Something I've wondered about for years

[StarRidgeAcres]

No offense taken. Many ways to do a safe, humane job.

Skip listening for a heart beat. Look for fixed dilated pupils and no corneal reflex.

Dr Taylor

Thank you. That is great advice!

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

I am just curious. Can one of you tell me where you place the muzzle of the gun when you euthanize by gunshot? So far, I have not had to do it. And this thread got me thinking about it and I really wouldnt know what would be the quickest shot.

Jules, you really need to get a vet to show you in person, but I'll try to explain what I learned. Imagine a straight line drawn from the base of the ear to the middle of the eyeball (same side of the head). Exactly in the middle of that line (halfway between ear and eye) is where you put the muzzle. You angle so the shot goes into the center of where the brain is. Don't place it such that you exit the other side too close to the surface, as that may just graize the front of the brain and not instantly kill the horse. Sorry to be graphic. Hope this helps.

 

[Minimor]

Parmela, the guy who used to do it for us would visualize an X from left ear to right eye, and right ear to left eye, & place the gun in the center of the X. Worked well--he used a .22 and that would drop a big horse, brain dead, with one shot. He said that placed right in that position the bullet would go into the brain stem, rendering the horse brain dead in that split second.

 

[Blackwater Farm]

I guess I am just one of those "lucky people" that has a vet (large and small) as a close personal friend. I know that if I needed her to be at my place to put an animal down she would be there as fast as humanly possible. I can see why you would want to have something in your animal "medicine cabinet" that could be given to instantly ease their suffering. My thoroughbred mare that I had for 10 years had a severe bout of colic one night and the vet reccomended that I take her to the vet school at NC State to have surgery. I knew that there was no way I could afford it and I honestly knew in my heart that she wouldnt have made it up there, it being almost a 3 hour drive from where I was living at the time. I asked the vet if he would put her down (this was not my regular vet) and he said that he wouldnt do it because there was a small chance that she would pull through and to call him in the AM. She did perk up a bit once he left and I turned her out in our dry lot to be with her favorite gelding companion. Needless to say just a few short hours after that she laid down and never got back up. I would have prefered to have her pain ended when I knew she couldnt take it anymore. We were at a boarding stable at the time that never would have allowed us to use a gun to put her down ourselves. My husband is a Military Police officer in the Army and is one heck of a shot and I know he would have done that for me. I have never had to put an animal down using a gun, pray I never have to, but I definatly would have if I had been able to. I can understand why they dont give out euthanasia drugs as they can be abused. My vet friend told me that when she was in vet school there was someone that tried to commit suicide by using a drug called Lethal Blue in a IV. I agree with Dr. Taylor in that human health and safety be the primary concern. All in all I guess that there is no "easy" solution when it comes to putting an animal down, Lord knows I wish there was, but there are just too many variables and too many different situations. I have come to accept in my life with horses (and I'm sure most of us have) that the pain and the heartache is just part of the price we pay for all the truely wonderful moments that we do get with them!

 

[Michelle@wescofarms]

Good topic Parmela as it's something we all have to face sooner or later.

We've had to put down four horses here, one by gunshot (husband did) and three with the vet. They sedate and then OD them. No struggle and it was very peaceful. I'd like to think I could shoot one if I had to, but it would have to be as a last resort.

I'm very fortunate though to be 15 miles from UC Davis so they're here relatively quickly. The mare with the broken leg was the worst to wait for. I gave her a huge dose of banamine to hope it would ease her pain and kept her from moving around.

Kay that is a great link for planning purposes.

 

[kaykay]

Julie if you look at the link I posted it shows the X etc. It gives a ton of info on all forms of euthanasia

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

Julie if you look at the link I posted it shows the X etc. It gives a ton of info on all forms of euthanasia

Kay, I found the article very informative. One question I have is do you (and others) think the size/placement of the brain they show in the diagram is fairly accurate? I knew that's where it was (toward to top like a medicine hat kind of) but I thought it was larger in relation to the rest of the head. But I certainly could be very wrong.

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Kay, I found the article very informative. One question I have is do you (and others) think the size/placement of the brain they show in the diagram is fairly accurate? I knew that's where it was (toward to top like a medicine hat kind of) but I thought it was larger in relation to the rest of the head. But I certainly could be very wrong.

I would say the picture is reasonably accurate.

Dr Taylor

 

[StarRidgeAcres]

I would say the picture is reasonably accurate.

Dr Taylor

Thank you for the response Dr Taylor! I really appreciate it when you take the time to post on our threads, but I kind of feel guilty like I should be sending you a check or something!

Seems like we get a lot of advice for free from you. Mind you, I am NOT complaining, I just feel bad.

 

[drmatthewtaylor]

Thank you for the response Dr Taylor! I really appreciate it when you take the time to post on our threads, but I kind of feel guilty like I should be sending you a check or something!

Seems like we get a lot of advice for free from you. Mind you, I am NOT complaining, I just feel bad.

If you sent me a check I would cash it!

Part of my education was paid for by State and Federal Gov't, I owe a debt back to society for their kind gift to me. This frankly is the least I can do.

Dr Taylor

 

[kaykay]

If you sent me a check I would cash it!
Part of my education was paid for by State and Federal Gov't, I owe a debt back to society for their kind gift to me. This frankly is the least I can do.

Dr Taylor

Dr Taylor is a class act for sure!