Horsey folks: why do they euthanize horses with broken limbs?

The news report on the poor filly said "there was no hope, they had to put her down right on the track"..

Now I am ignorant about this, so pardon the question, but if a human has two broken legs, we don't euthanize them right away. Can a horse's legs not recover? please tell me this is not just because they can't race anymore :(

Poor girl.... :cry:

breaks a leg, they are put down. Good question. I don't know why.

Edit to add: hard to recoup if you can't be in a wheelchair, or you're too heavy to turn over? :shrug:

So that presents some real conundrums on how to heal the broken leg. Because you can't keep the horse off it's feet. It'll develope all kinds of other problems. That's if you can get the broken leg to heal. The legs don't like to heal. Usually the fracture reoccurs. But I have seen new developments that might actually end the practice of putting them down over a broken leg. They have a device that can be put around the horses leg. It allows the horse to stay on it's feet. It immobilizes the leg. It holds the bones together and in place. It also has wheels on it so the horse can still get around some what. I have heard that they are looking at using coral to address the healing problems with the bones. Until they perfect the treatment. Putting the horse down is the most humane thing to do.

He slept lying down and was cranky if anyone woke him up.

This is according to the book which was made into the movie.

They stand all the time, and this makes healing very difficult...

It is NOT because they can't race any more...

They do try to fix some that can be mended, so they can lead happy lives, breeding and so on...

It is heartbreaking...

virtually imposible.

If they can't race/win or fuck, they need to die.

Barbaro's owners spent a fortune trying to keep him alive, but he had no financial future for them. He couldn't race, obviously, and artificial insemination isn't allowed in thoroughbreds. They loved that horse.

Horses even sleep standing up. All that weight on a broken bone...it's not like they can just lie down until they heal, or use crutches.

Barbaro was an exception, not a rule. An enormous financial investment was made into attempting to heal him, beyond what most horse owners ever attempt. Even after all that time and investment, it failed.

Yeah I didn't consider that. What a darn shame.

then you've obviously never spent any time around horses.

Horses may snooze standing up, but they do NOT sleep while standing. It's akin to you falling asleep sitting at a desk. As soon as you do fall asleep, your neck will relax, and that usually will wake you back up.

They lay down, just like you do, often on their sides, completely flat out.

The idea that horse sleep all night long while standing borders on myth.

As far as why they had to put Eight Belles down, if she had broken only one leg, they might have been able to save her. But with two broken there is just not much they can do. Horses don't speak English and don't understand the idea that they have to take it easy on a broken bone. They are herd animals and the instinct to be able to run and keep up with the herd overrides everything else.

That's one of the reasons the practice of placing the horse in a pool as it comes out of anesthesia is prevalent. The horse will thrash and attempt to stand up right away. Having it in a pool reduces the damage caused by such an action.

But they do "snooze" standing up, and they spend an enormous amount of time on their feet. And no, there's not really a way to force them to take it easy and not put pressure on a broken bone. Especially when it's two legs.

Oh, and to edit: I've spent time around horses. Believe me.

it also involved both front legs, so keeping her in a sling off the limbs was not possible I think. Not sure. And their are problems with healing in this situation. I want to know what training habits and other treatments this horse had that might have led to two front ankle fractures this way. the attending vet hads was astounded by this event in his career. Hope more will come out. And sadly Chelsea was at the race to watch her moms pick, this horse.

When they lie down for long, their internal organs fail under their weight, like beached whales. One leg might be repairable, depending on where the fracture is and what kind, provided the horse can be kept upright in a sling long enough to do surgery, splint the leg, or otherwise set it up so that the horse can stand and walk while recovering.

This horse had two broken front ankles. There would be no way to keep her upright long enough to fix them (presumably it would have taken surgery) nor would she likely have recovered- the added strain would almost certainly have damaged her rear legs or hooves, similar to what happened with Barbaro. There wasn't even a humane way to remove her from the track for treatment, since she couldn't possibly stand, and lying down is a death sentence for a horse.

