My husband, also a vet favors
shooting because it is instantaneous = more humane. I have seen horses
struggle against euthanasia solution for a long time. The cost and disposal
problems are also a factor. He uses a .22 rifle in the X between the eyes
and ears. He tranquilizes first. The horse hangs it's head down and he places
the muzzle about 8" from the head. Cost- $0.15 per shot and he's never needed
more than one. Libby
-----Original Message----- From:
ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of
IcyPony@xxxxxxx Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 1:09
PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC]
Euthanasia
My husband is a vet and has put down many horses with a 4-10 shotgun at
the base of the ear. There is an opening in the skull at the base of the ear,
the pellets go in and scatter around the brain, there is no exit wound, very
little blood. Quick and clean. My husband always sedates the horse first but
you don't need to. He always gives owners a choice of euthanasia
solution or gunshot (gunshot being cheaper). If an owner selects euthanasia
solution the animal needs to be buried or hauled away quickly otherwise
gunshot needs to be used.
The man who was in charge of the foxhounds at the Arapahoe Hunt
Club, which is south of Denver, would use this 4-10 shotgun method. People
would bring him their old horses to be put down and fed to the dogs. He
also was the father of Marvin Beeman DVM who is a well known equine
vet.
