Fracture and Arthritis

[Beth28]

Hello,

My mare recently went into hospital due to abnormal behaviour (falling over, rearing, broncing, bunny-hop canter). Please note the years before i have her she had always been a bit hot headed but had 4 different vets tell me she wasnt lame and it was down to behaviour. Finally took the plunge and my gut instinct to have her taken to NEH, which she had a full body bone scan. Discovered she had previously fractured her pelvis (this was when she was a youngster before I brought her the vet has advised due to the process of remodelling), this has sadly caused moderate arthritis in her neck, back and SI with remodelling occurring in her hock now as well. After lengthy discussions with my vet we never thought she would get back to ridden work but my aim was for her to live a few years retired with me at home in a comfortable state. She was medicated in all areas and been on strong pain medication upon coming home, i tried a rehab program which she was doing brilliant it with on medication, sadly since coming off this she cant tolerate even being turned out. She will spend the day walking the edge of the field until you bring her in, and she is very dangerous in hand to even handle in or out of stable. She would fall over in the field and not eat a thing (my mare is a foody so to be off food is very odd), we even had a case of acute colic at home one night. My vet has advised she go on a small dose of sedation daily so she can at least have turn out without the pain and distress of movement whilst i make a decision.

My gut is it is time to sadly say goodbye but she is only 9yrs old and i feel extremely guilty for even considering this. However im worried if i do not she is going to harm herself or myself, I can not afford to keep her on 18x tables twice a day which totals £250 per month, my vet has even said the injections should have lasted longer than a month. They believe when she first came back and feeling good has actually disrupted the fracture and now the nerve is probably impacting on the fractured bone. I can either turn her away and see if she is happier or have her pts. Please no nasty comments as anyone who knows me knows this horse is my life and she has had the most easiest stress free little life with me and i only want what is best for HER not me.

Thank you.

 

[AmyMay]

I’m so sorry you find yourself in this situation. If she were mine I’d put her to sleep.

 

[Frumpoon]

You poor thing *hugs*

I think you need to remember that its not the age of the horse but the issues it has

Quality of life is everything

I had a mare that wouldn't stay out on her own but loved herd turnout wen we eventually found it for her

BUT she wasn't unwell so I didn't mind so much her living in if that is what made her happy

The BHS has a really good 'Friends at the End' service which is staffed by trained volunteers and they can help talk you through the issues and options you currently have whirling around in your head

 

[onemoretime]

So sorry to read this but as above, I would pts. Big hugs to you.

 

[IrishMilo]

I'm so sorry. I've just been through this last month. My boy was only 6 and looked a million dollars on the outside, but he had quite bad arthritis in both hocks and turned himself inside out whenever I tried to ride him. He didn't really like being out in the winter months and much preferred being stabled, which was obviously never going to be great for his condition.

Don't for one second feel guilty for putting to sleep. The only thing you're doing there is assuring he'll be comfortable forever. I agonised over it for weeks and felt the same as you - guilty for considering it, guilty for considering my time and costs and emotional energy in the equation, and guilty for not choosing to retire him.

Now I'm out the other side I don't regret my decision for a second and I know with 100% certainty that it was right for him - he'll never be in pain again and that's the single most selfless thing you can offer your horse - a peaceful, humane end.

Your mare has lots of pain right now which will only get worse. A useful question I asked myself was 'What would it take for me to call time? When he's too crippled to move normally? When he can no longer get up easily? When he looks utterly miserable?'. Because all of those things mean it's too late. Be strong and proud that you're doing the kindest thing for your horse.

 

[Goldenstar]

tough stuff , and appallingly unlucky .
I would PTS its right for you and the the horse .

 

[sport horse]

I am very sorry that you have this situation. You say she is dangerous in hand both to bring in and in the stable so sadly you have to make the ultmiate decision and PTS - if anyone got hurt you would never forgive yourself. So sad but it is the price of the good days in horse ownership.

 

[Cortez]

If she was mine, I'd already have had her put down. It's is never, ever easy to make these decisions, but it is our duty to do the right thing.

 

[fredflop]

PTS sounds the best solution for you and the horse

 

[ycbm]

I had a similar decision with severe neck arthritis this year. It sounds like for her sake and yours you need to call it a day.
.

 

[Merrymoles]

I think your gut feeling is right. She's obviously not a happy mare and the food issue would decide it for me.

Horrible place to be and I send you a virtual hug.

