Advice sought for putting my horse to sleep :(

Laura-Maybe-IV

Laura-Maybe-IV

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Hi all,

Unfortunately I think we are coming to the end of the line with my mare who is 22, I think that this will be her last year :( :(

She is an ex event horse and I got her at 19, she has progressively gotten more and more stiff in her back legs, she has had a few injuries during her eventing career including a tendon injury. She is getting very stiff which isn't alleviated by gentle exercise or devils claw or alphabute, she hates bute :( I've also tried so many joint supplements and oils which don't really seem to do much :( I've stopped riding her and lightly lunged her today and she's still not much better.
This will be the hardest thing I will ever have to do, but I know as a horse owner it a responsibility, I owe it to her she's given me so many hours of happiness and joy and been there for me through some really tough times.

I am so devastated at the thought of loosing her, but I just don't think it would not be fair to keep her going :( how did you guys knows when to pts? And how did you have it done etc?
 
I had my girl pts by injection, it was quiet, peaceful and respectful, she literally laid down and went to sleep.

It was hard to know when to pts but there were days she struggled to walk to the field and then I knew it was time. While she could move around and have a good life on grass i was happy to keep her.
 
I had no choice to make with my 7 year old, he had damaged a tendon so badly there was not even the option of retiring him.

My old cob, in his mid twenties had Cushings, copd and cancer, he let me know through weight loss, the look in his eye and the way the others drove him away that his time had come.

I have a decision to make with another one ..... its not a clear cut thing and I just dont know what to do .... :(

I perfer to use the injection, I have found it to be a peaceful way for them to go.

My heart goes out to you. xx
 
Injection for my older pony with cancer.
It was peaceful. I also left before they loaded him into the truck to be cremated. My vet suggested i didnt want to be around to see what was in the back of the box and the look in her eye made me leave.
 
Sprout said:
I had no choice to make with my 7 year old, he had damaged a tendon so badly there was not even the option of retiring him.

My old cob, in his mid twenties had Cushings, copd and cancer, he let me know through weight loss, the look in his eye and the way the others drove him away that his time had come.

I have a decision to make with another one ..... its not a clear cut thing and I just dont know what to do .... :(

I perfer to use the injection, I have found it to be a peaceful way for them to go.

My heart goes out to you. xx
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Thank you, I am absolutely devastated but its not fair to keep her going for another winter. I am very sorry to head about you having to make another decision, my heart goes out to you too. I am sure your horse will tell you when the time is right, my horse is beginning too :( I am very sorry to hear about your news too, big hugs xxx
 
Jessi&Magic said:
Injection for my older pony with cancer.
It was peaceful. I also left before they loaded him into the truck to be cremated. My vet suggested i didnt want to be around to see what was in the back of the box and the look in her eye made me leave.
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Thank you, I am very sorry to hear that. Out of interest did it cost much to have her cremated? I will be there when maybe's time comes, to the last journey as she doesn't really trust anyone apart from me. I would feel so guilty If I wasn't there I wouldn't want her to be scared. I can understand completely though why you wouldn't want to see them in the box, I don't want to see it either with her as I don't want that to be my last memory of her :(
 
Very sad for you, but a brave decision as it's the most respect you can show her after the joy she has given you.

Lots of threads if you search on the pros and cons of various methods.

If she isn't field sound (ie she can't play with the others in the field, get to water trough easily or happily get up and down) - it's would be time for me. Lots of close watching to see how happy she looks when out.
 
Polos Mum said:
Very sad for you, but a brave decision as it's the most respect you can show her after the joy she has given you.

Lots of threads if you search on the pros and cons of various methods.

