devestated!! Ted being pts...how do I cope.

Ted's mum

Ted's mum

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Ted is my baby, one in a million and I love him sooo much...he has had everything he wanted, and now I cant even give him his life :mad:.....vet has been tonight as he took turn for worst - completely lame (non weight bearing) - he had a medial collateral ligament injury 2-3 years ago, and he has re-injured it...I am absolutely devastated and shook up so much, vet has said got 2 options...put him to sleep and let him be pain free or retire him and let him live in a field for the rest of his life on bute which in time will damage his kidneys/liver etc etc...thats no quality of life for him...please comment if you think I am making the wrong decision...I have to sleep on this and make a final decision by morning....has anybody got a little glimmer of hope for me?
ps he has had all the treatments possible ie - tildren and IRAP when first diagnosed...so obviously hasnt worked. someone mentioned cartrophen other day..please help I dont want to lose my bestest friend if I dont have to...xxx:(
 
Awful news.

Do you have your own land? If it doesn't cost you anything I would consider retiring him on bute until there are signs that it is damaging him and then do the right thing. It may give you a few more years.

If not, then I think the only thing you can do is make the hardest decision of all and let him go.

I have to say if I were in your shoes it would be the latter option.

Best wishes......
 
Ted's mum said:
Ted is my baby, one in a million and I love him sooo much...he has had everything he wanted, and now I cant even give him his life :mad:.....vet has been tonight as he took turn for worst - completely lame (non weight bearing) - he had a medial collateral ligament injury 2-3 years ago, and he has re-injured it...I am absolutely devastated and shook up so much, vet has said got 2 options...put him to sleep and let him be pain free or retire him and let him live in a field for the rest of his life on bute which in time will damage his kidneys/liver etc etc...thats no quality of life for him...please comment if you think I am making the wrong decision...I have to sleep on this and make a final decision by morning....has anybody got a little glimmer of hope for me?
ps he has had all the treatments possible ie - tildren and IRAP when first diagnosed...so obviously hasnt worked. someone mentioned cartrophen other day..please help I dont want to lose my bestest friend if I dont have to...xxx:(
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Sorry to hear this. Could you wait a bit longer and see how it goes before making a decision.I knows it seems harsh to keep him on bute,but many do and some ponies with lami are on it for a longtime.Do what you feel is right.Sorry cant be of anymore help.
 
Let him run pain free tomorrow. I am so sorry for you ((((hugs)))).

You wouldn't want him to be in pain for any longer than he needs to life on bute is not an enticing thought.

It is the kindest thing for you to do.

Please keep us posted (me especially.......will be thinking of you )

xx
 
you poor thing and your poor Ted. Hugs to you whatever you decide.

if non-weight bearing then it sounds pretty bad.

Being retired out in your field for a few years if life can be pain free on bute is one thing (ok will damage the liver eventually but if you can have some pain free years in the meantime and you are willing and able to keep your horse as a companion then I'd probably go for that, if it were me)..... however, if it will be a hideously long and painful road to get there, personally I'm not sure I'd put me or the horse through that and would instead pts.

if I were you I'd push your vet to give you more info on chances of the horse being pain-free at least for a while, or whether pts is the best option.

hugs
 
You know your horse and how he would take the paddock retirement.

Maybe some folk on here can offer you some advice on long term retirement with pain relief to make the horse paddock sound.

I am so sorry this is the **** part of animal ownership having to make the hard decisions.

I will say my stock phrase "trust your gut" it will normally give you the right answer.

If it is the hard answer you get take comfort from the knowledge that you are doing the right thing for a much loved friend pts with dignity and love is not a bad thing.

Sleep on it (if you can) and take advice from your trusted professionals then trust your gut and your knowledge of your horse.

All the best x
 
Hugs
Its horrible, with my own mare who could barley walk we got her PTS. It was awful, but a horse is a horse and should be able to gallop etc, its only natural.
 
I'm so sorry that this has happened. From what you have written I would have him PTS if he was mine. Yes, he is your best friend, I understand this but his condition sounds very serious, very painful and with little hope for recovery.

I have known two horses that were kept alive far longer than they should have been. Because I have seen this I promiced my girls that I would never put them through that.

Yes, it will hurt like hell and you heart will be broken, but if he's at the point where he is suffering too much it is a kindness to PTS.

