BEVA guidelines-putting horse to sleep

[kazg07]

Two weeks ago today, I had my horse put to sleep after finding him in the field with a badly broken leg. I immdediately knew when I saw it that it was a very severe injury and deep down I knew that he would have to be PTS. The vet immediately confirmed my fears and said he had broken his cannon bone and probably done a lot of damage to the knee also as it appeared deformed/indented. There was no stability in the leg whatsoever and he was in a lot of pain. He was immediately put to sleep as the vet and I agreed that this was the best option. However, she did ask me if I wanted to go down the route of splinting, transporting him to Edinburgh for x rays etc. There was no way I would have put him through the ordeal of a 4 hour drive and further suffering for the outcome to be the same. We agreed to put him to sleep which broke my heart but all agree this was the right decision. My boy was only insured for a small amount and since looking at my policy I am doubtful the insurance will pay out due to the BEVA guidelines and the fact that it states 'no other options of treatment were available to that horse at that time'. I have spoken to the vet and she says she will say it was the best decision for him and I have forwarded pictures of the injury to include with the claim. Has anyone had experience of anything similar? Are they likely to pay out or am I wasting my time? I'm seriously questioning the point of having insurance!

 

[MagicMelon]

Surely as long as the vet writes that it was their advice to put the horse to sleep as it was the best option for the horse then there should be no issue? Other options werent realistically available as like you say you couldnt fairly put the horse through a 4 hour drive with a broken leg probably for the same outcome. I would definately pursue and argue it!

 

[ihatework]

I’m really sorry for your loss. You did the right thing for your horse. I’m 99% sure you will get a payout under BEVA guidelines, your vet should support you on this.

 

[SirBrastias]

I had a similar incident a few years ago; pet plan payed out the horse's insured amount. However, I hadn't 'ticked' the disposal box when I originally took out the insurance and for a reason that alludes me now they refused to pay the vet costs (maybe because it wasn't 'treatment'). Got £500 for the horse and needed to pay £490 for vet bill and disposal.

Sorry you had to go through this - it must have been very difficult.

 

[dorsetladette]

I had a similar situation with my old boy 6 years ago. He was kicked in the field which caused a small swelling on his shoulder. We rested him and cold hosed it for a few days and it went away, he was never unsound on it. On the sunday I bought my daughter cob in to ride with a friend, the plan being that I would lunge my lad after we got back to see how he was before I rode him the following day. He took exception to this and charged down his field to the yard, skidded to a stop and then turned and twisted to run along the fence. As he twisted we heard an almighty crack, which we now know was the hairline fracture in his shoulder splitting.

The vet arrived and confirmed he had a brake in his shoulder. We discussed all the options, but at 24 I wasn't willing to put him through the surgery and rehab afterwards. or the trauma of the journey to the vets for the x rays and potentially the same outcome. My insurance paid out without question and the money arrived swiftly to cover the vet bills and the cover for loss of use. I was with pet plan on a veteran policy.

 

[Leandy]

I would be very surprised if they didn't pay out for a one off catastrophic injury such as that. All the more so if he is insured for vet's fees etc also because if that is the case you very likely took the cheaper course of action for them also.

 

[Follysmum]

I had a similar scenario with a young horse. Vet came out and did suggest splinting and taking him for xrays at local hospital which I did. The outcome was that they could of fused but vet said in his opinion it was more ethical to pts which I did. Insurers were fine with the vet report and paid out.

 

[w1bbler]

If the vet writes the report appropriately you should have no problem with a payout.
I had one pts at horsepital, long story short, 11pm at night extensive investigations & vet summary was a less than 10% chance of successful operation.
He warned me though that didn't really meet beva guidelines for immediate pts & I could leave him there on pain relief until am & seek permission from insurance for pts.
Obviously I wasn't going to leave him in a strange place overnight for the sake of a payout so the deed was done immediately.
I didn't see vets report, but insurance (nfu) paid without quibble.

