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

Have a good think about it, let it sink in before making any decisions just yet, your obviously very upset right now.

Remember you could always give him 2 or 6 months to a year in retirement with his treatment, then have him PTS, should you want the best of both options, by then you will be able to see how he's coping and should you wish have him PTS sooner then you can and you know it will be right, or you may find that he's coping ok and wish to let him have longer, but be warned this could be more painful for you this way when the time comes, either way, you'll know what is right for your horse, all I'm saying is you think about it when your head is a bit clearer.
(((Hugs))))
 
the thing that makes it so hard is that he is his same old happy go lucky self, still pulling silly little faces for a polo or ginger biccie...it makes it a whole lot harder for me..than if he was genuinely ill looking with no will to live...he just wants to live and loves life imo...xx
 
Ted's mum said:
the thing that makes it so hard is that he is his same old happy go lucky self, still pulling silly little faces for a polo or ginger biccie...it makes it a whole lot harder for me..than if he was genuinely ill looking with no will to live...he just wants to live and loves life imo...xx
Click to expand...

I know it makes it harder but if he genuinly was looking ill with no will to live then you would have left it too late.

For a week or two take some time out and let it all sink in as per Kenzo's suggestion.
 
I read a quote once, and I am writing from memory here, but the gist of it was:

The greatest thing we can do for those companions who have given us so much, is to know when to let them go.

You will know when that moment is.
 
I'm so so sorry that you've been put into such a hard situation *Big hugs for you and Ted*.

This part of horse, or any animal ownership for that matter is always the hardest. You want the best for them and for them to be happy and pain free but you also want them in your life too and trying to find the medium is unfortunately not always possible.

I would personally have him PTS and let him run free, pain free, in horsey heaven. I couldn't personally live knowing what was to come if he was in pain or on bute for however long. Take a day, week or even a month to consider what YOU feel is right for the both of you because only you, as Ted's mum can decide that.

As hard as it may seem now, remember the good times and all the joy and happiness that Ted will have undoubtedly have given you over the time you've had him. I know it sounds daft but the day after Pippin, my old section A got put to sleep at the grand old age of 28, I made a scrapbook of all our photos and wrote down all of our most memorable moments together and everything I could remember about her - all the tricks she'd do, faces she'd pull, everything. And I still read it today, 8 years down the line.

I know you'll make the right decision by Ted and you. I'll be thinking of you. Keep us posted :)
xxxx
 
So sorry for you :(
You know your boy best, do what you feel is right.
Giving him a pain free end to life seems the best option but it's your decision
Again I am so so sorry **hugs**
 
It's never an easy decision and it's a horrible place tobe in but i would trust your vet and your own instincts on this one.

The fact he is non-weight bearing is not good. I would say if he was ok, but a bit pottery and if you had your own land so cost wasn't an issue then I would be inclined to turn him away on bute-less or similar (not bute as that does affect the liver - been there with that one!) and see how he went. I think it will only be you who will truly know if he's had enough.
I assume he has definitely re-injured it again and it couldn't be something else?

I only ask as our TB was non-weight bearing on one leg last year for a period of time. It was actually caused by an abscess although we thought it had to be something more horrendous. I am sure your vet knows though and has obviously checked thoroughly. Sorry, that bit probably hasn't helped.

As i said though you DO know when you've done all you can. At the end of the day we have to do what is in the best interest of the animal and not ourselves.
 
I would listen to your horse and not your vet to be honest. Even a three legged horse can be quite happy, but a slightly lame one can be miserable with it. So long as he's happy and not distressed who cares if he has a limp! If he is sad and miserable then its a different story.

I would experiment with the amount of bute required to keep him happy in the field. I know a horse who was on 1-2 sachets of bute daily for 24 years before finally dying aged 37!! And my old mare has been a sachet daily (occaisonally 2) for 9 years. It's a similar principal to us with painkillers - don't feed on an empty stomach and they chances of digestive upset will be massively reduced. Your horse shouldn't really ever have an empty stomach so there shouldn't be a problem!
 
