The present study was carried out on 358 working horses, donkeys and mules in El-Qalyubia,
Cairo and Giza governorates in Egypt (area of study). They were suffering from incurable
critical injuries and euthanasia is a must decision. The study aimed to investigate the need of
euthanasia in relation to species, age, sex, type of work, and causes of the affection. Male
gender of equine at the age 5 to 15 years were prone to euthanasia. Horses were the most
recorded species (2%) that reached to euthanasia. The most prevalent cause of euthanasia in
horses was fractures (48.8%). Euthanasia in donkeys represented (0.23%). The most prevalent
cause of euthanasia in donkeys was fractures (27.6%). The percentage of euthanasia in mules
was the least percentage (0.19%) and fractures in mules were also the main affection that led
to euthanasia (66.7%). Moreover, draught work was the most common cause that led to
euthanasia with the following percentages 100%, 80.9% and 67.7% in mules, donkeys and
horses respectively. Such results prove the need of welfare to working equine in Egypt, also it
is useful for the owners to avoid causes leading to euthanasia and for veterinarians to decide
the correct time for equine euthanasia or to say goodbye.