I'm so sorry that you are in this situation.

When you see him tomorrow morning you will know in your heart what is the right thing to do.
 
I just love him more than anythign in the world, I really do..and he loves me too...you can tell he looks to me for confidence...when the vet was nerve blocking earlier he was just looking in my eyes as if to say save me mum from that nasty vet who is injecting me...I cant stop crying
 
it is natural to feel like this. Try and rest tonight,perhaps have a glass of wine to relax and TRY and get a little sleep. Be up early and trust your gut instinct. You are stronger than you think. Go over it again with your vet first thing in the morning.

Have you got people who can be around you tonight and tomorrow?
 
thanks all for your kind words.....I am going to bed now in a bit...yes I have my mum with me. I will let you all know what happens in the morning.x
 
I am so sorry to hear this... I can't offer any advice really but do what you feel is best. We (vets, my mum and I) have decided that my pony (who is only just 7) will have to be put down in the very near future so I've spent most of the week crying so you have my sympathy.
*hugs* x
 
We have kept horses on daily bute for at least 3 years, with magnet boots to boost them BUT that was for general arthritic conditions. If he can't weightbear then I would think that it is unlikely that bute would make him comfortable enough to make him field sound. If you are going to retire a horse then you owe it to it to make sure that it can keep up with the herd in normal daily horse-life. Otherwise they feel very vulnerable.
I do think that your vet should be offering more of an opinion on what is the best thing to do for your horse's welfare.
FWIW, if Ted were mine (& I have my own land) I would pts rather than risk any further suffering. It is always a really hard decision but has to be made in the interests of the horse, which I am sure you will do.
 
I am very sorry to hear this news.
I retired my mare to the field at the age of 6, but she was field sound and patently happy and not in any pain, she just looks stiff from time to time. I think you know if the time has come to let them go, and if Ted is going to suffer then the time has come to make the last, kindest, decision for him. He will understand.
x
 
Tinypony said:
I am very sorry to hear this news.
I retired my mare to the field at the age of 6, but she was field sound and patently happy and not in any pain, she just looks stiff from time to time. I think you know if the time has come to let them go, and if Ted is going to suffer then the time has come to make the last, kindest, decision for him. He will understand.
x
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this has really made me well up...I am so lost on what to do...
 
What a heartbreaking situation.

You need to look at this from the outside in, if he was a friends horse what would you advise them to do. Also is your vet a pessamist or an optimist, I have had both with a vet with a pessamist I would follow a bit of my own instinct and give a little time and try things, however an optimistic vet and they are advising PTS you know you need to take their advice.

As he is non weight bearing, it does sound bad and you need to have a good long chat with your vet and discuss all your options and ask their advice so you know in your heart that when you have to make that final call you have done the best you can, and the best for him. Get it straight in your head, and get all questions answered that you need to ask, and make the best decision for him. It is going to hurt like hell and for a long time, but eventually you will have the memories to start smiling again through the tears.

As the saying goes if you love something, you have to set them free.
 
I went through this last year and really feel for you.
The kindest thing to do is put him to sleep, if you can stay strong for him. I stayed with my mare and held her while the vet injected her so her mummy was by her side the whole time. I than stayed with her in the stable hugging her saying my goodbyes. I didn't know how I would cope but you will and don't be afraid to cry, I did lots. But I'm so glade I stayed with her until the very end.
 
I really feel for you - it is just so awful being faced with this decision. I have a 21 year old who has been on Danilon for some years to keep him comfortable in the field. He has arthritis and has a deformed foot. However, he is quite happy to potter about in the field with his friend and never makes any attempt to gallop about. On the other hand, I have just had a beautiful, 11 yr old mare PTS. I was faced with the same alternatives as you and tried her on pain medication for a while. However, it did no good and she didn't even want to go out of her stable as she obviously felt happier on a deep, soft bed than on the hard ground in the field. She had the same look in her eyes that your Ted has - complete trust. This made the decision even harder, but it was the only decision to be made in her case. When she was gone, I felt immense relief that she was pain-free at last but incredible loss and sadness. Big hug coming your way. x
 