What an awful decision, I have been there so know how you feel. However I have a different thought to others.
I will tell you the story of my mare, in July 2009 all the horses escaped she jumped a gate but didnt make it she fell whilst landing and tore her Tuberlacarpulas (sp) ligament, (at the time we didnt know this) she had a massive skin flap to her fetlock and many other cuts, the vet heavily sedated and dressed her wounds, she gave her the strongest painkiller but when she came out of sedation she was in agony and so affraid, she wouldnt stand on her left hind (the injured) and would wobble on her remaining good hind, everyone thought this was the cut and nothing was looked into, 2 weeks down the line and still in the same condition on 2 sachets of bute twice daily. The vets decided it was more than the cut as that had by this point nearly healed. He took xrays, no fracture, he ultra sounded her and saw the tear, at this point she was still hobbling non-weight bearing on the injured leg and had lost all her muscle. He looked at me and said i think we need to make a decision the hardest you will make but i dont think she will ever improve and needs to be PTS. I spent the night crying into her mane I didnt know what to do, other than the back end she was still my Caramac and I adored her there had to be something. I cancelled the vet and decided I would exhaust every option before I dedcided to say goodbye, she was comfortable. I weaned her from the bute and put her on devils claw, she also wore bioflow boots and appeared in the same amount of discomfort then I looked into Mctimoney and shiatsu massage she had a treatment once weekly to start with, the vet's words were when I asked if this was ok were well it cant hurt. Within a month of treatments and 3months rest she could hobble on the bad leg, all I wanted was her to be feild sound. I then went down to every other week for the treatments. After 5 months of rest and treatments she was sound enough to be walked in hand, 4 weeks after that I could turn her out, she would come in hoping and still on the pain relief but things started to improve. Now 1 year since her accident she is field sound, I am lucky enough to have my own land so she has permenant turnout and as much time as she needs. Never for a moment was I prepared to say goodbye then sit and say 'I wonder if' for the rest of my life. I know her story isnt similar but sometimes we are to quick to say goodbye, Caramac has proved that, I have told you this story as it shows sometimes they do come feild sound but they need time. I adored her and would never of carried on if when I walked into her stable she looked at me with a look of enough is enough, she never did she always had fight and a glint.
You will know if the time is right, dont feel pressured follow your heart, your head and your horse, you know him better than anyone else.
to put a horse to sleep is a brave and kind decision.
x
 
Jesper was pts a week ago today due to complications from MCL. He was 11yrs old but had been diagnosed when he was 8yrs old. He retired last Feb and was field sound up until December when he required low level bute temporarily. He then became field sound with medication again in Feb but this June required bute again. We made the decision this would be his last summer and hence kept him on 2 bute a day and he was happy pottering round and full of beans.
Two weeks ago I went down and he was clearly unhappy. He was considerably more lame, not weight bearing evenly and looked 'down' even on two bute a day. We upped it to four bute and spoke with our vets (who had seen him a few weeks previously for routine jabs). The vets advised if he wasn't comfortable on four bute a day he was telling us something. They gave us some metacam which he had for two days whilst we pampered and preened him and said our goodbyes. Friday broke my heart, I never thought I'd say goodbye to him this soon but I can say hand on heart it was the right thing. We suspect he either injured his MCL (it was actually his 'good' foot he was lame on) or his DDFT due to compensating for his bad foot.
You know your horse and whilst it is heartbreaking to lose one so young (I also had an 8yr old put down many years ago for MCL) it is not fair to keep them in pain.
Thinking of you at this difficult time and I'm sure whatever you decide is the right decision for you both.
 
((Hugs)) I'm so sorry. I've been through similar, and it's awful to have to make these decisions. It feels like you're playing god, and I hated that feeling.

I'm sure you'll do what's best for him. I think the vet's advice is best to follow. In my experience all the vets I've known will never recommend PTS unless it really is the best thing for the horse.

xxx
 
So sorry to read this, Ted's Mum.

I read recently that when making this decision, the owner should ask him/herself if the animal in question could perform natural behaviours and so live stress/pain free. For a horse this involves being able to run away through fear of predation, roll and get up, eat and drink. If doing any of those things causes fear, stress and/or pain, then the noble thing is to PTS.

Hugs at this difficult time. xx
 
Oh *****. I am so sorry hun.

