At a loss with horse and vet bills

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Gallopgirl95

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I have to start this post by saying that I love my mare, she truly taught me more than any other horse has and this is so hard to even type.

I have a 14 year old mare who just seems to be falling apart. Last year we found she had cysts in both her front heels, so she has been semi-retired with some (expensive!) heel elevating shoes on now and can only be ridden in walk. She still has lame days despite the corrective shoes and there's nothing that can change that. She's not in any pain but it's still incredibly disheartening.

Now I've had the dentist out and they've found she's got a supernumerary tooth which could cost about £2000 to remove. She's not insured and I don't have anything near that sort of money, I could cry with how much this has stressed me out.

I don't know what to do. I'm leaving for university in September and part of me wonders if it wouldn't be better to put the mare down. It would be very hard finding a loaner willing to take on a mare that, even though she's semi-retired, is expensive to keep because of her shoes. I also worry that if she goes lame and it gets worse (i.e, if she started hurting) then I wouldn't be there to help her, and I can't stand the thought of her being in pain and me not being there to comfort her.

Any thoughts please? I'm not here to get yelled at so please keep nasty comments to yourself, I really just need to get some points of view on this.
 
First thing I would do is to study the horses at Rockley Farm .... see Dillon with the wedges , shoes don't work, "supporting the heels" mean the heels retract. That's one problem
Second problem the tooth, the first question is, is she in pain, does it need to be removed now or will it need to be removed at some later date. I know that the bills can be astronomic for this, seemingly simple operation.
I agree loaning is not a likely option, and you have to leave for Uni suggests that you will have the summer to decide, and see how things progress. Me I would take the shoes off, give her a couple of months on a mineral supplemented diet, no sugars etc, give her a chance to enjoy the warm weather.
Decide later.
 
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What a horrible situation to be in. I'm afraid that if I was in your position I'd be looking at PTS. Does the extra tooth cause issues currently, if not I'd be tempted to let her have a summer of nice chilled out time then call the vet. I feel very sorry for you, it would be a heartbreaking decision and I assume you are young but your mare could easily live another 14yrs even if you found 2K for the tooth, could you afford her for this sort of time?
 
Currently she's not in pain, she eats fine but it will definitely need to come out. I was thinking the same about letting her have the summer to enjoy herself before deciding about having her PTS.

I'm only 19, so with 3 years worth of uni debt, I'm not so sure I could afford another 14 years for, and I hate to say it like it makes her worth less to me, a horse that can't even be worked properly.

Do you think the vet would agree about having the mare PTS under these circumstances?
 
I'm another that would think, shoes off, barefoot diet and leave the tooth well alone unless she is having trouble eating.
 
As she is 14 and presumably had the tooth for all her adult life, unless it is now for some reason causing her problems, I think I would speak to your vet about leaving it, the dentist may be correct that it could cause issues but the chances are her feet will be of primary concern in the longer term, removal of the tooth when she is already semi retired is probably pointless.

Her feet are another matter, putting wedged shoes on to the raise the heels will give short term relief and make them appear better but will not cure the problem of her having weak or collapsed heels, I would look at taking her barefoot to see if she can develop her heels, you would need to look at her management and diet but it would be worthwhile if she comes sound and maybe could be turned away fully retired if you no longer want to ride her.
if you pts no one will yell at you, or no one on here should as it is better than trying to pass her on or have her living in pain with you struggling to maintain her.
 
Gallopgirl95 said:
I have to start this post by saying that I love my mare, she truly taught me more than any other horse has and this is so hard to even type.

I have a 14 year old mare who just seems to be falling apart. Last year we found she had cysts in both her front heels, so she has been semi-retired with some (expensive!) heel elevating shoes on now and can only be ridden in walk. She still has lame days despite the corrective shoes and there's nothing that can change that. She's not in any pain but it's still incredibly disheartening.

Now I've had the dentist out and they've found she's got a supernumerary tooth which could cost about £2000 to remove. She's not insured and I don't have anything near that sort of money, I could cry with how much this has stressed me out.

I don't know what to do. I'm leaving for university in September and part of me wonders if it wouldn't be better to put the mare down. It would be very hard finding a loaner willing to take on a mare that, even though she's semi-retired, is expensive to keep because of her shoes. I also worry that if she goes lame and it gets worse (i.e, if she started hurting) then I wouldn't be there to help her, and I can't stand the thought of her being in pain and me not being there to comfort her.

Any thoughts please? I'm not here to get yelled at so please keep nasty comments to yourself, I really just need to get some points of view on this.
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It shouldn't cost 2k to have one tooth removed. Get a second opinion and ring around and get quotes from other specialist dentist vets/vets that do dentistry.
 
Along with x-rays and after care etc. it will come to around 2k. I've looked round on other posts on here, and also googled it and this seems to be the general agreement on how much the removal of a supernumerary tooth.

I'm trying to call up other local vets and dentist to find out what they say but at the end of the day I don't want to find a super cheap price and then have a botched job done which results in loads of aftercare
 
Read the link in my signature, there is nothing bad about deciding to put to sleep a horse with issues over passing it on through loan or sale.

You will get probably almost 100% support on here but I agree, you have the summer, take your time to think it all through and I second taking the shoes off...absolutely.
Bless you, this must be so upsetting, but remember that pts is not the worst fate than can befall a horse. Xxx
 
From what you have said there are basically two issues you have brought to light with regard PTS they both revolve around your question will the vet agree.
The vet should not refuse whatever request you make !
However if you are asking will it fit within the BEVA guidelines so the insurance pays out ,that is very unlikely unless she gets worse.
To be totally honest I would not even consider the tooth extraction as the foot problems are likely to compromise her future more.
Please talk to your vet and farrier about her shoeing as they know the horse and what they consider best. It is very easy to say take the shoes off on here but none of the posters know the full picture.
Maybe it would be the right thing if she is going into the field for the summer but get their opinion first.

I agree with GG there are a lot worse things that happen to horses! If I am honest I am not a great advocate of the give them the summer idea ,I am not saying rush your decision but once you have made your mind up it is better dealt with straight away!
 
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popsdosh said:
...but none of the posters know the full picture.
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Don't suppose anyone knows the full picture, but there is no getting away from the fact that you can't fix a pathology in the foot by fitting a shoe.

The absence of a shoe will permit the horse to strengthen its caudal hoof, engage its heel and land correctly, thus providing the best opportunity for recovery.
 
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