veteran celebration
For those of us fortunate enough to be able to keep horses, euthanasia is sadly a decision we are likely to have to face at least once in our lifetime. Inevitably, (not least because we live longer), we will see equine friends come and go - leaving hoof prints across our hearts and years of fond memories. The important subject of euthanasia is rarely given enough consideration and whilst losing any beloved animal is very hard, it is often made more difficult with horses as more and more they are kept as cherished pets. Unfortunately for us, large animals tolerate disability far less well than dogs and cats - and few are likely to pass away naturally. The added pressures and sentiments of fellow horse owners on a livery yard and perhaps even a lack of clarity or decisive opinion from a vet, (who might be uncomfortable with discussing euthanasia as a realistic option for fear of upsetting an owner), can often lead to the situation becoming even harder to deal with.
Making the decision to call it a day is heart-wrenching enough - but deciding the actual day is quite possibly the toughest part. The British Horse Society’s Friends at the End initiative was introduced to ensure that owners trying to deal with these very difficult situations never have to face the loss of their horse alone.
Unfortunately, many of the welfare concerns reported to Welfare Charities like the BHS by members of the public, often concern old (and usually much
loved) horses. We may think that keeping older horses (and young ones with lifelong ailments), around as long as possible, is the best thing to do - but many are regrettably left to go on for too long - and suffer as a result. Winter is now upon us and colder weather can cause horses already struggling with health issues, to (sometimes rapidly) deteriorate. It may be a cliché but the saying ‘better a month too soon than a minute too late’ is arguably often true, when it comes to euthanising horses. However, each animal is different and the following points may help when trying to assess the quality of life:
Is the horse able to eat and chew comfortably and appearing to enjoy food? To maintain well-being, all horses need to eat forage (grass, hay or haylage), for most of the day. If the horse is unable to do this, then veterinary advice should be sought. A loss of weight is one indicator that there are problems with chewing and colic is sadly all too commonly seen, prior to death in horses.
Is the horse maintaining a healthy weight? A little bit ‘ribby’ is understandable in many older mammals, but when it becomes increasingly hard to maintain proper condition and the horse is weakening, despite veterinary consultation, a careful feeding regime, effective dental care and worming, then it is probably time to start considering the horses’ future.
Is the horse generally healthy – or is he suffering from any chronic conditions that are adversely affecting
his well-being? It takes at least a year of owning a horse, to really start to know what is ‘normal’ for a particular individual. Bright eyes, alertness and a shiny coat can be some of the more obvious signs of good health – but if you have any doubts about whether you are interpreting your horse’s behaviour or condition correctly, then always ask an experienced vet for honest advice.
Does the horse seem happy? Until the time that animals can talk….we can only make assumptions about what they are thinking and feeling - based on our knowledge, expertise and experiences gained over time. Make sure you learn to recognise even small changes and always question whether you have made the right assessment. Honestly and selflessly ask yourself whether others might make a different interpretation of what you are seeing – if in doubt, seek advice from an experienced and knowledgeable professional.
Is the horse able to move around freely, particularly when turned out? As a minimum he should be comfortable in walk and trot – ideally in canter too. All horses need exercise in order for their systems to remain healthy – standing around for long periods either inside or out, will be detrimental to their well-being. When a healthy horse (young or old), stands still it should rest quietly - an uncomfortable horse will often be restless and shift its weight frequently from one limb to another. Its facial expression may well indicate discomfort too.
Is the horse able to lie down and get up again unaided and without too much difficulty?
It is not at all normal for horses to spend more time lying down than standing up. The inability to stand up is one of the most frightening things that can happen to a horse (and some horses that have had a frightening experience trying to stand up, will not lie down at all as a result – which is also not normal). It is therefore essential that arthritic conditions and soundness are monitored regularly to ensure that pain is adequately managed and mobility remains good. Our team of Welfare Officers are increasingly seeing lameness going un-noticed - by even quite experienced owners. As horses carry a lot of weight relative to the size of their limbs and feet, any pain, has the potential to seriously compromise welfare.
It is important to consider that a clean, dry bed in a safe place should encourage any animal to lie down and rest. Horses can (and do) adapt to - and compensate for pain, in all manner of ways. This makes identifying painful horses quite tricky. Assessment by a vet specialising in lameness is therefore advisable.
Finally – and perhaps contentiously - euthanasia can and should be given serious consideration if an owner’s circumstances change and they are no longer able to suitably keep the horse, i.e. having access to appropriate facilities for its current needs or difficulty affording expensive drugs needed to maintain quality of life.
If no suitable options for rehoming exist, then euthanasia is often warranted. Most charities are currently over run with abandoned and neglected horses
Equine Page 16
www.theequinesite.co.uk
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