Euthanasia
Euthanasia is something that almost every horse owner will go through at some point. It is often a very difficult thing for a horse owner to contemplate, but making the decision at an appropriate time is a very compassionate act. Sometimes the decision to euthanize will come up in an emergency situation, so the more prepared you can be ahead of time the better. In effort to help our clients with this difficult choice we have written this article to address some common questions and concerns about euthanasia.
When to Euthanize
There is a wide range of circumstances where euthanasia may be the responsible choice. Some examples include:
- Debilitation in old age
- A progressive and incurable condition
- Severe injury
- Undue financial burden associated with caring for a sick or injured horse
- Dangerous behavioural traits
If you are having trouble deciding if euthanasia is the appropriate course of action for your horse, some questions you can consider include:
- What is the likelihood of recovery from the horse’s current condition?
- A horse should not have to undergo medical or surgical treatment for a condition that has a very poor chance of survival.
- Is the horse currently in pain?
- A horse should not be expected to endure high levels of pain if there is little hope for resolution.
- A horse cannot be expected to live with chronic pain, if they have an incurable condition that cannot be managed.
- Will the horse require special care to live safely and comfortably? Are you able to provide this increased level of care?
- Is treating the horse’s condition something that you can accommodate financially?
As your veterinarians we are happy to provide you any relevant medical information to aid in your decision making. One piece of useful advice is to remember that while it may be difficult to make this decision, you must put your horse’s needs ahead of your own feelings.
Once the decision to euthanize has been made many owners want to know what they can expect from the procedure itself. We are always happy to discuss specifics with owners ahead of the procedure, but the following are some general concepts that we feel can be helpful for horse owners facing this difficult decision:
A Good Death
First we should discuss the term euthanasia itself. Euthanasia is a Greek word that translates to “the good death”. When we perform this procedure our goal is a painless death with minimal associated stress. The medications we choose are a large part of accomplishing this goal. The horse will be sedated prior to the procedure to minimize any stress. The horse is then given an overdose of a drug that induces general anesthesia. The horse will fall unconscious and be completely unaware of its surroundings from this point forwards. There are some medications that can be used to induce general anesthesia that can be enough to stop the heart. Alternatively, a second drug may be given after the induction of general anesthesia to stop the horse’s heart. To confirm that your horse has passed you will see us listen for a heartbeat as well as check some reflexes associated with the eye.
Safety
One last thing to discuss regarding to euthanasia in horses is human safety. Horses are large animals and sometimes they can be very painful prior to euthanasia. As veterinarians, it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible during this procedure. As such we will often not allow clients to be in direct contact with their horse as they fall down. We may even ask you to keep a distance after the euthanasia agent has been given, depending on your horse’s reaction. Please respect that we have a large amount of experience when it comes to euthanasia and we really are trying to look out for everyone’s best interests.
Make a Plan
While it is not possible to have a plan in place for every circumstance that may lead to euthanasia, there are some things that you can consider in a general sense that might make that day a bit easier.
You should consider what you would like to have done with the body after the euthanasia is completed. One of the medications commonly used in euthanasia will present a risk for any animal that comes in contact with the body. As such it is often important to owners to have the body removed promptly. This is easier to accomplish if you know what your options are ahead of time.
- There are a deadstock removal companies that will come and pick up the body for disposal. If this is not a phone call you feel comfortable making, we are happy to make these arrangements for you. There is a charge for collection of the body.
- There is a company in London, Ontario that offers private cremation to horse owners. There are a variety of different options available, but they will come and collect your horse and you are able to get the ashes back. There is a fee for transport based on distance and a fee for cremation based on weight. (https://ontarioequinecremationservices.com/).
- Horses are allowed to be buried on farms; this will require the services of a backhoe operator to perform the burial.
It is also important to consider whether you want to be present for the actual procedure. Most of the horses we euthanize are not so debilitated that they will be lying down during the procedure. It is very hard to sedate a horse enough to get it to lie down, as this is not a natural behaviour for most horses. This means is that at some point during the procedure your horse will have to fall down. The horse falls because we have induced general anesthesia; they are not consciously aware of the fall, but it still can be a difficult thing to witness as an owner. Another factor that can influence the decision to be present is that lethal injection does not affect every horse the same way. Most horses will go down and lie quietly; however, there can sometimes be a short period of excitement, several deep breaths, movement of the head or limbs or continued breathing for several minutes after the euthanasia agent has been given. These actions would be considered a normal part of the process and do not indicate that the horse is conscious or in pain. Despite that, witnessing them can be upsetting for some owners. If you feel like you cannot be present for the euthanasia, don’t worry; we completely understand and respect this decision.
Questions and Concerns
We understand that every circumstance leading to euthanasia is different, and we encourage you to ask any us questions you may have about the decision, the process, and the aftermath of euthanasia. Please let us know how we can help you and your horse when the time for euthanasia has come.