Vet discusses difficult topic of horse euthanasia

Euthanasia is a topic horse owners rarely talk about. As a veterinarian, I have had to euthanize many animals. It does not get easier with time and experience, but you learn to accept it as part of the veterinary business.

This topic is also a difficult one to write about, but in our current economic climate, it has become an increasingly sought-after option for horse owners and horse rescue operations.

In 2006, Congress voted to end the slaughter of horses. Three plants in the US annually slaughtered 100,000 horses a year for meat consumption overseas; primarily in Belgium, France, and Japan, where horsemeat is considered a delicacy. It was thought that slaughterhouses still operating in Mexico and Canada would take some of these horses, but it remains to be seen if this is a viable long-term alternative. Read More…