Bad news from the vet 😢

[exracehorse]

I have to speak to the vet Monday. As it will be five days. She’s still very lame. I have Woody next to her as a companion. They have been field friends for 8 years. She is eating her meds. I’m putting the stuff on the back of her leg. Cold hosing etc. She’s eating her hay. But .. she looks sad. The swelling at the back of her leg is awful. And hot. I can feel her pulse throbbing on her leg. I don’t think she will pull through this one. And I don’t know how she will cope with three more months on top of this. Plus.. her other leg is wonky anyway after tearing her annular and check ligament years back. She’s been a field ornament practically since I bought her. Her legs are basically falling apart. But she’s always had a good canter in the field. And been a happy little horse. Unless it’s a miracle and there is a massive improvement over next two days. Then I know the decision. I would have given her the five days as the vet encouraged

 

[TPO]

So sorry

Thinking of you at this difficult time x

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Is she not bandaged at all?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

hi i made this video for you if it helps.

first clip, when I caught her in from the enclosure she was in on the 22nd march

vet came out 23rd March injected intro bute which made no difference on that day ..... followed by me giving her day next day 2 sachets bute daily( and still on 2 as waiting for vet to view this video and advise on next step)

2nd clip 24th March day after after vet saw her
3rd clip 27th March ( vet yet to see this as she is away)


lots of improvement in a short time.

i been down this route with my other mare so had a head start. She did check ligament and collateral ligament, so I had done all my research into aid to heal and vets could not help but be amazed as the start and she continues healing..

I Iceboot 3 times a day
bandage at night
and I have put her on Pharmahorse collagen - which is the key to her healing brilliant stuff, I have bought her a huge tub this time as I will keep her on it.
Not bad comfort levels in such a short time just 2 weeks just under

 

[exracehorse]

hi i made this video for you if it helps.

first clip, when I caught her in from the enclosure she was in on the 22nd march

vet came out 23rd March injected intro bute which made no difference on that day ..... followed by me giving her day next day 2 sachets bute daily( and still on 2 as waiting for vet to view this video and advise on next step)

2nd clip 24th March day after after vet saw her
3rd clip 27th March ( vet yet to see this as she is away)


lots of improvement in a short time.

i been down this route with my other mare so had a head start. She did check ligament and collateral ligament, so I had done all my research into aid to heal and vets could not help but be amazed as the start and she continues healing..

I Iceboot 3 times a day
bandage at night
and I have put her on Pharmahorse collagen - which is the key to her healing brilliant stuff, I have bought her a huge tub this time as I will keep her on it.
Not bad comfort levels in such a short time just 2 weeks just under

Thank you for your reply. Indy is just like the first clip. In your video. It’s awful to watch. She seemed more perkier today. But on box rest and bute etc. pulse is not so strong in the leg. Have to speak to vet tomorrow. Indy is 24 so legs are not great.

 

[exracehorse]

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

View attachment 110622

lovely mare. The mare in my clip is nearly 18 and has advanced Navicular too.

 

[Fjord]

View attachment 110622

What a beautiful face, such a striking eye.

 

[exracehorse]

What a beautiful face, such a striking eye.

Yes. She’s an American Saddlebred. Has a brown eye. And a flecked blue eye.

 

[PSD]

Only just caught up with this thread. Really sad to read it, how is she exracehorse?

 

[exracehorse]

Only just caught up with this thread. Really sad to read it, how is she exracehorse?

Yesterday, I spoke to the hunt master about access to the yard. Availability. Today, she seems so much better. Obviously still lame. But swelling reduced. And moving better in her stable. However.. I realise that on box rest, plus pain relief, she probably will improve. I spoke to vet. As it’s 5 days. It’s basically my call. IF she continues to improve. Then box rest four weeks in total. Still cold hose. Anti inflammatory etc. Then two months in a very small field enclosure. I think it’s a case of taking day by day this week. As tomorrow is another day. And she may go downhill. It’s a head and heart situation. I absolutely do NOT want her to suffer. And I can give the hunt master 24 hours. I had in my mind her being shot this week. But she looked so much better today. But is it also fair to put her through box rest. Field rest. She’s 24. With previous ligament issues on her other leg. I’m quite prepared to make that call.

 

[meleeka]

A local vet has something similar going on with her own horse. I don’t agree with hew views sometimes, but I thought of you when I saw it. She’s opting to carry on with her old horse.

