End-of-Life Care Planning for Horses

What is it about?

Not many horses die from natural causes in the UK, so most horse owners will have to make a difficult decision about euthanasia at some point. Owners often find these decisions very upsetting. They also might not notice declining health, especially when gradual. Some owners may put off end-of-life care and euthanasia decisions, which can cause poor welfare for the horse. Vets are often involved in these decisions, but can also find them stressful. Monitoring horses' quality of life, and planning in advance for their end-of-life care and eventual euthanasia can decrease stress for decision-makers, and promote good horse welfare. Shared decision-making is becoming more common in human and veterinary medicine. This promotes a collaborative approach, and can help owners and vet teams when making plans and decisions about end-of-life. This article provides an overview of the current issues and literature on end-of-life care planning for horses, including some resources that are currently available and under development.

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Photo by Kelly Forrister on Unsplash

Photo by Kelly Forrister on Unsplash