have been shown so i can only assume that on the whole the horses were regularly pts in a humane way.
Whatever method you choose just try and make that day as nice as you can to start with, let the horse in question have lots of treats and a nice long groom. Grazing them in hand on a normally ungrazed bit of land is nice at this time of year when the normal paddocks are muddy and bare. If you don't have any other grazing then letting them pick in the hedge is a nice treat.
hugs to you and your friend caroline. x
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Post by bettysstarman on Feb 14, 2009 14:09:04 GMT 1
Fortunately we've never had to have a horse pts, but many years ago;a horse was shot at the stables; and another at a point to point meeting in front of us and that BANG will stay with you for a long time; even longer if its your own horse:
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Post by kt with Hanni on Feb 14, 2009 23:54:34 GMT 1
Definately a personal preference but I spoke with a family friend recently about this subject. He is a retired equine vet and he said that if the horse was shot it was usually instant (unless a very bad shot) but that the injection seemed the better option for most owners as it was less 'violent' (meaning with the noise of the shot)
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Post by mags on Feb 17, 2009 20:08:40 GMT 1
Iv thought about this since my original post and I would go with injection for both my two when the time comes if possible. The noise of the gun always sticks with me and I dont want that with mine
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