Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2012 | Page 110

EQUESTRIAN

Advice on euthanasia
Euthanasia, also known as 'putting
to sleep' or 'putting down', is sadly
something that many horse owners
have to face. The reality is that very
few horses simply pass away peacefully
due to old age. In most cases their
health and quality of life will have
seriously deteriorated before they reach
this point and human intervention
is needed. With horses, there is also
always the risk of serious illness or
injury that may necessitate euthanasia
unexpectedly in a horse of any age.
Because horses are unpredictable, it is
important to be prepared for what you
would do in the event of your horse
needing to be euthanased, even if it
may seem something that only needs
to be worried about in the far distant
future. Dealing with an emergency
is difficult enough without having
to make some very hard decisions
on the spot and under pressure. By
understanding the processes and
options available to you if your horse
needs to be euthanased, and making
appropriate plans, you can reduce the
trauma of what will inevitably be a
very upsetting time.
When and Why?
There is no straightforward answer to
the question of which reasons justify
the decision that a horse should be
euthanased apart from the obvious
exception of catastrophic illness or
injury. Every situation is different
and veterinary or professional advice
should always be sought where any
doubt exists.
For many horses, the decision to put
them to sleep will need to be taken
when their quality of life deteriorates.
However, it is not always easy to assess
quality of life, particularly if you see

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the horse every day. This makes it
difficult to notice gradual changes.
Although each horse will be different,
the following points may help when
trying to assess quality of life:
• Is the horse able to move around
freely, particularly when turned
out? As a minimum he should be
comfortable in walk and trot and,
ideally, canter.
• Does the horse have equine company
in which he can mix freely without
being bullied?
• Is the horse able to lie down and
get up again unaided and without too
much difficulty?
• Is the horse able to eat and chew
comfortably? All horses have a
behavioural need to be eating forage
for most of the day. If the horse is
unable to do this (probably due to
worn teeth) then it is time to consider
his future. A loss of weight is one
indicator that he is having problems
chewing.
• Is the horse generally healthy? Or
is he suffering from any chronic
conditions that are affecting his

wellbeing? An example of this might
be Recurrent Airway Obstruction
– has his breathing deteriorated to
the point where he is persistently
uncomfortable?
• Does the horse seem “happy”? If he
seems lethargic and depressed, perhaps
with dull eyes and coat, then it may be
time to take swift action.
The above list is not intended to be
comprehensive but does contain some
useful pointers. If you are in any doubt
as to your horse’s quality of life then
you should consult your vet.
Other instances in which euthanasia
should be seriously considered include:
• A horse that has become dangerous
to handle or ride. The safety of people
must remain paramount and if a
horse genuinely compromises this,
and reasonable steps to correct its
behaviour have failed, then euthanasia
should be considered as a viable
option.
• Lack of other options. If an owner’s
circumstances have changed so that
they are no longer able to keep a
horse and there are no straightforward