i went up to the yard one night where i kept my loan pony and sadly came across a horse at the yard collapse as he was PTS......he had had testicular cancer for sometime and i knew he was suffering badly so it was the best thing......not very nice to see him go though.
A difficult subject re PTS
- Thread starter Barcie
- Start date
I haven't had any experience of having a horse PTS, but have had other pets PTS.
I would always do what was best for the horse; the best being the quickest and least traumatic.
My hamster had an infection and he slowly died throughout a day and it was so distressing for me and I just wished I could put him out of his misery and pain, but there was nothing I could do. I just stayed with him stroking him and trying to comfort him.
At least with larger animals we have more options.
I wouldn't go for the 'sending to the hounds' option but then I'm not a hunting fan so that's probably why. I would go for the lethal injection if I had the choice.
A proper sedative would need to be administered first and then the final one. I would stay with her through it, but not to see her body taken away as I don't think I could handle that.
If she had an accident and there was no other option but the gun then I wouldn't be able to watch it happen as I'd find that too distressing.
I would probably go for the cremation thing afterwards. Purely because we have always buried our animals and even though I wouldn't be able to bury my horse, a cremation seems the right thing to do for me.
Though I pray she goes naturally like we all hope, then I won't have to make a decision.
I'm all sad now
I would always do what was best for the horse; the best being the quickest and least traumatic.
My hamster had an infection and he slowly died throughout a day and it was so distressing for me and I just wished I could put him out of his misery and pain, but there was nothing I could do. I just stayed with him stroking him and trying to comfort him.
At least with larger animals we have more options.
I wouldn't go for the 'sending to the hounds' option but then I'm not a hunting fan so that's probably why. I would go for the lethal injection if I had the choice.
A proper sedative would need to be administered first and then the final one. I would stay with her through it, but not to see her body taken away as I don't think I could handle that.
If she had an accident and there was no other option but the gun then I wouldn't be able to watch it happen as I'd find that too distressing.
I would probably go for the cremation thing afterwards. Purely because we have always buried our animals and even though I wouldn't be able to bury my horse, a cremation seems the right thing to do for me.
Though I pray she goes naturally like we all hope, then I won't have to make a decision.
I'm all sad now
Oh god, what have you all done to me??? i have been in floods reading this thread!
In my silent consciousness i have always thought that I would have CW shot as he used to hunt. But now I am thinking of watching the violence of the shoot and wonder if I could ever get over that. I would love to hug him as he went and do all those lovely things like groom him etc.
Then my harder head comes into play, saying that I always wanted him to go to the hunt to sustain the natural course of events.. plus it's quick and they know what they are doing, so shouldn't miss (god, the thought of the horn playing whilst a horse was shot was lovely yet so upsetting - despite the fact I am very pragmatic normally)
I think this is more to do with what the owner can deal with. Both shooting and injection have their pros and cons but the shooting will just seem more brutal. I still - i think - want him to be shot.... i hope I don't have to make a decision on the spot.
I have been in floods whilst reading this thread. I almost wished it was never going to happen to mine.. who am I kidding...........?
In my silent consciousness i have always thought that I would have CW shot as he used to hunt. But now I am thinking of watching the violence of the shoot and wonder if I could ever get over that. I would love to hug him as he went and do all those lovely things like groom him etc.
Then my harder head comes into play, saying that I always wanted him to go to the hunt to sustain the natural course of events.. plus it's quick and they know what they are doing, so shouldn't miss (god, the thought of the horn playing whilst a horse was shot was lovely yet so upsetting - despite the fact I am very pragmatic normally)
I think this is more to do with what the owner can deal with. Both shooting and injection have their pros and cons but the shooting will just seem more brutal. I still - i think - want him to be shot.... i hope I don't have to make a decision on the spot.
I have been in floods whilst reading this thread. I almost wished it was never going to happen to mine.. who am I kidding...........?
I agree with Wally regarding children being present to witness the final moments, although, as with adults , it depends on the wishes of the child.If everything is calmly explained, the reality is often gentler than the imagination of a grieving child.
Just witnessed the mare of a friend being PTS this week by injection, it was quick and the mare was not distressed and the vet was kind and thoughtful.The disposal man came and charged £120 which was pretty reasonable.
Its always a very sad time, I'm still grieving for my horse 11 months on, but the decision to have a beloved horse PTS is the final act of courage and selflessness for an animal that has given you its all.
Just witnessed the mare of a friend being PTS this week by injection, it was quick and the mare was not distressed and the vet was kind and thoughtful.The disposal man came and charged £120 which was pretty reasonable.
Its always a very sad time, I'm still grieving for my horse 11 months on, but the decision to have a beloved horse PTS is the final act of courage and selflessness for an animal that has given you its all.
It is so very hard, but it is something that we can do for our animals that we cannot do for humans - put them out of any further suffering. My beautiful PBA Willow was put to sleep in 1998; such a dreadful day. Yet he was in so much pain, I just knew the decision was the right one. He was PTS at his home on a farm, in the yard he knew and loved, with me holding him. The vet used the injection method. It was swift - he just dropped, almost like in slow motion, very gently. [I'm crying again now as I write this with the memory of it . . ]
A friend of mine cut some of his mane and tail for me to keep, and we covered him up with a tarpaulin held down with bricks, so that the foxes didn't get to him overnight.
I couldn't bear to be there the next day when the crematorium truck came for him, but I did get his ashes back a week later. I kept them in my garden in a specially made box for some years, then when I moved home, I took them to be scattered in his old field at the farm, underneath the holly tree where he used to stand.
We may be going through this very soon, maybe this week, with one of my friend's Shetlands. She is in her mid-30's, has a number of health problems, and is nearly ready to go. They do let you know.
A friend of mine cut some of his mane and tail for me to keep, and we covered him up with a tarpaulin held down with bricks, so that the foxes didn't get to him overnight.
I couldn't bear to be there the next day when the crematorium truck came for him, but I did get his ashes back a week later. I kept them in my garden in a specially made box for some years, then when I moved home, I took them to be scattered in his old field at the farm, underneath the holly tree where he used to stand.
We may be going through this very soon, maybe this week, with one of my friend's Shetlands. She is in her mid-30's, has a number of health problems, and is nearly ready to go. They do let you know.
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Ahh bless youOne of my horses was pts last week by injection. I had already discussed my wishes with the Vet and YO many times over the last 2 years. It was very quick, maybe 30 seconds from the Vet telling me to say goodbye, to her gently slipping to the ground. The Crematorium wagon (Yorkshire Equine) came 45 minutes after the Vet arrived.
It cost just over £400 for individual cremation and I have her ashes back already. On Monday I will scatter most of them in her favourite part of the field whilst I and some of the other liveries toast her with champagne and cry and laugh and cry
Apologies if this is a bit rambling, I'm still crying
Its very sad, but thanks for posting that. Its just how I'd like it to be with my mare when her time comes. newrider.com