Having to make a sad decision....advice!

You are right it is sad but she has had the best time possible under the circumstances with you.

I love Clydesdales and kept one until, according to the vet, she was almost 40. I 'replaced' her with another lovely mare but lost her to illness, most probably a tumour of the digestive system - we didn't do a PM -, aged 11. I also lost a show-bred Shire mare to a completely unrelated illness, aged 6. I decided at that point not to have another Heavy Horse, as it seems that because the gene pool is very small nowadays they are not as robust as my first mare.
I also have had a SI pony and would not want to have to deal with another. I am another who would support your decision if it was to pts based on a judgement about her quality of life. But I fully understand why you might hope to find an alternative for her. Good luck!
 
If you decide to keep her, Dermoline sweet itch lotion is oily and will go on damp hair as well as dry. I would cold hose the mane to reduce the heat and swelling if she has been rubbing it then she might let you get the lotion on, it pours from the nozzle of the bottle so minimal rubbing in.
 
cblover said:
Thank you, I am trying to think about how best to deal with each issue and what it realistically it means for both her and me. I would feel like a total failure if I didn't explore every avenue for her. My vet is coming tomorrow and I will discuss it further with him.

I just keep going through it all in my mind and I can't settle on one best thing for her.
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It sounds as though you're willing to give her a chance... how about some physiotherapy on those stifles?

A few years back I used an equine physiotherapist called Janet Ellis when my boy was first diagnosed with a neurological disorder (with a very poor prognosis). She was very good. She spotted issues the vet had missed and my boy responded very well to the treatment (he regained bladder control 3 days after the first treatment). I'll admit that I wasn't very hopeful at the time, but a friend recommended Janet and persuaded me to try, as we'd nothing to lose.

Wishing you well whichever way the tide turns.
 
Update - vet came today and was very pleased with her general health and her stifle problem is mild he says. She is strengthening up nicely as she gains weight. So pleased he came to see her as today seems more positive than yesterday.

We discussed the sweet itch and I'm trying the weekly treatment of itch buster on her and coopers spot on each month. I just need to try this for both of us, I'm not ready to give up on her. She came into my life for a reason and I'm going to do my best for her.
 
^^^like! Glad you feel more positive today, she's lucky to have you watching out for her, you sound like you have the strength to make the right decision and until then you are doing what you can to give her a chance x
 
It is good to read a positive update. I read your other thread and she did seem like a good riding prospect for you if you decided to return to riding. No horse is perfect and if her problems are minor it could still all work out ok for you both. I knew a horse years ago who was bad with his legs to the point his feet were never picked out. He was sedated every six weeks for shoeing and it did him no harm. If you were going to keep her unshod, with some road work she may only need a trim once every three months anyway.
 
cblover said:
Update - vet came today and was very pleased with her general health and her stifle problem is mild he says. She is strengthening up nicely as she gains weight. So pleased he came to see her as today seems more positive than yesterday.

We discussed the sweet itch and I'm trying the weekly treatment of itch buster on her and coopers spot on each month. I just need to try this for both of us, I'm not ready to give up on her. She came into my life for a reason and I'm going to do my best for her.
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Aww brilliant news so pleased for you and her of course�� let's hope it does the trick x
 
I just want to thank everyone who has offered their support and advice. I'm not too sure what the outcome will be but I need to try.
 
So glad you have some more positive ideas from your vet. I do hope it works out well for you both. She is a lucky girl and IME Clydies are lovely horses.
 
cblover said:
Now we know about the sweet itch, I wouldn't risk breeding from her. I suppose she could be backed and it may strengthen her stifle but what is rooted in her head is the associated pain and rough handling in the past. That's what I can't seem to get her to improve on. I'm super positive with my voice and reward every little try but her feet are growing faster than any progress, so she'll need sedated again soon for her feet done again. I just think it's sad.
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I had a horse who was perfectly behaved in every way - until the farrier came! She was also in pain from arthritis and had been badly handled in the past (assuming).

It took a long time but with plenty of treats she soon trusted me to pick her feet up without hurting her. She never trusted the farrier though and although I tried all sorts (even putting my coat in the farriers van for a month and then wearing it myself to get her used to the smell) she was sedated to be shod every time for about a year until I decided enough was enough and she went barefoot.