The problem here wasn't the choice to euthanize her, the problem is breeding such fragility into the horses, racing them so young, driving them so hard, and doping them up to keep them going. Euthanizing her really was an act of mercy. The act of cruelty was racing her to begin with.

'When they lie down for long, their internal organs fail under their weight, like beached whales.'

That makes perfect sense anatomically. I never understood why... thank you for the explanation and the last paragraph.

I've avoided reading about this all day because of the irritating political spin being attached to it and because of all the ignorant commentary that has been given.

My grandma had to have a horse put down when I was young. Tore her up, but it was a similar circumstance ... well, the injury was similar, not the cause of it. Wasn't a race horse or even a work horse really. He just kinda hung out and ate. :)

>>racing them so young, driving them so hard, and doping them up to keep them going.<<

:shudder:

I posted on another thread:

The Derby should be banned or they should ONLY race older horses with a minimum leg circumstance law.

These poor beautiful animals are being bred for disaster.

Another race, another horse down.

I was moved to tears yet again today.

The breeding of these thoroughbreds has morphed into huge hindquarters all being supported on fragile hoofs and forelocks. Expect more of these tragedies.

Here's an article on it, written after Barbaro's injury.

http://www.slate.com/id/2142159/

To sum it up, basically, a break tears blood vessels and causes a high risk of infection, and in a horse the infection can't easily be treated with antibiotics because of its size and the amount of antibiotics it takes. When the horse's bones break through the skin, as happened today, the infection risk is much higher. Combined with loss of motion and support for the horse, the body is just not usually able to recover. Barbaro was a best case scenario a couple of years ago, and they couldn't save him, even with the spare-no-expense mentality with which they treated him.

It's definitely not because the horse can't race. Race horses are worth a lot of money, even after they retire (breeding, and just prestige for the owner) and most owners are very attached to them, as well. Owners who treat their horses badly are frowned upon, even shunned in the sport. There's just so little chance for survival.

a filly who had to be put down.

On Edit: She broke her leg at Belmont on July 6, 1975 and is buried by the flagpole there.
She had surgery to try to save her. Her heart had to be restarted twice on the operating tabe and she awoke from the anesthetic disoriented and confused. She started thrashing around so much that she broke her cast and damaged her leg even worse.
Ironically, both her parents also died because they became disoriented after surgery and injured themselves.

http://thoroughbredchampions.com/biographies/ruffian1.htm

She broke down in a match race against Foolish Pleasure. That race never should have been set up to begin with. It was a stupid made-for-TV "battle of the sexes" thing. An attempt to recapture the attention and the ratings of the Billie Jean King/Bobby Riggs tennis match, only with animals who had no say in the matter.

I even remember the little segues the network (I think it was CBS) ran before each commercial...little cartoons of the horses standing with hands on hips and a recording of Ethel Merman singing "Anything you can do, I can do better..." As if the horses themselves had some sort of investment in proving whether males or females were superior. It was a bunch of nonsense. A bunch of human beings laughing and joking until it all ended in tragedy.

A TV movie was made about it not long ago, and watching that was heartbreaking. What that poor filly did to her leg by continuing to run on it even after it snapped was just awful. But she didn't want to stop.

liscened veterinarians administer the drug (or sometimes a winchester to the brain stem is used).

Right. Quick and painless, eh?

Shit, a marksman like that should just fucking enlist and be done with it.

complete and quick severing of the spinal cord renders death quick and painless. I'm haven't witnessed a euthanizing by gun before, so I can't tell you what kind they use. I would assume that the preferred method is drugs... but sometimes in the prairie, a gun has to suffice.