It might help to read her updates https://www.facebook.com/southcoastequinevets

 

[Cragrat]

Yesterday, I spoke to the hunt master about access to the yard. Availability. Today, she seems so much better. Obviously still lame. But swelling reduced. And moving better in her stable. However.. I realise that on box rest, plus pain relief, she probably will improve. I spoke to vet. As it’s 5 days. It’s basically my call. IF she continues to improve. Then box rest four weeks in total. Still cold hose. Anti inflammatory etc. Then two months in a very small field enclosure. I think it’s a case of taking day by day this week. As tomorrow is another day. And she may go downhill. It’s a head and heart situation. I absolutely do NOT want her to suffer. And I can give the hunt master 24 hours. I had in my mind her being shot this week. But she looked so much better today. But is it also fair to put her through box rest. Field rest. She’s 24. With previous ligament issues on her other leg. I’m quite prepared to make that call.

Such a deeply difficult time, and the hardest of choices to make, pretty much on a daily basis. I hugely admire how strong you are being for her. You obviously have her best interests at heart, you are fully aware of all her additional problems, and whatever decisions you make, they absolutely will be the right ones for your unique and much loved horse. Please be kind to yourself too.

 

[TPO]

A local vet has something similar going on with her own horse. I don’t agree with hew views sometimes, but I thought of you when I saw it. She’s opting to carry on with her old horse.

It might help to read her updates https://www.facebook.com/southcoastequinevets

I couldn't disagree with her sentiment more. So sick of "if the horse is still eating" rhetoric; eating is literally the last thing they give up on. Most people don't PTS their loved animal because doing the rehab is too hard/difficult for them as an owner. They choose that option in the best interest of the animal; over their own broken hard.

OP, I'd pick you as my owner over that vet any time.

 

[meleeka]

I couldn't disagree with her sentiment more. So sick of "if the horse is still eating" rhetoric; eating is literally the last thing they give up on. Most people don't PTS their loved animal because doing the rehab us too hard/difficult for them as an owner. They choose that option in the best interest of the animal; over their own broken hard.

OP, I'd pick you as my owner over that vet any time.

I totally agree with you. The comment about PTS being the easy option made me wince. I’m not saying it’s the right decision, I don’t think anyone can judge unless they’ve been there, and even then it probably depends on the horse, but thought it might be useful for OP to follow, if they decide to go down that route.

 

[TPO]

I totally agree with you. The comment about PTS being the easy option made me wince. I’m not saying it’s the right decision, I don’t think anyone can judge unless they’ve been there, and even then it probably depends on the horse, but thought it might be useful for OP to follow, if they decide to go down that route.

100% agree

As usual I forgot a point- my reply was aimed at that vet, not you

 

[PSD]

Yesterday, I spoke to the hunt master about access to the yard. Availability. Today, she seems so much better. Obviously still lame. But swelling reduced. And moving better in her stable. However.. I realise that on box rest, plus pain relief, she probably will improve. I spoke to vet. As it’s 5 days. It’s basically my call. IF she continues to improve. Then box rest four weeks in total. Still cold hose. Anti inflammatory etc. Then two months in a very small field enclosure. I think it’s a case of taking day by day this week. As tomorrow is another day. And she may go downhill. It’s a head and heart situation. I absolutely do NOT want her to suffer. And I can give the hunt master 24 hours. I had in my mind her being shot this week. But she looked so much better today. But is it also fair to put her through box rest. Field rest. She’s 24. With previous ligament issues on her other leg. I’m quite prepared to make that call.

Gosh what a difficult time for you. It’s so hard when you see them pick up, I remember when my previous horse seemed to pick up for a few days I had so much hope. But in the long run, her quality of life after recovery (laminitis) would have been dire so I opted to pts. Either way you very clearly have her interests solely at heart which is admirable and my heart goes out to you

 

[SEL]

Such a deeply difficult time, and the hardest of choices to make, pretty much on a daily basis. I hugely admire how strong you are being for her. You obviously have her best interests at heart, you are fully aware of all her additional problems, and whatever decisions you make, they absolutely will be the right ones for your unique and much loved horse. Please be kind to yourself too.

I love this post - exactly what I was thinking.

No one here can say what you should or shouldn't do but we all know how incredibly tough it is when our much loved horses get seriously hurt. I am thinking of you x

 

[Chianti]

I totally agree with you. The comment about PTS being the easy option made me wince. I’m not saying it’s the right decision, I don’t think anyone can judge unless they’ve been there, and even then it probably depends on the horse, but thought it might be useful for OP to follow, if they decide to go down that route.