Happytohack said:
I really feel for you - it is just so awful being faced with this decision. I have a 21 year old who has been on Danilon for some years to keep him comfortable in the field. He has arthritis and has a deformed foot. However, he is quite happy to potter about in the field with his friend and never makes any attempt to gallop about. On the other hand, I have just had a beautiful, 11 yr old mare PTS. I was faced with the same alternatives as you and tried her on pain medication for a while. However, it did no good and she didn't even want to go out of her stable as she obviously felt happier on a deep, soft bed than on the hard ground in the field. She had the same look in her eyes that your Ted has - complete trust. This made the decision even harder, but it was the only decision to be made in her case. When she was gone, I felt immense relief that she was pain-free at last but incredible loss and sadness. Big hug coming your way. x
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my grandad passed away earlier this year which has been devestating to say the least - Ted helped me get through that..which makes it harder again...its just so hard and I really dont know what to do...I am going to have another chat with vet this morning too seek any alternatives but I wont hold out much hope to be honest...xx
 
I really feel your pain too. Sadly I had my beautiful horse PTS yesterday under similar circumstances. I fought for over a year to make him sound, keep him happy as a companion but I think I was just putting off the inevitable and spent most of that year worrying about him and thinking about that decision. The outcome was always going to be the same unfortunately, and even after booking the kennels I wavered and searched for different outcomes but I was determined that I had to do it, so that he wouldnt have to live the life that stretched in front of him. He didnt know what was going to happen and I hope I gave him at least some happy times with the sun on his back and a belly full of grass and carrots just being a horse before his time came.

I am still a bit stunned by it all and I do feel very guilty about the decision but I know that I have made the right decision. The support for HHOers has been so lovely and everyone helped reassure me that as a responsible horse owner I had done the right thing even though I felt awful at having to play God. I am starting to feel relief that he isnt in pain or stressed anymore.

Stay strong, you have done everything that can for him and if the vets are doubtful he will ever be pain free again then you must weigh up whether you can put him and yourself through more pain.
 
I'm soo sorry. I hadn't read this when we 'spoke' this morning.

Big, big hugs to you. It is always the hardest decision - but never the wrong decision.

xxxxxxxx
 
Jericho said:
I really feel your pain too. Sadly I had my beautiful horse PTS yesterday under similar circumstances. I fought for over a year to make him sound, keep him happy as a companion but I think I was just putting off the inevitable and spent most of that year worrying about him and thinking about that decision. The outcome was always going to be the same unfortunately, and even after booking the kennels I wavered and searched for different outcomes but I was determined that I had to do it, so that he wouldnt have to live the life that stretched in front of him. He didnt know what was going to happen and I hope I gave him at least some happy times with the sun on his back and a belly full of grass and carrots just being a horse before his time came.

I am still a bit stunned by it all and I do feel very guilty about the decision but I know that I have made the right decision. The support for HHOers has been so lovely and everyone helped reassure me that as a responsible horse owner I had done the right thing even though I felt awful at having to play God. I am starting to feel relief that he isnt in pain or stressed anymore.

Stay strong, you have done everything that can for him and if the vets are doubtful he will ever be pain free again then you must weigh up whether you can put him and yourself through more pain.
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I am so sorry I really do feel for you...its the hardest thing ever to go through...I just think I am trying to put it off...x
 
I am so so sorry you find yourself in this position. I think that you know your boy better than anyone and it's a decision only you can make.
If he would be happy pottering around the field and stay reasonably sane it may be worth trying it for a while and seeing how he goes. That is if you can get him weight bearing. Hobbling on 3 legs is no life for a young horse.
Also Danilon is better or them than Bute.
 
My 6 year old Harvey has been having treatment (shockwave therapy, cartrophen and box rest) over the last year for Gatrocnemius tendonitis (sp). The tendon has blown again, no chance of re-treating as the prognosis is so poor, at the moment he is on bute twice a day, and still in pain, does want to trot or play, he just doesn't seem happy at all.

Having discussed all options with my vet Harvey will be pts, probably next week as we are waiting for the insurance to make a decision on a mortality claim.

This has been the hardest decision i have ever had to make and i spend most of my time in tears, but i only have to look at him to know it has to be done, the bute might take the edge of who knows?, but he is still lame and in pain, the sparkle has gone from his eye, only the thought that soon he will be out of pain keeps me going, but it is never easy to lose a horse no matter what, but the fact he is still a baby makes it seem it that little bit harder.

I'm thinking of you as i now exactly how you feel, big hugs to you.
 
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