A synopsis table is given at their site:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vetext/INF-AN/INF-AN_EMERGEUTH-HORSES.HTML

Details of Euthanasia Methods
Gunshot

The proper location of gunshot penetration is important in the destruction of the brain and minimizing suffering. The optimal site for penetration of the skull is one-half inch above the intersection of a diagonal line from the base of the ear to the in side corner of the opposite eye. The firearm should be aimed directly down the neck, perpendicular to the front of the skull, and held at least 2-6 inches away from the point of impact. When performed skillfully, gunshot induces instantaneous unconsciousness, is inexpensive, and does not require close contact with the horse.

A .22-caliber long rifle is recommended, but a 9mm or .38-caliber handgun will be sufficient for most horses. The use of hollow-point or soft nose bullets will increase brain destruction and reduce the chance of ricochet. If a shotgun is the only available firearm, the use of a rifled slug is preferred.

This method should only be attempted by individuals trained in the use of firearms and who understand the potential for ricochet. Care must be taken to minimize the danger to the operator, observers, and other animals. Personnel must comply with all laws and regulations governing the possession and discharge of firearms; local ordinances may prohibit the discharge of firearms in certain areas.

Penetrating Captive Bolt Gun


When properly used, the penetrating captive bolt gun produces immediate brain tissue destruction that kills the animal. Captive bolts are powered by gunpowder, thus the selection of the cartridge strength should be appropriate for the size of the animal (adult vs. foal) and this varies among manufacturers. The penetrating captive bolt gun should be placed very firmly against the skull at the same location (see diagram, right) previously described for gunshot. Horses must be adequately restrained to ensure proper placement of the captive bolt.

Maintenance and cleaning of the penetrating captive bolt gun, as described by the manufacturer, must be followed to ensure proper operation.

Barbiturate Overdose

When properly administered by the intravenous route, barbiturate overdose (sodium pentobarbital) depresses the central nervous system, causing deep anesthesia progressing to respiratory and cardiac arrest. However, barbiturates can cause sudden or violent falls if administered too slowly or in insufficient quantities. Thus, the use of sedatives (e.g., xylazine or detomidine) prior to the barbiturate overdose can minimize violent thrashing and provide a more controlled recumbency process, which is les s objectionable for the owner and other public viewers. Induction of unconsciousness results in minimal pain associated with the needle puncture. While barbiturate overdose is less disturbing to observers (more aesthetically acceptable), it is also more expensive than other options.

It is illegal for a non-veterinarian to possess injectable euthanasia products. After barbiturate overdose, the carcass of the horse will be unfit for human or animal consumption. Keep in mind that house pets and wildlife that ingest portions of the barbiturate-injected carcass can be poisoned.

Exsanguination (massive blood loss)

This method can be used to ensure death immediately following stunning, induction of anesthesia, or unconsciousness. Because severe anxiety is associated with the hypoxia (lack of oxygen) caused by exsanguination, it must not be used as the sole method of euthanasia. The most common method in the horse is to cut the carotid arteries and jugular veins on both sides of the neck. A long, sharp knife is fully inserted in the upper one third of the neck behind the angle of the jaw and directed toward the spinal column through the trachea, until bone is contacted. Successful severing of the vessels can be recognized by freely flowing, pulsing blood. This procedure is very disturbing to observers due to the large volume of blood loss.


http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vetext/INF-AN/INF-AN_EMERGEUTH-HORSES.HTML

but it has nothing to do with the horse not being able to earn the man more money (one of you is too cynical, and that's from me)

My daughter loves the movie Dreamer (with Dakota Fanning) because of the horses. But the film is about a horse that breaks leg in a race, the owner is going to put it down at the trainer's advice. The trainer is Dakota's dad, and she talks him into buying the horse and trying to rehab it. he hems and haws because its a horrible thing to try to do to a horse. You try hanging yourself from the ceiling with a little weight on one foot for months at a time, but nobody can explain to you why its happening and you're in excruciating pain all the time. I can't figure why they did that to Barbaro, except maybe they thought studding him would earn them back the investment in vet bills. Now *that* was kind of cruel.

