2yo with arthritis...

[PandO]

My 2yo warmblood has had xrays following some lameness/ wobble and after an injury to the hock at 1 year old the xrays have shown arthritis in the hock joint. Due to pain, an awkward weight distribution is causing his fetlock to twist and on top of this he has some bone displacement in his neck causing his spinal cord to be stressed, and ocd in back leg. potentially caused by his size and growing quicker than he can develop. He’s 17hh with a lot more to go. I have been told he will never be ridden but he has such a sweet nature and is such a lovely horse. The vets say surgery on his neck is possible, however he will always be in pain due to the arthritis. Pain management is possible, but as he’s only 2yo- is this fair to him from such a young age? It’s heartbreaking and I am unsure what to do for the best as he seems ok in himself- eats fine, stands, lays down and gets up fine, turns out fine and behaves like a baby. Should I keep him on controlled pain management or let him go at just 2?

 

[DabDab]

That is awful luck, I'm so sorry, you must be devastated.

Personally if he were mine I would let him go. A life of pain, particularly for a young horse of that size is no fun, so as heartbreaking a situation as it is I would have him pts.

So sorry xxx

 

[ihatework]

Oh gosh, that’s a really tough call.

When they grow so rapidly there is always scope for growth problems, sometimes these will never be resolved but I think with time a lot can settle and be managed. OCD doesn’t always cause a problem and if it does then chips can be removed. Traumatic bone remodelling is what I assume you are seeing in the hock, at this age could easily settle. The spinal cord/neck compression would concern me the most.

I don’t think PTS would be wrong and would probably be the ‘head decision’. The heart one .... well, I suppose it depends on how invested in the horse you are. Just be aware that if you start in that journey it could get very very expensive and the horse won’t be covered by insurance for long.

On balance, if the vet supported it, I’d probably PTS and feel shit about doing so

 

[PandO]

Thank you, it really is devastating news. I don’t want him to suffer for the rest of his life, but on the other hand I just feel like he’s hardly had a life at all. I guess I’m hoping to find a miracle cure or something to just help him live his life comfortably as a horse that isn’t ridden. In reality I know that’s not going to be in his best interests but in my mind he will get to live a little longer.

 

[AmyMay]

As devastating as it would be, I’d pts.

 

[ycbm]

I'm very sorry you're in this situation, but I wouldn't hesitate, I'd have him put down.

He isn't dreaming about living any longer, only you are doing that. He won't know, and his pain will be over. Please don't let him grow any bigger this spring with a body which has already failed to cope.
.

 

[PandO]

Thank you, that is definitely a perspective that I hadn’t even thought of. And it makes complete sense. To look at him he looks and seems fine- but he doesn’t know what the future holds - and I do unfortunately. I guess it seems like the right decision. Even if it is an awful one. Thank you

 

[Goldenstar]

I In your situation would PTS .
However if you had access to a large ( twenty acres plus ) hilly field not too rich with company I might consider turning him away for a year and then getting the vets to look again .
it depends what you where hoping to do with him as I think it’s unlikely you will get a robust competition type horse .
Terrible thing to happen I am very very sorry for you both .

 

[twiggy2]

I would let him go, a life of even low grade pain will pull him down, so sad though.

 

[Nudibranch]

Ah that's soul destroying. I've been there; very big horse, almost 18hh. Hocks at 2 though not as serious as yours, backed at 4 and then found neck and SI too. He was pts at 7 and although I know for sure it was the right thing to do I still question myself almost every day, because he was a strapping, handsome, smart young horse and it's hard to reconcile that with the broken insides.

I have since turned to big natives. I don't think I could ever go through the worry and guilt with another big WB type.

Pts is not wrong, and he won't know a thing. You could do as GS suggests if you have the option although I did try similar to no avail.