When Tigs was diagnosed I thought I'd have a large field ornament for life. It took a couple of days to dawn on me that she probably wouldn't have long. Then, despite being on Bute, she couldn't turn properly. She looked at me, and I knew. I spoke to the vets/Friend/husband/daughters, but I knew. I spent an afternoon with her and the others in the paddock, she nudged me about, rested her head on me and stayed near me. When a couple of the others tried to chase her off her hay pile I went after them. If I hadn't known before, I would have known then. She was no longer quick enough, couldn't turn fast enough. Then she couldn't stale properly.

It's absolute pants hun.

I realise it is now the afternoon of the day you were going to make the decision. I don't know what you chose (and I realise the word 'chose' is not the best, sorry).
 
Ted's mum said:
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
Click to expand...

Thank you for your kind words. If I could give you a hug I so would and I am crying as I type because I know how you must be feeling.

It was especially hard that my boy like yours was looking fantastic condition wise and was pretty happy at the the time, he was just enjoying the summer and the good grass and no rugs. He also neighed to me when I went to get him in for the last time, ambled in, gave me a good old shove and just like your boy completely trusting as I let him be led off by a strange man. BUT I knew once summer was over he would be bad again and that I owed it to him not to let him feel like that. I certainly know looking back now that I much rather he had been as he was than with a lot more pain and fear and without that sparkle and trust to his eye. It might have made me feel better to feel like I was 'ending' the suffering when it was really bad but actually surely it was better to end it before his condition and his mind got progressively worse (which we knew it would) and suffering and the stress began to really make his life a misery.

Someone said to me that it would be nicer to remember him like that and nicer for him to feel like that than for him to look and feel miserable and in pain. Better than a week too soon than a day too late was another phrase that helped me.

However, dont rush the decision - you have to give yourself time to rationally go through all the options, see yourself and him in your minds eye in each option and then go with your gut feeling. Maybe a few months of him on strong painkillers may give you some time to do this, maybe the vets feel that this isnt really an option. If you feel there is more treatment that could help him and have a really good chance of working then think about both situations of trying and not trying.

Big hugs again....xxx
 
I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time of it, and hope you are able to make the right decision.

A friend is going through the same process at the moment, and her mantra is "better a month too soon than a day too late". You really don't want to let things get to the stage where Ted is genuinely suffering.
 
first of all hugs for you and hugs for ted.
Alfie was on danillon daily as i couldnt bear to put him to sleep at the time, it affected his liver very quickly and we had to pts.
if i had a magic wand it would give you an answer.
hope you find the courage and that ted finds peace x
 
Been there with my lovely 11 yo last year. If you love him as I am sure you do, then if he can't really be a horse any longer and enjoy his life, do the right thing. I have a tear in my eye writing this but you will get better in time and eventually be able to talk about the wonderful horse you had and all the pleasure he gave you. Be brave and try to keep control while the vet has to do what he has to. The horse will sense if you are very upset and it will make the job of the vet (none of them enjoy this part of their work)even harder. One last thing, if your horse has a companion it is better for the companion to see the body and know their pal isn't going to be around anymore. It was so hard to watch my horse's pal realise the reality but better that way than him pinning for his friend and worrying where he was. So so sorry for you but all part of being a responsible owner, take care.
 
ted is his usual happy self, he is also weight bearing now too - we even went for a very short inhand walk to have a munch on some grass earlier...I am in 2 minds whether to try and get him paddock sound and turn him away to retire until he feels it's time...I really do think he will let me know...I have had so many different opinions...fact is he has had all the treatment 2 yrs ago and vet wants to do it all again...which in my mind is pointless...as it hasnt worked obviously plus he is now uninsured and those treatments will cost 3-4grand at least...I just havent got that kind of money especially as there is no guarantees they will work. I am even thinking about this barefoot rehab thing...vet said he could be denerved as a last resort but again the cons outweight the pros. I think in my mind after lots of thought today and seeing him today he could be happy just retired to the field. thanks all for your very kind words. xxx
 
Glad to bear he sounds a little better. They never make it any easier for us do they! At 7 then maybe I would give him the chance. Consider all the options - maybe barefoot etc would be helpful.

You obviously know your horse so you will know what is right by him. Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top