Anyway, that's a pretty good way to explain it, if you have a little girl with whom to watch the movie. otherwise you're just some weirdo watching a Dakota Fanning movie by yourself.

and am still pretty broken up about this...but the on-track vet said that in order to move them...they have to be able to splint their legs...but in this case, there was NOTHING left to splint.:cry:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080504/ap_on_sp_ot/rac_kentucky_derby
>>>snip
Dr. Larry Bramlage, the Derby's on-call veterinarian, said the filly's injuries were too severe to even attempt to move her off the track.

"She didn't have a front leg to stand on to be splinted and hauled off in the ambulance, so she was euthanized," Bramlage said.

Trainer Larry Jones paid tribute to his fallen filly saying, "She ran the race of her life."

Horse? :hug:

I just flat can't stand this.:hug: :cry:

today with injections. I remember when I was younger a friend had to put down his horse, it not pretty. I worked as a wrangler so I saw more than one usually sees. It is a shame that such beautiful animals as sometimes ruined by "the sport of Kings".

Thinking about that filly makes me want to cry. I'm not a horse person nor do I follow horse racing that much.

Trying to even get her loaded in the ambulance would have been extremely difficult. Everyone is right in that it is difficult to treat a broken leg on a horse.

The problem with Ruffian coming out of surgery has been rectified by having the patient wake up in a pool of water. All the thrashing does no harm.

Horses have survived with one broken leg by being in a sling but it is a long row to hoe with much potential for faliure.

If there had any way the filly could have been saved the insurance company would not have allowed euthanasia.
When an insured horse is injured the sole decision on euthanasia is made by the insurance company not the owner. That is if the owner wants to be paid by the insurance company.

It is very unlikely that an extreme attempt would be made to save a filly.

These injuries were too catastrophic. The legs of horses are fairly fragile and they have to hold all their weight. The Barbaro intervention was highly unusual and the huge amount of money that was poured into his treatment was justified by the fact that it advanced the field of equine medicine.

Recurring infections are often a problem with leg injuries, as is laminitis, a disease of the hooves that can grow agonizingly painful over time.

I love horses and I used to be quite a racing fan. In fact, for eight glorious months, I worked at a racing publication and I often beat the professional handicappers.

But for all of its beauty, I just can't stand it anymore. The weakening of the breed, the drugging, and the heartbreaking descent which your favorite (non-breeding) horses undergo from high-end races to claimers to the slaughterhouse has turned me off the sport. It sickens me.

As horrible as it was it would have been far more horrible to see the poor animal with two broken front legs being dragged into a trailer so that she could be killed out of the sight of the crowd.

As others have stated, a horse cannot live long if it cannot stand. While they can and do lie down to sleep they only stay down for a short period at a time. If a horse gets cast (i.e. lies down and cannot get up) it must be gotten back on its feet within hours or its legs will atrophy and its digestive system will tie up. In short it will die.

Slings can help but some sort of movement in the legs is essential. Barbaro, for example, once he developed laminitis, was put in a sling but had to be let out periodicaly in order to move around. What's remarkable is that the horse actually learned how to communicate with his nurses and let them know when he needed to go back in. Sadly all of that did not help Barbaro.

It may sound cruel, but if this filly had been saved she inevitably would have been bred and passed her weakness along to the next generation. Back in the day when the only cure for a broken leg was a bullet, horses with serious weakesses were not being bred. I would have loved to see Barbaro survive to become a family pet or an addition to the Kentucky Horse Park, I would have been less happy to see him go to stud. Add to that the legalization of bute and lasix and you have horses that should have been rested kept in training because they can.

I grew up watching racing as a kid and can remember very few horses in high profile events like the Derby being injured. Now you can't watch a Triple Crown event or worse yet The Breeder's Cup without it being almost inevetable that you will see some beautiful animal die a horrible death.

The racing industry is its own worse enemy and they have only themselves to blame for its demise.

for his leg. These animals should not suffer.