Horse being pts this week....has come good?

FfionWinnie said:
Always the same when you make a decision like that. Stick to your guns is my advice, winter is coming and it won't be any different this time round.
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This. Remove sentiment and all you have is a horse that isn't suitable for you, you don't have room for, has a health condition requiring long term costly medication, isn't comfortable without painkillers and we're going into winter. If this isn't time to make the decision when is?
 
Why don't you take a peice of paper & list his issues down one side & what you need to do to manange them (& yes that does include cost, there are not many people for whom money is no object) down the other. If they need the same sort of management & the cost is manageable then maybe think a while longer. If they need the opposite e.g one needs a careful diet & box rest & another needs feeding up & maximum turnout, or it comes to more than you can manage it might help set your mind at rest about the decision.
 
My horse had a long term illness, and was on and off meds for a short time. I remember making the call to the vet to come out as he wasn't himself on and set a date to PTS. I remember the few days leading up to "the day"- never known a horse so fresh under saddle and having little brakes, it made me think twice if I had made the right decision, but I knew I would never forgive myself if I cancelled the vet only for my horse to go down hill- Especially in winter.

Better a day too soon, than a minute too late IMO.
 
I would say stick to your guns and go with your original decision. There is no way of knowing what the winter will bring but you can guarantee that it will either be bitterly cold with either snow or frost for weeks, or miserably cold and wet with heavy mud for weeks. Don't forget that horses are programmed to get on with it and not show pain or weakness so as not to draw the attention of predators. He could well be feeling a little better, but that is just - only a little. If you change your mind now, you are only putting of the inevitable. I lost my old girl almost 12 months ago and although I'd always said I'd rather have to make a quick decision than set a date and wait for it , the latter is what actually happened and I was so grateful for that. She went on a day of my choosing, calmly and with dignity. Not stuck on her side because she fell over in the mud and couldn't get up (this was a real risk for her), or in great pain because of colic and thrashing about on the floor. Its upsetting enough without adding that sort of stress to it. Yes, the waiting was not nice and the visible reminder of watching her daily tablets running low was painful, but I had total control of the situation (because it was my choice) which helped me to stay calm for her. I actually brought the date forward by a day simply because the weather forecast was better.

Good luck and stay strong for you chap. He needs you now more than ever.
 
Its a tough decision to make, especially as you think he's turned a corner, however, winter is around the corner. I will tell you my story:-

My boy was 13 diagnosed with coffin joint arthritis, i paid for treatment that didn't work, (expensive injections, and he wasn't insured), he never came sound, he went away on grass livery to a friends yard to see if he would come right, he didn't and started to deteriorate, i had a phone call to say he was getting worse, so I went over to see him myself, the day was bright and sunny and he had picked up, however, still lame and seriously not happy (he had lost the mischevious glint in his eye) it didn't suit him being a field ornament, we couldn't make him comfortable and i could not afford ridiculously expensive treatments the vet wanted to try! so i made my decision and he was put to sleep at the end of November last year.

I do not regret for one minute what i did, i never will, some people think i didn't give him enough of a chance, I however, did not want him to lie down in a field on a cold dark winters day and not be able to get up again, in my heart i know i did the right thing even though i have a youngster and my other old pony but i miss him massively on a daily basis.
 
I think in this case I would go ahead - he has diagnosed issues that aren't fixable, his back and the cushings - they aren't going to improve whatever you do. No wonder he's perked up, all that grass and bute too :) but you know that it's not 'permanent' for want of a better word.

Realistically, he doesn't know what's coming but by the sounds of things you could do with a bit of a break too and there is no shame in making a very hard decision for both of you.
 
I will say the old adage, better a month too early than a day too late.

He may be a little better, and you might be going what if

But how would you feel if you postponed and he had another major attack and was in agony, and everything was done in a rush? His last memories were pain and stress. I think you wouldnt forgive yourself.
But only you ultimatly can make that decision for your boy and know in your heart.
Thoughts with you whatever you choose xxx
 
I was in your shoes two years ago. Pony had bad lammi and rotation in both front feet. She was on two packets of bute a day just to keep her comfy. She was laying down a lot. She was probably in her 30s so decided to let her go. Made arrangements and she came sound the day before she was to be pts and seemed very happy. So guilt got the better of me and I cancelled. Four days later she was pts as she went down hill fast. You have to do what you think is right for him. If you are not certain give it a while longer. There's no rush while he is happy.
 
