I was pleased that both of these commentarys mentioned sedating first; even
tho one mentioned you don't have to.
I recently spoke with a vet here in WA that mentioned that she always
sedates first; as she put it 'horses are extremely pychic beings' and by
sedating them first it allows that life force to relax and eliminates or
minimizes the physical struggle that can happen from the euthanasia shot 'as
they are conscious while their life force is shuting down.
The extra cost of the sedation is a small price to pay if it makes even a
small difference in my buddies passing. As my mare is 34 and I have had 33
wonderful years I have had to give this some serious thought.
My husband, also a vet favors
shooting because it is instantaneous = more humane. I have seen horses
struggle against euthanasia solution for a long time. The cost and disposal
problems are also a factor. He uses a .22 rifle in the X between the eyes
and ears. He tranquilizes first. The horse hangs it's head down and he places
the muzzle about 8" from the head. Cost- $0.15 per shot and he's never needed
more than one. Libby
-----Original Message----- From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
IcyPony@xxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 1:09
PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC]
Euthanasia
My husband is a vet and has put down many horses with a 4-10 shotgun at
the base of the ear. There is an opening in the skull at the base of the
ear, the pellets go in and scatter around the brain, there is no exit wound,
very little blood. Quick and clean. My husband always sedates the horse
first but you don't need to. He always gives owners a choice of
euthanasia solution or gunshot (gunshot being cheaper). If an owner selects
euthanasia solution the animal needs to be buried or hauled away quickly
otherwise gunshot needs to be used.
The man who was in charge of the foxhounds at the Arapahoe
Hunt Club, which is south of Denver, would use this 4-10 shotgun method.
People would bring him their old horses to be put down and fed to the dogs.
He also was the father of Marvin Beeman DVM who is a well known equine
vet.