 

[Supertrooper]

She sounds like she’s got a very loving owner but she is unhappy. She can’t do the things that a normal horse can without being heavily medicated.

I would let her go xx

 

[silv]

tough stuff , and appallingly unlucky .
I would PTS its right for you and the the horse .

This, I am sorry you are in this position, so unfair.

 

[Winters100]

Very sorry, what a horrible situation. It sounds as if you have done all you can, you have given her the best life possible, but to me now would be time to let her go and have her put to sleep. Realistically it will be impossible for her to have a comfortable life going forward, so it sounds like the kindest thing to do. I am really sorry.

 

[scats]

So sorry, what a horrible situation, but I would most definitely be putting the horse to sleep. You have done everything you can, so please take some comfort in that x

 

[Errin Paddywack]

She is in pain, she is not happy. It doesn't matter how old/young she is. She isn't going to improve so for her sake PTS soon. Terrible situation for you to be in, you have all my sympathy.

 

[irishdraft]

Horrid situation for you and the poor mare as others have said I would let her go x

 

[Annagain]

I'm so sorry you're facing this. I know putting a 9 year old to sleep seems far too young but the flip side is that means she potentially has years of pain and deterioration ahead of her. In some ways it's even more important to make that decision if they're young. Do you really want her to be this unhappy for potentially another 15 years?

 

[eggs]

So sorry, what a horrible situation, but I would most definitely be putting the horse to sleep. You have done everything you can, so please take some comfort in that x

Horrible situation for you to be in but sadly I agree with the other posters.

 

[Beth28]

Hello everyone, thank you all for your kind words. I have made the very difficult decision to pts in the next couple weeks before the weather gets colder and she becomes more uncomfortable. I would just like to know if anyone had any experiences of having there horse pts at home vs at the vets. She is stabled at my home so im just worried i may always walk out to the field and see that was the spot but also taking into consideration it will probably be the most homely place for her. Is it an awful ordeal to see? Thank you in advance x

 

[Regandal]

I would have it done at home, she will be more relaxed in familiar surroundings. It’s hard, sending hugs x

 

[cauda equina]

Definitely at home, where she is in familiar surroundings and hasn't had to endure a possibly painful journey.
I had one pts at home and awful as it was losing him, he went calmly and that's the memory I hold on to
So sorry, it is never easy even when it is right xxx

 

[irishdraft]

Mine have been let go at home . My husband holds them . I hope you have someone who can be with you because it's not an easy thing to deal with on your own .

 

[Annagain]

I'd let her go at home too. I've been with a few as they've taken their last breaths and while it's very sad, it's not a horrible experience so it's never traumatic to be in the same spot later on. In fact, my old boy had to be PTS in his stable as he was already down (with colic). That stable is too small for all the horses there now so it's become our little coffee room but when I'm in there, I don't think of him dying in there, I think of him living in there, me spending time just chatting away to him while grooming him or him grabbing my waistband as I picked out his feet or - his speciality - untying his haynet and throwing his hay all over the floor. They're happy memories.

 

[IrishMilo]

I had my horse shot at home. I made the decision to shoot vs. injection as he wouldn't let anyone near him with a needle, and I couldn't deal with having to watch him go through his last moments stressed. I also prefer the more instantaneous nature of the bullet. I used a fallen stock service (who also cremated him) rather than the vet or hunt. I wanted someone who does it day in day out to do it as I knew they would know exactly what they're doing, and I've never hunted, so that felt wrong.

It was a VERY easy and stress free ending - for him and for us. We all spent 15 minutes chatting and letting him stuff his face with grass, and then they asked me if I'd like to stay or go home. I wanted to stay as I wanted to say goodbye to him once he was gone for closure, but I sat in the car with my boyfriend's arms around my head so I didn't have to hear the shot. As it happens I did hear it, but it was in no way scary or haunting (aside from the first few days after if I heard a loud bang). My friend who stayed with me said he went instantly and knew nothing about it. He went with a mouthful of Polos.

I lay with him for a while after and cried and kissed him. He had a bag put over his head but there was no blood. I then left before they loaded him up.

I was really worried about going back to the yard after, but I'm glad I had it done there. I look at the spot where he went down and can have a little chat with him if I want! FWIW, the day itself and the aftermath was absolutely no where near as bad as week leading up to it when I questioned my decision over and over.

Best of luck and stay strong. You're doing a very selfless thing.