If she isn't field sound (ie she can't play with the others in the field, get to water trough easily or happily get up and down) - it's would be time for me. Lots of close watching to see how happy she looks when out.
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Thank you, it's the hardest descion in the world, she can play ok in the field but the other horses are starting to push her out and she's so so stiff in the mornings, I don't think it would be fair to keep her going for another winer, so I am planning ahead for when the time comes :(
Thank you though I will have a look for the other threads and see what people think, I think your 100% right after all the joy she has given me its the right thing to do x
 
It depends on how they are in the field and how happy they seem etc. If the horse is stiff but is happy to be turned out, is eating fine and maintaining condition, then I really don't think it is unfair to keep them going in retirement. However, it would be unfair to keep them going in work. So it all depends whether retirement is an option for them. I have one retired here at only 11 years old. He had kissing spines and was unsuccessfully operated on. He has hock spavins. He could not be worked, but he is a very hapy horse in the field. So I wouldn't have him PTS. Same with my mare who broke her shoulder three years ago. I retired her at 15, but she is being brought back into light work right now to help keep her weight down as she has cushings and repeated laminitis attacks. Again, she is a very happy horse and if I could never ride her again, I would retire her until her quality of life started to deteriorate.

But that means I do not have a proper ridden horse! I am lucky though in that I run a livery yard and get paid to ride others' horses.

So it all depends on your situation really. But don't feel bad about keeping a stiff horse in retirement. So long as they are happy in themselves. :)

But regarding PTS. I would choose the injection every time, unless the horse was needle phobic.
 
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Wagtail said:
It depends on how they are in the field and how happy they seem etc. If the horse is stiff but is happy to be turned out, is eating fine and maintaining condition, then I really don't think it is unfair to keep them going in retirement. However, it would be unfair to keep them going in work. So it all depends whether retirement is an option for them. I have one retired her at only 11 years old. He had kissing spines and was unsuccessfully operated on. He has hock spavins. He could not be worked, but he is a very hapy horse in the field. So I wouldn't have him PTS. Same with my mare who broke her shoulder three years ago. I retired her at 15, but she is being brought back into light work right now to help keep her weight down as she has cushings and repeated laminitis attacks. Again, she is a very happy horse and if I could never ride her again, I would retire her until her quality of life started to deteriorate.

But that means I do not have a proper ridden horse! I am lucky though in that I run a livery yard and get paid to ride others' horses.

So it all depends on your situation really. But don't feel bad about keeping a stiff horse in retirement. So long as they are happy in themselves. :)
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Thank you for your advice, she is starting too loose some condition and my other two are starting to push her out. She's ok in the field but does spend alot of time standing on her own in the field, she seems ok at the moment but she is starting to deteriorate slowly. I think I will give her the summer and spring, then when it starts to turn cold I will pts, she isn't a horse that does well in the winters and not the kind of horse to sit in a field for the rest of her days unfortunately, I will keep a close watch on her. I am getting the vet to give me a time scale so I can keep her happy until the time comes.
 
Laura-Maybe-IV said:
Hi all,

Unfortunately I think we are coming to the end of the line with my mare who is 22, I think that this will be her last year :( :(

She is an ex event horse and I got her at 19, she has progressively gotten more and more stiff in her back legs, she has had a few injuries during her eventing career including a tendon injury. She is getting very stiff which isn't alleviated by gentle exercise or devils claw or alphabute, she hates bute :( I've also tried so many joint supplements and oils which don't really seem to do much :( I've stopped riding her and lightly lunged her today and she's still not much better.
This will be the hardest thing I will ever have to do, but I know as a horse owner it a responsibility, I owe it to her she's given me so many hours of happiness and joy and been there for me through some really tough times.

I am so devastated at the thought of loosing her, but I just don't think it would not be fair to keep her going :( how did you guys knows when to pts? And how did you have it done etc?
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I lost my mare of a lifetime before Christmas. I knew in my heart I could not help her anymore. It was pedal bone infection mainly.


I chose injection as I wanted to be by her side at the end.
 
You might find that now the weather is improving, she might be better pottering around the field and maybe you could give her some of the summer. Your heart will tell you when the time is right.

For final goodbye I would always choose the huntsman. It might to us seem like a violent end but it's instant and they don't get time to think about anything like they would if the vet was doing the deed
 
Clippy said:
You might find that now the weather is improving, she might be better pottering around the field and maybe you could give her some of the summer. Your heart will tell you when the time is right.

For final goodbye I would always choose the huntsman. It might to us seem like a violent end but it's instant and they don't get time to think about anything like they would if the vet was doing the deed
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Thank you for your reply. Yeah that's what the plan is to do, give her the summer and spring and see how she gets on if she gets much worse then she will be pts before the winter as I don't want to put her through unnessisary pain. Thank you I have been thinking weather to get her done by huntsman or vet, if I have her done by huntsman they can take her away for me. I will have to think. Thank you :)
 
I'm so sorry to read this and I wish you both well in hopefully enjoying the warmer weather for a while.

