When is the right time to think about euthanasia for my horse?

Like human medicine Veterinary medicine is continually advancing. With the advancement of knowledge resources and Veterinary services horses are now living longer than ever before. This is an amazing progression within the equine field. No matter how young or old our pets are and how long theyve been in our lives euthanasia can still be the most difficult decision an owner is ever faced with. This article aims to discuss when the right time to think about horse euthanasia is. If you are in this devastating situation I hope the discussion points provide you with comfort and helpful information.

Table of contents
How to decide when the time is right?Firstly lets think about quality of life An easy checklistSituations where euthanasia needs to be consideredSudden severe illness or injuryChronic disease Uncontrolled pain If Ive made my decision what happens next?
How to decide when the time is right?
Euthanasia is a subject that most people dont want to even think about but sadly many owners are faced with confronting. As a first opinion Vet I regularly have conversations with owners about whether it is the right time to think about euthanasia for their beloved pet. This is a decision which can be extremely difficult especially in certain circumstances. Of course there are times when the decision may be almost taken out of our hands for example following a catastrophic injury. But in other less clearcut situations there are certain things to think about and consider.
Firstly lets think about quality of life
This is a term which has been around for many years. The dictionary defines this phrase as the standard of health comfort and happiness experienced by an individual. A simpler way to think about an animals quality of life is to compare their good days to bad days. If the bad days far outweigh the good then this usually reflects a poorer quality of life. Additionally I want to quickly mention age. Age is not a disease and I have met many geriatric and older horses that still lead a great life. Certainly it is unsurprising that older horses are more prone to developing problems e g. joint disease but age is not always a clearcut factor when making the decision of euthanasia.
An easy checklist
There are certain questions that I feel should be asked to owners who feel unsure whether it is the right time to think about euthanasia for their horse
Is heshe exhibiting