Spring Feather said:
So cancel Thursday. Maybe this week is not his week to go. I have no problem postponing or cancelling the vet when our oldies turn the corner and seem to be doing well again. Maybe in a months time he might have another turnabout and if so you are pretty clued up on what to do now and you can revert to the original plan. If he stays fine then just leave him till you notice changes again.
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This. IMO you can book your horse in to be PTS very easily and quickly, so why not postpone it. I think you get a real feeling when its 'time' whereas right now your horse seems to be telling you its not quite time yet.
 
You could try treating the Cushings with angus castus (chaste berry). It doesn't cost much and has been shown to work. I have my mare on prascend but she still got laminitis. She's been a lot better since being on the chaste berry. That was until Sunday when she got her grazing muzzle off. She came in sound but was on three legs yesterday morning. I though this was it and prepared myself to PTS. As she was non weight bearing on one front foot, I suddenly thought that maybe it was an abscess and so poultice it. If she was still the same, I would PTS the next day. If there was any improvement, I would not. Today she was not only weight bearing but only 2 tenths lame in trot. Vet said she had residual bruising due to her low grade laminitis and that it was causing the same pain an abscess would. So two more days of poulticing and then see how she is.

What I am saying is just because you had decided to PTS does not mean you cannot cancel and see how he is in a few days/weeks/months/years. I do not agree that you have to PTS whilst they are still happy. Obviously you don't want them suffering, but to me, pTS whilst they are still happy and moothing around is not the right time.
 
what a horrible position you are in. if he was 25 it would be a no brainer.....i had a horse who was 35 and had been fully retired for 4 years, i felt her sparkle had gone and that she was a bit fed up.... i asked my vet to come so he could give me an asessment of her physically and before he looked at her i told him my thoughts. we trotted her up and he said, shes not too bad but as you have asked my opinion i would let her go today.....my friend and i burst into tears as that was not the answer we were expecting as he had originally said she wasnt too bad. he then explained that the ground was perfect, the weather was still good and at the moment she was reasonably sound, however winter is imminent and once the frosts or mud arrives she will be very uncomfortable. he said how much better for her to go today with the sun on her back and not in too much pain. we took his advice (it was in our minds anyway) and i have never regretted my decision..obviously she was a lot older than your boy but the principal is the same...quality of life.....good luck and lots of hugs for you, its not easy
 
I have spoken again to my vet today. He said the whole idea of moving him onto good grass and giving bute was to give him a happier few days/ weeks and that's what's happening. He said its going to worsen and get harder in the middle of winter on frozen ground etc. I've decided to do it now. I don't want him to suffer or get bad again. It's going to be done next Tuesday :(
 
What an awful few days you have had. But you have made that decision now and i hope you find a little peace in your heart. Love cuddle spoil and soak up the time you have. You will be in my thoughts tuesday. Be kind to yourself. you have made a hard but right decision. hugs to you x x
 
Sounds like you are making the right decision, backed by your vet. A last few days of comfort is a real gift to your horse, he is lucky to have you.
 
I've said this before but I'll say it again, this is your decision entirely of course but I would be doing the same as you. You have tried your best to make him feel comfortable and in the very short term it has but it will change as your vet has said. For your peace of mind you are right to let him go while he looks and feels as good as you can have made him and that will be what YOU remember, hopefully that's how he will stay until Tuesday, better than a poor heap on the floor that you have now choice over. Chin up, it's the right thing for you both IMO.
 
I have been in your shoes exactly...

A few days before my boy was being PTS he came right and was full of life. I cancelled the vet and within a week he was lame again and in pain.

It was re-scheduled and again the same thing happened, he perked up and was full of it but I stuck with my gut and went through with it. I'm glad I did (obviously I wish I didn't have to!) because on the day it was obvious he was in pain.

No one can tell you what to do, but weigh it up, is it a long term problem that won't ever come right? Is your horse suffering? Can they go through the winter comfortably? Are they likely to get worse over time?

I cancelled the vet initially because it was an escape and it was selfish but I didn't want to let go... On looking back I should have stuck with it.

Go with your head and not your heart, the worse thing you can do is leave it 'too long'.

Sorry your in this position, it's the worst decision in the world you have to make but it has to be you who decides.

My heart goes out to you, stay strong and do right by your horse.
 
Such a hard decision. I was faced with something similar with my old pony, I had the vet out to do the deed and as we watched her causing havoc in the paddock, bright eyed and bushy tailed, the vet agreed it wasn't the right day. A lot of people will think I did the wrong thing, she was in pain and had to have it managed with large doses of painkillers, but she was also perky, breaking out of her field, digging for breakfast, eating like a trooper and enjoying life. She had three more weeks or being spoilt rotten before she lost the glint in her eye and I immediately said goodbye. I don't regret the choice I made as I knew her better than anyone, you will be the same for your horse whatever you do, it will be the right thing...we are pretty tough when we have to be!
 
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