Disfigured foaly

that if they want to keep the foal they should be funding any veterinary care not 'fundraising' with a child.
 
Difficult with a child but if that was my foal I wouldn't even be considering operating.

It would have been pts asap. If it made it easier for a young child (and I have used this before with a dog) I would just say that it had died in its' sleep. Depends on the individual child how much more explaining and reasoning I would do.
 
I can see her point saying he is happy, but when he needs to start to eat 'real' food then I wonder if he would start to have more probs and not be so happy? Like the brave decision post I think this might be a time when that brave decision is needed. To put a foal through that surgery and the stress it would induce in both him and his mum sounds like it might be a step too far, especially when it sounds like it is being done with the little girls feelings in mind rather than the foals.
 
If it were mine I'd have it put to sleep. It says in the article it may have difficulties grazing.
Also, I hate the people in the comments insinuating that having the foal pts are cruel or selfish!
 
I was told my mare was born with a undershot jaw and really deformed mouth and teeth and was operated on and now is 100% healthy and looks normal you'd never tell! Has no problems eating ect. Dont know what i would have done if i had owned her as a foal probs tried the op, depending on the seriousness of the condition,but i dont *think* she was anywhere near as bad as that foal :(
 
I know I am opening a can of worms here but I don't agree. This poor foal has as much right to life as any one of us. If this can be corrected with an operation then why not? He may go on to lead a useful and happy life and at least he will be loved and cared for which is more than a lot of other horses/ponies out here have. If it can't be corrected then yes, he should be PTS before he suffers but at least give him a chance.
 
Ditto Ester. They should either pay to have the defect correct so the foal can eat normally and keep it for life if it can't have a ridden life or PTS. It's ridiculous to use a child to fundraise for this animal and insulting to present the whole article as if making some kind of statement about the value of disabled people.
 
The newspaper has twisted this story...if you look on the NFED forums theres a thread from the lady who owns the foal telling the whole story.
 
micramadam said:
I know I am opening a can of worms here but I don't agree. This poor foal has as much right to life as any one of us. If this can be corrected with an operation then why not? He may go on to lead a useful and happy life and at least he will be loved and cared for which is more than a lot of other horses/ponies out here have. If it can't be corrected then yes, he should be PTS before he suffers but at least give him a chance.
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not all saying that this foal, without knowing the full vet info doesn't have a right to life. They own the foal, it is I think atm anyway as foal seems otherwise healthy, therefore their choice whether to keep foal or pts.

If they choose to keep foal then they, as the owners, are responsible for its veterinary treatment, not random joe public.
 
I don't believe they are expecting 'joe public' to pay...there is no fund set up, the news papers have blown it out of proportion...please read to NFED thread.
 
ok have nfed links... I am not on nfed and have never been there so wouldn't know without the links posted. not good at guessing.

original thread has I believe been locked.

http://www.nfed.co.uk/index4chat.htm

announcement by I assume their admin is the top thread.



maybe just goes to show be careful what you put on the open internet I suppose. I still dont think that 'vet advised pts but I couldn't because he is my first foal' is the best way of thinking for a responsible horse owner.
 
Sorry, I should have been more helpful...I'm sneaking on here when I should be working but saw the thread on NFED last night :) I think Janey is trying to do the right thing and is trying to contact anyone with a pony also with the condition to get advise before deciding what is best for the little guy.
 
HI there.

my gelding has avery mild form of 'wry nose' also known as deviation of the muzzle. he has some paralysis issues and vision issues due to his left eye being deeper set, but has no issues eating/etc.
 
If they can get the foal to a sustainable point where it can feed etc - it could maybe even be ridden, who knows. Fine. As long as they do not expect people to donate money or fund this horse existence. There are enough horses that have issues as it is. My horse has a problem - he is fat - I dont ask for money to put up more fences to restrict his grazing.
 
I have read the NFED forum. The owner sounds very lovely and caring and is obviously seeking help and support through what must be a very traumatic time.
It is obviously a very difficult position to find themselves in. As the owner of the foal then she ultimately makes her own decision and is trying to inform herself properly on the prognosis for this little man.
I love how her daughter adores him......kids dont see the deformity do they, just the foal.

Good luck to you, in whatever you decide. The owner does seem to be very aware of what her options may be.
 
If they can provide her with a knowledgeable home for the rest of her life, and can meet her needs, then worth giving it a go.
 
I feel sorry for the owner for going through this and I can understand her posting online to find out more information about the condition BUT I don't think newspapers would have printed photos of the child and foal without some kind of permission. The papers also seemed to have quotes direct from the owner. If the owner is only now finding out that the press will distort stories to make them more interesting and sell more papers then she is very naive.
 
micramadam said:
I know I am opening a can of worms here but I don't agree. This poor foal has as much right to life as any one of us. If this can be corrected with an operation then why not? He may go on to lead a useful and happy life and at least he will be loved and cared for which is more than a lot of other horses/ponies out here have. If it can't be corrected then yes, he should be PTS before he suffers but at least give him a chance.
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Totally agree.
 
The foal looked fit and helathy is somewhat odd to me. If the owners are confident that they can meet his physcial needs then as the little chap is obviously happy why should anyone else object?
 
Does it say int he article that it needs an operation by an "Equine Dentist". Surely this must be done by a vet - I didn't think dentists were allowed to operate?? Or is this just the DM getting it wrong again ie SJers and eventers all one and the same!
 
micramadam said:
I know I am opening a can of worms here but I don't agree. This poor foal has as much right to life as any one of us. If this can be corrected with an operation then why not? He may go on to lead a useful and happy life and at least he will be loved and cared for which is more than a lot of other horses/ponies out here have. If it can't be corrected then yes, he should be PTS before he suffers but at least give him a chance.
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Totally agree. Where there's a will, there's a way. Poor little mite.
 
If it can be corrected then why not.
It's not that long ago that there was pictures of twin foals with the one with disfigured legs which I believe to have been corrected by special boots.
Good luck to them and I'm sure if there is no hope it will be put to sleep.
Different if it wasn' thriving though.
 
hackedoff said:
The foal looked fit and helathy is somewhat odd to me. If the owners are confident that they can meet his physcial needs then as the little chap is obviously happy why should anyone else object?
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I don't think anyone has a problem with how the foal looks (despite how the article made it sound). This condition seems to cause breathing and eating difficulties and the article seem to suggest that there are worries that, left untreated, the foal may not be able to graze. If the foal is not able to graze this would be a very serious welfare issue.

If there is a treatment, I think the owners would have to consider the burdens of the treatment on the animal. For example, if the treatment involved multiple operations, prolonged box rest, pain and suffering, the animal may well be better off PTS than put through all that.

If the treatment is reasonable in terms on animal welfare the owners have to be able to afford it. I think a number of people on this thread are uneasy with using a child to fundraise for a horse. Owning horses is expensive business, perhaps the owner should have considered her options BEFORE breeding.

If the onwers can afford the treatment they also need to consider the horse's future welfare. If the horse is not suitable for ridden work they need to be able to offer it a home for life as a companion.
 
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