The last thing for a horse

[dmccarty]

I drive by a small place that has a pond in the middle of a steep pasture that might be 3 acres in size. The pasture drains into the pond which is bowl like with somewhat steep sides. They have a real nice white fence around the pasture and nice out buildings and house.

I drove by in the morning and one of their horses was down. Down in the pond. The horse could just barely keep his head out of the water and the owner was down there with a tractor. I assume the horse went for a drink and slipped into the pond and could not get up. I don't see how he could drag the horse out alive. He was having a bad day.

On the drive home that night there was a big "bump" in the pasture covered by a tarp.....

I think the rendering truck eventually picked up the body.

I know in "All Creatures Great and Small" the UK vets used a hand held device that was put on the animals head. Pretty sure it was a .22 was put in the device which was smacked with the and causing it to fire and drop the animal.

When I got my Kelly almost 15 years ago it was one of the hardest things I have done since I knew at some point I would almost certainly have to have her put down. And I did. Her health went. We did what we could for her as long as we could but it became time to put her down.

Our vet lives in our neighborhood and she came up one day when the kids were in school. She tried to give Kelly a shot to knock her out before she put her to sleep but the dog's health was so bad the veins were not in great shape and the vet had a hard time getting the drug administered. Kelly never whined. She did not move. She just laid on her bed like I told her too. She obeyed. Kelly was a great dog.

Eventually Kelly got enough drug and passed out. The vet was took quite some time before she was able to get in the other drug that put Kelly to sleep. Twas not the vets fault. The dogs veins just would not hold up anymore.

It would have been easier on all of us if I had just shot Kelly. And I thought about it as I waited for Kelly's suffering to end. Thought about it hard. It was one of the toughest things I have ever done. Or not done.

Later,
Dan

 

[Tororider]

My brother in law had a draft horse go down, he had the vet come down and he/she told him about the imaginary line between the ears and eyes. Told him he could do it himself next time. Rather than rent a backhoe we used my 4310 FEL, no teeth, to dig the hole. Fortunately his pasture is soft dirt. We were able to get it deep enough that nothing has gotten to it yet.

Tough decision but if you have to do it before the vet can get out, use a big enough caliber.

 

[Egon]

As I can recall a .22 was used for the killing when butchering hogs and beef. Can't ever recall when more than one shot was required.

 

[Soundguy]

I would NEVER use a .22 on a pet. I can't imagine having the poor thing look at you while you pull the trigger multiple times.

ditto that... I could only manage one trigger pull.. so it would have to be a 'sufficient' weapon..

soundguy

 

[hitekcountry]

ouch.. got up multiple times?

forget the 38, use a rifle.. 1 shot and be done with the poor thing... or at least a 'real' hand gun.. .357 or larger...

.22 is for positive kills on varmint sized animals...

soundguy

OH man does this bring back memories. When I was a kid my father decided to butcher a cow that we had raised for that purpose. He tied the cow to the big walnut tree and then shot it in the head with a 38. -- nothing -- the cow didn't drop it just stood there and screamed out a loud MOOO. I wasn't able to watch. My father went over to the neighbors and borrowed a 30-06 and that did the job. So yea if you're going to use a gun be sure you can do it with one shot.

 

[Abe460]

I had to put one down about 3 weeks ago. She ate a red maple leaf, don't know the medical name for it. We tried to get her back to health over a long drawn out period of time.

I didn't think it would bother me, but I think about it even when I pull in my driveway. Literally brings a tear to my eyes. I really wish I didn't have to think about it again. I've had to do it to dogs that get run over or severely wounded, but this for some reason was different.

I for sure will be letting someone else take care of it when I'm no where close.

 

[Egon]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MossRoad
I would NEVER use a .22 on a pet. I can't imagine having the poor thing look at you while you pull the trigger multiple times.

ditto that... I could only manage one trigger pull.. so it would have to be a 'sufficient' weapon..

soundguy

That's all it ever took. One trigger pull so I'd guess that single shot .22 was a "Sufficient Weapon" Think I've still got it too.:thumbsup:

 

[Mousefield]

What not to do. The SPCA has charged a couple of guys with cruelty to an animal, they are going to court because of this. They hung an old horse around 30 years old with an excavator. They said it died quickly because its neck broke. This happen outside Victoria BC Canada.

 

[Mudfarmer]

Three experiences: 1) Don't try to put down a scottish highland (or a horned ram of any sheep breed) with a .22. Too much bone and horn in the head. 2) Call the vet when your horse can't get up - well worth the cost when he goes quietly by injection. Then it is time to use the CUT to haul the remains off to the woods to recycle through the wild feeding chain. Takes about a week and is legal in our state as long as you can't see the body from the road. 3) Had to put a llama down once with no gun. All i had was a filleting knife. it was surprising peaceful and quiet - did it like bleeding a butchered cow, didn't like it,but was glad she was out of her misery.
Mf

 

[QRTRHRS]

Given the option, I much prefer to have the vet put a horse down. In the case of extreme pain for whatever reason and a delay on the vet then a bullet will have to do the job. Same with any animal.

Either option may test your "fortitude". Regardless, I would be there to hold the animal and say my prayers.

My choice for disposal is to dig a hole about eight feet deep and lower the body with the backhoe and cover it with liberally with lime. Even if that is a legal option, these days it is best kept guiet about if you have non farming neighbors.

That said, I do not disagree with the practice of a quiet corner and a flock of vultures either. From what I have read, vultures are not affected by the deseases that their diet may have harbored.

If you need to have the carcess picked up by the renderer, you may not want to be present for that either.