One of the hardest decisions any horse owner or adopter will be faced with is when to let go of a trusted friend. I am talking about the death of your equine friend. Occasionally a horse will die on its own but this is usually not the case. If there is any type of suffering going on with the horse, we must not wait until things become unbearable for both the animal and the person(s) who love them.
We have had to make this decision at SFHR. We face it on a regular basis because we take in some horses that are special needs cases. Advanced age, behavioral problems and health issues can be tolerated to a certain extent but then the day comes when these areas must be looked at a bit closer.
Here is the big question: What is the quality of life for the animal?
I believe that we as humans have a tendency to fear death. We want things to remain the same and for our animals to live on forever! Oh that would make things easier (on us) but life is not designed to be that way. We must care for these animals and we must be realistic. I get this question all the time: How do I know when it is time to let them go?
My first suggestion is this: Spend some quiet time with the horse and observe a few things and take your time. You know this animal and you will get a feeling that it may be time to say goodbye to them. Honestly, they tell you but you must be listening to them. Are their eyes bright or dull? Do they have that old spark or do they just seem tired and off? My second suggestion is to call your vet and invest in a vet call. Have them do a physical on the horse and determine if there is something going on that needs treatment. Blood work is invaluable. Be honest with your vet if you feel that perhaps the time has come to release your animal from his or her pain. They are experienced in this life decision and they will help you through this struggle. Here again, you must listen to what they are saying.
We have a lot of people telling us that they just can’t do it. They can’t make the decision and they can’t let go and watch their horse die. Trust me when I say that we have been there. Even after a vet consult we sometimes decide to wait or think a bit more about it. The horses deserve this consideration after all but the reality is that WE are just not quite ready to make that life or death decision. I am the first to admit that it is selfishness. We want to keep them with us and keep them living but this feeling must be dealt with. Once again it is about their quality of life - not ours!
When you know that it is time and you have done all you can, then what?
Most people have a little understanding of how the vet will handle this but they worry about the animal struggling and fighting for life and how horrible that will be. In their mind this is going to be the worst thing they have ever witnessed and they refuse to be home or around when the animal is put down. That is your personal choice but I am here to tell you that you will wish you had stayed with them until the very end. There is a closure in seeing the suffering end and that final goodbye is precious. Precious to both the horse and the human.
If you are having trouble with this decision, please call or e mail me. I will help you in any way I can. I am happy to speak with you about this and guide you through the process if you like. It is easy to say that your vet will sedate the animal and then give a lethal injection of sedatives but that is only part of the process. There are burial or removal concerns and the like. Please do not hesitate to call me with your questions!
Rest assured that you are not alone. As long as we put ourselves out there to love and care for an animal, this day will come. You will be OK and you will have a greater understanding of love and commitment because of this process.
We are here for you!
Sincerely,
Mary & Bill