I've had horses die all ways. Some have been shot, some injected and some have just died (old age). Years ago I was very pro using the gun but nowadays I would always choose injection, and using my vet who I completely trust. The one thing you absolutely do not need at a time like that is having someone who is cack-handed and isn't organized. My vet is the best ever at putting any of ours down.
 
Ive got the hunt coming Monday for my 3yr old. Im leaving her with a trusted friend to hand to the huntsman. I intend to be out of the yard just before he arrives, i dont want to risk being upset and she wont mind who holds her when she has a bucket of food. Ive picked hunt as its very quick, no needle faff etc. Ill let you know Monday eve if i was right :-(
 
I had my old Buster pts with injection, he was finding it increasingly difficult to get up and losing condition (no matter how much food we threw at him) but there was nothing showing up as wrong in his bloods, it was just old age. I was there when it happened, and had planned to be But when it actually did happened it was quite quick - he was struggling to get up and we had to call the vet - and although I think we could've got him up eventually the vet quite rightly said 'but where do we go from there?' and I knew from the look in his eye that it was the right time. It was the very end of August and I'd known he wouldn't see another winter but I wanted him to enjoy the spring grass and the summer sun on his back. I wouldn't have missed those months with my boy for anything, I led him out in hand to graze, kept him moving and tacked him up to walk him round the school (he always like to work and that made him think he still was!) and was able to say all the things I wanted to say to him, to thank him for so much. Standing watching him graze in the evening sunshine was priceless. You won't regret giving yours that time I promise you.

It won't make it any easier when the time comes - I don't think anything could - but afterwards the memories of those final, special months will be a great help.

Thinking of you and please share with us some of the special times you have with her over spring and summer...
 
Spring Feather said:
I'm so sorry to read this and I wish you both well in hopefully enjoying the warmer weather for a while.

I've had horses die all ways. Some have been shot, some injected and some have just died (old age). Years ago I was very pro using the gun but nowadays I would always choose injection, and using my vet who I completely trust. The one thing you absolutely do not need at a time like that is having someone who is cack-handed and isn't organized. My vet is the best ever at putting any of ours down.
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Thank you very much for your reply, I was thinking of having her done by gun, but I just don't think I would like that as my last memory of her and like you said I wouldn't want the hassle of someone being cack handed etc. thank you very much though :)
 
Rebels said:
Ive got the hunt coming Monday for my 3yr old. Im leaving her with a trusted friend to hand to the huntsman. I intend to be out of the yard just before he arrives, i dont want to risk being upset and she wont mind who holds her when she has a bucket of food. Ive picked hunt as its very quick, no needle faff etc. Ill let you know Monday eve if i was right :-(
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I am so very sorry to hear this :( I absolutely feel for you. I hope that it all goes smoothly and is quick and painless for the horse. I am very sorry to hear that though. My thoughts are with you at this very difficult time xx
 
FWIW I think you're doing the right thing, OP. I was too late with my shetland and I do regret putting him through that last winter (he died in the spring, on a lovely sunny day, as it happened). I'm mixed about injection/hunt, so can't help on that one.

Rebels, will be thinking of you on Monday. x
 
horsebenny said:
I had my old Buster pts with injection, he was finding it increasingly difficult to get up and losing condition (no matter how much food we threw at him) but there was nothing showing up as wrong in his bloods, it was just old age. I was there when it happened, and had planned to be But when it actually did happened it was quite quick - he was struggling to get up and we had to call the vet - and although I think we could've got him up eventually the vet quite rightly said 'but where do we go from there?' and I knew from the look in his eye that it was the right time. It was the very end of August and I'd known he wouldn't see another winter but I wanted him to enjoy the spring grass and the summer sun on his back. I wouldn't have missed those months with my boy for anything, I led him out in hand to graze, kept him moving and tacked him up to walk him round the school (he always like to work and that made him think he still was!) and was able to say all the things I wanted to say to him, to thank him for so much. Standing watching him graze in the evening sunshine was priceless. You won't regret giving yours that time I promise you.