I think the 'easy option' would upset many on here. It's never an easy thing to do to lead the horse you love so much out of its stable for the last time, and speak to it for the last time, to try to reassure it that it's really all ok - when it's obviously not. I appreciate that she was very stressed at the time but I could never use a vet who expressed an opinion like that.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Whom-on earth said pts was the easy option?

 

[meleeka]

Whom-on earth said pts was the easy option?

The vet linked above. She also said once she wouldn’t automatically medicate horses with cushings either, so I don’t think her opinion is actually worth a lot.

 

[splashgirl45]

That vet is talking rubbish, most of us on here have PTS and I’m sure they all felt the same as me, each time I have spent many sleepless nights trying to decide what is best for the horse and each time it was the worst thing I had to do , I have been with all of mine till the last minute and it never gets easier, but in hindsight I know I made the right decision at the right time for each of mine. It’s never the right time for me though, I think it’s easier to throw all the treatments at them so we can selfishly keep them for longer.. glad she isn’t my vet !!

 

[ycbm]

I couldn't disagree with her sentiment more. So sick of "if the horse is still eating" rhetoric; eating is literally the last thing they give up on. Most people don't PTS their loved animal because doing the rehab us too hard/difficult for them as an owner. They choose that option in the best interest of the animal; over their own broken heart.

I also feel that it's normal to be consumed by the upset of getting a horse through to the other side of the current issue and not think too much about what the likely future is for that horse, and what further pain is very likely even if they get through this bout.

That vet has a 23 year old with the appearance of the curly coat stage of cushings, which probably means a tumour on his pituitary which can only get worse. He ruptured a tendon in a hind leg while retired, an injury which is difficult to do, but he was not even working. What future of more tendon breakdown and descent into end stage cushings is he heading towards? I wouldn't disagree with anyone who thinks it would be kinder to let him go now at 23 than put him through a rehab of restricted movement for a very uncertain future.
.

 

[exracehorse]

Carolyn back out tomorrow to assess. As she’s seeing Joker for his teeth. We have had to put a very very small enclosure in front of her stable. So she feels like she is ‘out’ as she was kicking her door. And her back stifle was locking. Monday she looked much better. Yesterday ,, not so good. Yes she’s eating. Snoozing in the sun. But she’s still obviously very lame. And that’s with bute. Pain relief. Cold hosing. The chap from the hunt can come within 24/46 hrs notice. He can bring a 3.5 lorry as access to yard narrow. It’s an awful situation and I feel like a coiled spring. I know that from the vet seeing her on Thursday until now .. she would’nt be doing cart wheels. But how long. Will it heal even after three months rehab. Her age to consider. And is it fair on her. I’ve been slowly moving her field companion away from her in the yard as they have been buddies for 7 years. And putting Beau next to her for company.

 

[meleeka]

OP I hope you can get some clarity tomorrow. FWIW, I don’t think you have to decide anything immediately. She doesn’t sound like she’s miserable or in agony, so you can take a bit of time to come to a decision you feel is the right one.

 

[paddy555]

The vet linked above. She also said once she wouldn’t automatically medicate horses with cushings either, so I don’t think her opinion is actually worth a lot.

to understand if her opinion is worth a lot or not we need to know why she wouldn't automatically medicate for cushings. Can you remember her reasons?

 

[splashgirl45]

to understand if her opinion is worth a lot or not we need to know why she wouldn't automatically medicate for cushings. Can you remember her reasons

I would be more interested in her reasons if she wasn’t keeping a 23 year old alive with a catastrophic injury, IMO she isn’t thinking straight in this case

 

[meleeka]

to understand if her opinion is worth a lot or not we need to know why she wouldn't automatically medicate for cushings. Can you remember her reasons?

I’ll try and find the post. Basically if you can manage symptoms with clipping and no grass, why bother since it’s a horrible drug, or words to that effect. I believe hers is medicated though.

ETA. I found this, although it’s not the original post

 

[paddy555]

I’ll try and find the post. Basically if you can manage symptoms with clipping and no grass, why bother since it’s a horrible drug, or words to that effect. I believe hers is medicated though.

ETA. I found this, although it’s not the original post

thanks for that. I can see what she is saying.

 

[Fjord]

OP, just wanted to send you a hug. I hope you are OK.