End-of-life decisions for horses require careful consideration of quality of life, available interventions, and the practicalities of equine euthanasia to ensure horses die without unnecessary suffering.
End-of-life decisions for horses are complicated by their size, cost of treatment, and the emotional bonds owners form over long lifetimes together. The result is that euthanasia decisions are frequently delayed beyond the point where a horse's quality of life is acceptable, causing prolonged suffering. Quality of life assessment scales developed for horses help owners make more objective decisions. Veterinary guidance about what constitutes acceptable quality of life, communicated clearly and compassionately before crisis develops, enables better decision-making than waiting until emergency. A horse's ability to experience good quality of life, not merely biological survival, should be the primary decision criterion.