It’s been called
“The Hardest Act of Love
you’ll ever carry out,
and the toughest decision you’ll ever make.”
Of Greek origin, the word Euthanasia literally means
‘a good death.’
This week I had the good fortune to come upon the ‘End-of-Life Decisions’ Seminar produced by the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. This topic has been on my mind as the owner of a 34yo horse. It was not easy to watch. I had only a rudimentary knowledge of how a horse is ‘put down,’ having seen one shot between the eyes many years ago.
I’ve talked only briefly with my vet. My greatest worry, after having to actually make the decision, was how will my horse feel when the initial injection makes her fall to the ground. How painful will hitting the ground the be? Will she be scared, confused? How long will she be conscious laying on the ground, possibly panicked, before the final injection?
Cornell has an excellent reputation, ranking 3rd in the list of 100 Best Veterinary Universities In The World according to vetreport.com while the National Library of Medicine ranks it 2nd in the US. And they did not disappoint with this excellent presentation. Exceeding my expectations, they put my fears to rest with their clear, thorough explanation of the process.