Elderly mare PTS?

[zoe_1210]

Hello,

I have two horses - 12 year old and 27 year old. 27 year old has been retired for many years and I’ve slaved away looking after them both and working FT over the years. However, last year I had a child and this has changed things. I have less time and I can’t afford full livery for two. They both wintered mostly out due to time and financial reasons, and my old girl looks quite thin but seems reasonably happy. I’m wondering if I should PTS at the end of the summer, partly due to the time commitment, financial commitment, and all the other limiting factors two horses places on you. What would you do?

 

[bonny]

Everyone on here will understand if you make that decision. 27 is a good age.

 

[meleeka]

Nobody can decide for you. You are the one that has to live with your decisions, so only you can know if it’s the right thing.

PTS isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a horse.

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

It sounds to me like you know what you would do

 

[Above the snowline]

Yes

 

[Birker2020]

Hello,

I have two horses - 12 year old and 27 year old. 27 year old has been retired for many years and I’ve slaved away looking after them both and working FT over the years. However, last year I had a child and this has changed things. I have less time and I can’t afford full livery for two. They both wintered mostly out due to time and financial reasons, and my old girl looks quite thin but seems reasonably happy. I’m wondering if I should PTS at the end of the summer, partly due to the time commitment, financial commitment, and all the other limiting factors two horses places on you. What would you do?

I would have your elderly mare pts.

But if the two have been field buddies for a while and are very close I would respectfully suggest it would be kinder for the surviving mare if she could see your old girl once she has been pts to help her come to terms with the loss. Horses grieve like humans.

I am sorry you are having to make this decision, its never an easy call.

 

[cariadbach10]

Having had my 27 year old put down by the out of hours vet due to very sudden strangulated colic this month, I would say making the decision regarding the day and time of a peaceful passing is a totally understandable decision- and possibly a wise one. It’s only by chance I caught my gelding’s catastrophic colic via CCTV within 20 minutes of it happening. It would have been awful if he had had to suffer until the morning. They have to go of something at that age.

 

[zoe_1210]

Having had my 27 year old put down by the out of hours vet due to very sudden strangulated colic this month, I would say making the decision regarding the day and time of a peaceful passing is a totally understandable decision- and possibly a wise one. It’s only by chance I caught my gelding’s catastrophic colic via CCTV within 20 minutes of it happening. It would have been awful if he had had to suffer until the morning. They have to go of something at that age.

 

[zoe_1210]

That sounds very tough. I’m sorry for your loss. It’s a very good point though, I have had dentist out regularly but she does struggle with chewing hay because she has so few teeth.

 

[cariadbach10]

My boy had the dentist out two weeks prior to this happening. It wasn’t anything to do with food in the end- the vet thought it was a lipoma that just hooked over his gut suddenly. It could have happened at literally any moment- it just happened to be when I was checking the CCTV. Thank God All the very best of luck with your decision- don’t let anyone judge you whatever you decide. She’s had a cracking innings at 27.

 

[Birker2020]

My boy had the dentist out two weeks prior to this happening. It wasn’t anything to do with food in the end- the vet thought it was a lipoma that just hooked over his gut suddenly. It could have happened at literally any moment- it just happened to be when I was checking the CCTV. Thank God All the very best of luck with your decision- don’t let anyone judge you whatever you decide. She’s had a cracking innings at 27.

Very common in older horses sadly. Sorry x

Pedunculated lipoma: a common cause of surgical colic in horses

Pedunculated lipoma is a common cause of surgical colic in horses as it can wrap itself around a portion of the intestine and create a physical obstruction

www.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[meleeka]

My boy had the dentist out two weeks prior to this happening. It wasn’t anything to do with food in the end- the vet thought it was a lipoma that just hooked over his gut suddenly. It could have happened at literally any moment- it just happened to be when I was checking the CCTV. Thank God All the very best of luck with your decision- don’t let anyone judge you whatever you decide. She’s had a cracking innings at 27.

I had one go like that. My vet thought it was likely the same thing.