I found a sympathetic barefoot trimmer and she didn't have to be sedated once. I don't know if it was the farrier smell that made her panic with remembered pain or the fact my trimmer is female. Anyway, maybe something worth thinking about if you don't want to sedate for feet every time and she doesn't need shoes.
 
Pleased to hear your positive update! I think all you can do is plug away and see how she goes, I think you'll know if life isn't great for her and be able to act accordingly. Good luck with her!
 
I really do feel for you op, SI is just horrible.

I would never knowingly take on another with SI but I have had one in the past - after getting to the point of having pony PTS as a last ditch attempt we gave her some piriton syrup in her feed and saw amazing results. I spoke with my vet and between us we worked out what dosage of anti hysthamines she needed. She went on to have a fab life and we found her a wonderful home as a childs pony/family pet. With careful management she never rubbed herself raw again.

Having said that if I couldn't get the SI under control I would seriously consider PTS - quality of life with SI is just so poor.
 
touchstone said:
I think you need to forget about her lifespan, look at it from the opposite viewpoint; who are you to extend her life if it causes pain, discomfort and probably psychological issues? As has been said, life has to be about quality not quantity. I am going through similar issues myself at the moment, although my mare is elderly so it makes it easier to decide; but take age out of the equation and if you have conditions that aren't curable, that will probably worsen in time then I think there is really only one answer.
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This is a really sensible answer. At 9 she is middle-aged really for her breed. Historically, many of the heavies didn't even get that far because their legs packed up ( a heavy horse has the same bone density as a Shetland pony). Not every horse lives into its 30s anyway, look how many people here have lost youngsters due to health problems. You have given this mare your time and attention which is clearly more than her previous owners did but you cannot solve every problem and sometimes you just have to accept that you cannot win the battle. If it helps, try to think of the vet as coming to treat her - she will have no more pain, or miserable days with the SI, or confusion and stress in her mind because the vet can take all that away for her. You aren't playing God by "reducing" her life span because there is no allotted 3 score years and 10 for animals. I once read of a young couple in the US who found a stray dog in dire straits outside on the street. They carried him into their apartment and laid him on warm blankets, gave him water and offered him food. They took it in turn to sit with him through the night, stroking and talking to him and the next day they called the vet to come and put him to sleep. For a few short hours that poor abandoned dog knew nothing but kindness. That is worth everything to an animal.
 
Thanks everyone, I'm going to see how it goes and monitor her. Just knowing I've done all I can for her is reward enough. This morning she was settled, just shaking her mane a little bit and the odd gentle scratch but I have put Itch Buster on her and will do each week. Time will tell I suppose.

Its actually my much loved cob who seems to be worse for wear then her really, as yesterday she was diagnosed with ring bone in both pasterns in her back legs. I'm not having much luck.
 
Many moons ago I had a pony who suffered terribly. I tried everything in the book incl a Boett and she was so so distressed with it. She would rub until she bled. It was horrendous to see. At a country show once I was pounced on by an Aloe Vera sales person (forever living) and as I was so desperate, took their advice and dealt with the allergic reaction from the inside, by feeding Aloe Vera Gel in the yellow bottle. It wasn't cheap but as I said I was desperate and the ponys life pretty much depended on it. Well to my surprised it worked, and within a week you could see how much more comfortable she was. I am no Forever Living rep so not trying to sell the stuff, just sharing my experience. I have so much faith in it that when I sold the pony I gave the new owner a box of they promised to feed it to her. It's worth a try !
 
Oooo interesting to hear about the aloe Vera. Where can I get more info, prices and work out dosage for her please?
 
cblover said:
Oooo interesting to hear about the aloe Vera. Where can I get more info, prices and work out dosage for her please?
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Perhaps just Google for your local rep. They often have a stand at big county shows too. I used the aloe gel in her feeds and used the forever living aloe creams (the aloe and bee propolis is amazing and even my vet uses it in wound management) topically too, and with really decent fly spray, a boett and elec fencing we really turned a corner with it. I just wish I could remember how much j put in her feeds. Do let me know how you get on
 
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