It won't make it any easier when the time comes - I don't think anything could - but afterwards the memories of those final, special months will be a great help.

Thinking of you and please share with us some of the special times you have with her over spring and summer...
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Thank you that's what I am thinking giving her the summer to enjoy the sun on her back and letting her enjoy the summer months because she loves nothing more than the summer. Thank you for your kind words, I know it will be very hard but like you said watching them graze and enjoying their last years, there can be nothing more priceless than that :) thank you I will do, I plan to take photos and have all the photos of her that I have made up into an album so I can always look back at the memories and what wonderful times we had together :)
 
Fransurrey said:
FWIW I think you're doing the right thing, OP. I was too late with my shetland and I do regret putting him through that last winter (he died in the spring, on a lovely sunny day, as it happened). I'm mixed about injection/hunt, so can't help on that one.

Rebels, will be thinking of you on Monday. x
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Thank you, it has been such a hard decision but I think it will be the right thing for her, I will let her have the spring and summer so she can enjoy the weather and went it starts to chill off that's when I'll get her done as I don't think putting her through another winter will be fair on her. Thank you though I really appreciate it
 
I am so sorry to read this, all I can say that as her owner and the closeness that you share you will know when the time has come, I can not really explain how but trust me you will know. My last boy had cancer and went down hill very quickly I had no other options, I had him injected that was my choice. Other people will tell you what they had done but again this is a very personnal choice. I had always said this is what I wanted. Read what everyone has to say but at the end of the day its your choice and that has to be what is best for your mare and for you, and I know that you will get it right as a caring owner,
 
It's a horrible decision to make but a very brave one too. I lost my gelding very suddenly to colic, I've never seen anything be PTS before so didn't know what to expect but had no choice about it - I stayed with him as I'd been with him the whole night and couldn't bear to leave him. We used the injection, and he went quickly, but very peacefully and I cuddled him until he was gone. He loved our vet to bits so wasn't worried by her, it was a horrible thing to go through but I know he passed on in as nice a way as he could. xx
 
ebonyallen said:
I am so sorry to read this, all I can say that as her owner and the closeness that you share you will know when the time has come, I can not really explain how but trust me you will know. My last boy had cancer and went down hill very quickly I had no other options, I had him injected that was my choice. Other people will tell you what they had done but again this is a very personnal choice. I had always said this is what I wanted. Read what everyone has to say but at the end of the day its your choice and that has to be what is best for your mare and for you, and I know that you will get it right as a caring owner,
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Thank you, that's what I am thinking as a responsible owner that its my duty to go to the last journey with her. I think I will have her injected as it'll be the kindest thing for her I think as she naturally a flighty horse and I think a gun with stress her out. Thank you for your kind words though.
 
starryeyed said:
It's a horrible decision to make but a very brave one too. I lost my gelding very suddenly to colic, I've never seen anything be PTS before so didn't know what to expect but had no choice about it - I stayed with him as I'd been with him the whole night and couldn't bear to leave him. We used the injection, and he went quickly, but very peacefully and I cuddled him until he was gone. He loved our vet to bits so wasn't worried by her, it was a horrible thing to go through but I know he passed on in as nice a way as he could. xx
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Thank you for your kind words. I am very sorry to hear about having your boy pts, you were very brave and I'm sure that he would've of appreciated it so much that you stayed with him until the end. That's what I am thinking if she is done by injection that she will pass peacefully and quietly xx
 
You will know when the time is right. I lost my gelding in October 2011. He had been fully retired since about June/July of that year due to arthritis in his knees (he was an ex-racer). A couple of weeks before I had him pts, he deteriorated dramatically - he could barely turn a circle and he didn't want to go in the field, even though he had always been the herd leader. When in the field he just stood at the gate. I got to the yard one Friday night, got him out of the field, broke down in tears and got a friend to call the vet and ask her to come out. She was out within 10 minutes, put her arms round me and said "he's telling you it's time". The decision was instant - I knew it was the right thing and a few minutes later he was gone. He was pts with the injection and heavily sedated first.

You will know when it's time. x
 
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