Posted 2016-03-05 11:24 AM (#166364) Subject: Euthanize or Bullet??
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
I am sorry to address this subject, but after losing one of our elderly geldings early this morning, I feel compelled. He was 22, poor, but kept his appetite.. Last night, he went down in the pasture and could not get up. We tried to help him, but his condition was too weak. So we stayed with him until about 1 AM. Went to the house, made some coffee, went back out hoping that he may have passed (we put panels around him and had a blanket over him). He was still lying down with some struggle. We had to use a gun. We put it exactly where we were supposed to... death was NOT instantaneous... three more shots with a 45 finally ended his suffering. We buried him on the hill in the trees with other loved animals on our place... overlooking the barn and pastures.With much sentiment, my message is to realize when they ready to go, no amount of heroics can keep them. Call your VET so they sedate the horse, then stop his heart with the second injection. I would not wish what we experienced on anyone.
Posted 2016-03-05 4:11 PM (#166369 - in reply to #166364) Subject: RE: Euthanize or Bullet??
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Sorry for your loss, it's more painful to have to keep pulling the trigger but you did the right thing. I try to call the vet but it's not always possible. Never second guess your decision, you did what you could.
Posted 2016-03-05 4:12 PM (#166370 - in reply to #166364) Subject: RE: Euthanize or Bullet??
New User
Posts: 1
I have had to put down many horses over the years. My vet told me that the best way is a bullet centered between and just above the eyes with the gun level and the horse's head at your chest height. Only twice have I had to use more than one bullet and that was when I wasn't at the right angle when the horse's head was too low; bullet must penetrate the brain. One shot drops them instantly and painlessly, even with a 22 calibre rifle.
Posted 2016-03-05 8:46 PM (#166376 - in reply to #166364) Subject: RE: Euthanize or Bullet??
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 430 Location: TN
So sorry for your loss calamityj. It is never easy to lose them no matter what method you use. We have gone through the same with both horses and pigs. I think the answer lies in what method is quickest and easier on the animal. I have heard of both methods going wrong or taking longer than expected. I think it is important that you realized that it was your gelding's time to go and did what you could to ease him along. Many people keep animals going because they can't let them go, causing the animal more suffering. You took the hardest step in ownership!
Posted 2016-03-25 9:24 PM (#166565 - in reply to #166364) Subject: RE: Euthanize or Bullet??
Regular
Posts: 74 Location: NW
have had veterinary assisted euthanasia not go well, but the vet was there to "fix" asap. We've also used a gun & that was instantaneous. Many people think it is the area between the eyes - it is not. draw an imaginary line from left ear to right eye; & then from right ear to left eye; where the lines intersect is the correct spot, but be sure to use the gun to get the job done too.to the OP - I am so very sorry it went not as expected for you - don't second guess yourself, you did your best to put your old guy out of pain.
Posted 2016-04-22 12:47 AM (#166848 - in reply to #166364) Subject: RE: Euthanize or Bullet??
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
My sympathies to you on your experience. It's never easy to do the right thing for beloved animals.When a bullet goes through the brain, death is instantaneous. Blood pressure slowly falls, unlike a balloon. The problem I have had in the past, like you, is angle. The correct spot does not always mean through the brain. A horse laying on the ground presents a unique angle. One must compensate for it.
Posted 2016-04-25 7:34 PM (#166892 - in reply to #166364) Subject: Euthanize or Bullet??
Veteran
Posts: 183 Location: riverside ca
Very sorry for your loss, My experience is quite different though. I have done both methods several times and I would choose a bullet every time, lights on, lights off. With sedatives horses often freak out when you give it to them, then you need to lay them down which can be dangerous to you and the horse. The dosage is subjective and does not always work as it should.Then there is the cost, availability issue. if you live close to your vet, then it may not be an issue. but for me you either need to take the horse to a vet or have them travel to you, most of the time it is not a high priority call for my vet so there is the additional agony of the situation. Finally you cant leave out the the cost which is significantly more.I think it is a very personal choice and sometimes you just dont have one something that is really hard to go through. I am a firm believer that you owe it to the animal to be there with them as they transition. Not to be callous but i am curious when you say you put the gun right where you should have and it took 4 shots, where is that? Every time it has come to that I have always made an x between the eyes and ears, using a .22 rifle from about 5 feet away and it has always been immediate.Again very sorry for your loss
Posted 2016-05-10 12:23 PM (#167043 - in reply to #166364) Subject: RE: Euthanize or Bullet??
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326 Location: central IL
I recently got an education about the subject. Without going into gory detail, it's not as easy to put a horse down using a gun as one might think. Good topic and one I feel we should all take note of. Sorry for your loss.
Posted 2016-06-29 4:54 PM (#167425 - in reply to #166364) Subject: RE: Euthanize or Bullet??
Veteran
Posts: 186
Don't feel bad about not calling a vet, in my case the vet had to give another injection and it took forever for breathing to stop. We look back and wish we would have used a gun.
Euthanize or Bullet??