 

[onemoretime]

OP just want to say how sorry I am for your dreadful loss and the experience that you have had to go through. As others have said if vet writes the report the insurance should pay up. Big hugs to you. x

 

[kazg07]

Thanks for the advice. When I spoke to vet she said she wasn't sure it would meet beva guidelines. On the claim form it is a yes or no tick box. However, I will speak with them again when I drop form off and ask them to say that they felt this was the best course of action. It really was as there was no way we could have moved him and if we had it would have been cruel.

 

[Frumpoon]

So sorry for your loss

 

[ycbm]

Thanks for the advice. When I spoke to vet she said she wasn't sure it would meet beva guidelines. On the claim form it is a yes or no tick box. However, I will speak with them again when I drop form off and ask them to say that they felt this was the best course of action. It really was as there was no way we could have moved him and if we had it would have been cruel.

I despair if we have reached the point where a horse with a broken leg does not meet BEVA guidelines for euthanasia.

I'm so sorry you lost him that way but you did the right thing.

.

 

[bonny]

Does your vet report say the horse had a broken leg or that it could be broken ? I think the payout will depend on that

 

[Rob1585]

Here’s a complete list of what is covered under BEVA guidelines.

https://www.beva.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/ResourcesForVets/Humane Destruction.pdf

Sorry a bit gruesome question but was his cannon bone in a straight line? Or did it bend in the middle. If it did it is a displaced long bone fracture so would be covered under BEVA rules as you can’t fix that type of fracture.

 

[kazg07]

Here’s a complete list of what is covered under BEVA guidelines.

https://www.beva.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/ResourcesForVets/Humane Destruction.pdf

Sorry a bit gruesome question but was his cannon bone in a straight line? Or did it bend in the middle. If it did it is a displaced long bone fracture so would be covered under BEVA rules as you can’t fix that type of fracture.

No it most definitely was not. I have photos of the injury which I have sent to the vet. I could share but doubt people want to see these as they are not pleasant.

 

[kazg07]

Does your vet report say the horse had a broken leg or that it could be broken ? I think the payout will depend on that

They were certain it was broken, it was very obvious. I haven't had a report from vet as yet.

 

[[131452]]

It should be OK if vet confirms there was no way to make the horse field sound. I had mine PTS when his DDFT went , he could have been denerved and medicated up to his eye balls but vet said even then he will be in some pain so I couldn't put him through that. Loss of horse claim was refused. Vet said the BEVA guidelines when the issue is lameness are usually only met when there's a broken leg with bones visible or similar. Your scenario may well qualify if it was such a terrible break
9 months later I had my 5 YO PTS due to being a wobbler and NFU accepted it without a quibble.




Sorry just re-read your post. If the leg wasn't xrayed and therefore it couldn't be proven that it was severely broken you will be lucky if the insurance pays out. But if it was badly broken and either visible on xray or bones visible through skin then you should be ok.

So sorry for your loss. A similar situation happened at a local riding centre recently, the whole place was in shock. I feel for you.?

 

[kazg07]

It should be OK if vet confirms there was no way to make the horse field sound. I had mine PTS when his DDFT went , he could have been denerved and medicated up to his eye balls but vet said even then he will be in some pain so I couldn't put him through that. Loss of horse claim was refused. Vet said the BEVA guidelines when the issue is lameness are usually only met when there's a broken leg with bones visible or similar. Your scenario may well qualify if it was such a terrible break
9 months later I had my 5 YO PTS due to being a wobbler and NFU accepted it without a quibble.




Sorry just re-read your post. If the leg wasn't xrayed and therefore it couldn't be proven that it was severely broken you will be lucky if the insurance pays out. But if it was badly broken and either visible on xray or bones visible through skin then you should be ok.

So sorry for your loss. A similar situation happened at a local riding centre recently, the whole place was in shock. I feel for you.?

It really is awful. No he wasn't x rayed as i wouldn't have put him through the unnecessary travel, pain and trauma to be told his leg was broken, which was clear for anyone to see. I just think it is very wrong that insurance operates in this way. I did what was best for my horse, nothing else and in future doubt I will bother insuring.

 

[ihatework]

It really is awful. No he wasn't x rayed as i wouldn't have put him through the unnecessary travel, pain and trauma to be told his leg was broken, which was clear for anyone to see. I just think it is very wrong that insurance operates in this way. I did what was best for my horse, nothing else and in future doubt I will bother insuring.

Insurance doesn’t operate in that way. You need to take this up with the vet practice

 

[MrsMozartleto]

I've had horses put to sleep when there was treatment of a sort, etc., but the horses wouldn't have had any quality of life and only got worse. Vets were in total agreement. Insurance paid out, albeit after a couple of discussions.

Very sorry for your loss.

 

[Emilieu]

I think it also depends who you insure with. It was a condition of my insurance that a post-mortem report be submitted for a loss of life claim. I hadn’t had a PM done as insurance was the furthest thing from my mind at the time, but when I spoke to them on the phone they told me to submit the claim anyway. I did so without much hope at all and they promptly paid out with no challenges. I was so impressed. So, you never know.
I’m so sorry for your loss.

 

[mavandkaz]

I think it also depends who you insure with. It was a condition of my insurance that a post-mortem report be submitted for a loss of life claim. I hadn’t had a PM done as insurance was the furthest thing from my mind at the time, but when I spoke to them on the phone they told me to submit the claim anyway. I did so without much hope at all and they promptly paid out with no challenges. I was so impressed. So, you never know.
I’m so sorry for your loss.

I had this recently, and unfortunately my insurance stick to their guns and have refused to pay out.

I don't normally insure, and has reminded why I don't bother

OP, sorry for your loss

 

[ponyparty]

What on earth, I can't believe I'm reading this. How could they not pay out for that sort of injury? Or expect the animal to be travelled for X ray in that state, which is a welfare issue?
My boy broke his leg in the field a few weeks ago. My YO kindly took photos of his leg (after PTS) which - although you could already clearly see it was hanging at a gruesome angle - she and the vet moved the leg to make it crystal clear in the photos that this leg was catatrophically injured beyond saving. I was insured with NFU and they paid out no problem, on the basis of the photos and vet report.
I didn't see the photos and I turned away while they took them. I'm not usually squeamish but couldn't deal with it when it was my own beloved horse on the ground.

 

[Murphy88]

Sorry for your loss OP. If the leg was deformed to a degree that you could conclusively tell it was broken without x-rays (ie a complete, displaced fracture) then to me that easily meets BEVA guidelines and I would have no trouble writing that in an insurance report. However if not that conclusive, then without x-rays or a postmortem examination of the fracture they might argue, as cannon bone fractures are commonly repaired in racehorses and can make a full recovery - it sounds like you absolutely made the right decision for your horse, but this might be what the insurance uses.

 

[ponyparty]

Sorry for your loss OP. If the leg was deformed to a degree that you could conclusively tell it was broken without x-rays (ie a complete, displaced fracture) then to me that easily meets BEVA guidelines and I would have no trouble writing that in an insurance report. However if not that conclusive, then without x-rays or a postmortem examination of the fracture they might argue, as cannon bone fractures are commonly repaired in racehorses and can make a full recovery - it sounds like you absolutely made the right decision for your horse, but this might be what the insurance uses.

Ah now I suppose that makes sense. From the OP (and probably coloured by my own recent experience) I had just assumed that it was a cut and dried case.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I'm so sorry for your loss, OP. In my view you made exactly the right decision and I hope your vet is supportive and the insurance company behave.

I think it's really sad that owners might be pressured into doing more treatment than might be best for the horse because of insurance considerations.

 

[xDundryx]

Funnily I have just posted a thread about our horse who we lost recently and have had this exact arguement with his insurance company to no avail. I would hope that yours is a bit more cut and dry but it does sound like without xraysof the leg they wont pay. It boggles my mind that they will put an animal through attempts at treatment for a period of time which in the end will cost more than PTS and/or value payments. The welfare of the animal seems to come low on the list of considerations.

 

[Misty 2020]

Sorry for you loss you made the right decision. my friend horses broke its leg in the field and insurance companie refused to pay out because my friend didn’t X-ray it. My friend had a fight with the insurance companie and was able to get the money .