Horse no able to get up in field (also in Vet)

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Silverspring

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I'm posting this on behalf of a friend.

We had a bit of a drama at the yard during the week when an old horse was found in the field lying down. The YO gave him 10 minutes to see if he got up but when he didn't she went down the field to check him.

He wasn't able to get up, was getting his front legs out in front but just didn't have the strength to go the rest of the way. She called owner who headed over after calling vet (owner is a vet nurse) she arrived about 30 minutes later and the vet arrived shortly after. He'd been down for at least an hour by the point.

Short history on this boy is he's about 27 yo TB type about 16.3. He had bad colic as a young one and had some intestine removed, always looked a bit ribby and under condition as he just doesn't eat enough. He got a bit 'staggery' as he got older and doesn't have much muscle on his back or quarters. He gets accupuncture every couple of months which seems to help keep him moving more smoothly.

So backl to the drama...The vet listened to tummy etc to see if it was colic but all was fine, they tried everything to get him up but he had started to twitch and heave (the vet thinks it may have been due to circulation being reduced being down for so long)

The owner decided to PTS after half an hour of struggling to get him up, the vet got the injection ready and rolled horse over in order to get a better vein. One turning him over the horse tried to get up again and on the second attempt struggled to his feet!

So now she's in the situation were she doesn't know what to do, she's really worried it will happen again and was hoping someone on the forums might have experience and could maybe recommend a treatment or supplement that might help keep him supple. Any suggestions welcome!

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i had a lady come into work today asking advice on her old arthritic horse who is struggling to get up. does he have any history of arthritis??
 
I would have the horse pts. now, so as to avoid the animal having a traunatic end. If it goes down overnight and struggles to get up, when there is no-one to witness it, then the poor creature will not have a good ending.
 
I quite agree, have the horse pts and avoid any future traumas, the horse has had a good long life and sometimes you just have to do what is right.
 
I know this sounds really brutal but the horse is 27. What if he goes down late evening on a cold wet night and is down all night getting colder and colder? Sounds like time for a tough decision; I had to do an emergency pts last year and it was horrid. It is so much more relaxed for everybody (including the horse) if it is elective. Really sorry for being so negative.
 
Unfortunately, at 27 years old and with his history, there seems a pretty good chance this will happen again.
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The sad thing is it could happen at any time, and if no one is around, the horse will not have a very pleasant time.

I would suggest asking the vet what they thought the cause of this was. Surely, they can give advise on treatment or a supplement to keep him supple, if this is at all possible.
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Personally, I would add some oil the feed (vegetable based) or an oil/supplement.

Unfortunately, you may have to accept that the kindest thing is to have the horse PTS. Not a nice situation but as someone once said to me " horses don't die quietly"
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Good luck, whatever your decision
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This happened with my 30 year old.

I arrived at the yard in the morning and went to get her in to feed. She was flat out in the field and made no effort to get up. I called the vet and my husband, we undid her rug and turned her over as she had started to tie up, but she still made little effort. Vet said we could physically get her up as she was only little but of course no guarantees when it might happen again.

I know she was down for no more than 20 minutes when I got there because a passed another livery in the yard and she said she was waiting by the gate for her breakfast!

We decided between us to PTS as the next time she could be stuck like that all night.

I would do the same again. If the horse can't get itself up and down it's time to go IMO. I hate hearing these stories of people using tractors etc to get horses up each day. Surely better to let the horse go with dignity?
 
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i had a lady come into work today asking advice on her old arthritic horse who is struggling to get up. does he have any history of arthritis??

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Thanks for all the responses, as I said it's not my horse or my decision but she does want to hear what people think and any previous experience.

The horse does have arthritas in his back and hocks, he gets one bute day to manage it.
 
I'm afraid I would pts. As others have said he's 27, old enough for the chances that he's going to do this again, possibly in the middle of the night, and cause immense distress to himself, his owner and you.

My old TB girl, in her early 20s, who died many years ago now, had arthritis in her pelvis and rarely, if ever, got down to roll or sleep. One day, and mercifully I was there at the time, she slipped in the field and couldn't get up. Vets were summoned and everyone rallied round to get her to her feet, which we eventually did, but she was so shocked that she gave up eating and began to go downhill, and four days later she was pts. I have always rather regretted not having it down whilst she was down, but equally wanted to give her every chance. If that had happened when I wasn't there I would never have forgiven myself.

It's a miserable decision to have to make, but for all concerned pts may be the best.

(((((((((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))) to your friend and you.
 
As someone who's been in this very situation, I would seriously think about having the horse PTS. Sadly, when they start to struggle it doesn't often resovle itself. My horse started to struggle to get up and needed help on a few occasions - it was heartbreaking to see. I decided to have him PTS before it got to the point where he couldn't get up at all and would have to be PTS in a distressed state. He had a lovely time munching grass in the morning, was fussed and fed polos and then was PTS peaceully and with dignity.
 
I have to agree with the others. Sadly,I think this horse should be PTS before it suffers. It is possible that it could go down overnight and get very cold/wet and possibly even lose the will to live - as I saw happen in such a case recently.
 
I can't believe that someone who is a vet nurse even needs to ask that question when the horse has already shown it can get badly stuck and needed intervention to get it upright again. What happens if it happens again when nobody is there? It's unforgivable to put that horse into that situation, I'm sorry. Just where are her brains and compassion?

Sorry, that's not a go at you at all even if it sounds like it!
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As a vet nurse, I'm confident that she knows what the right thing to do is. And is probably just looking for some sort of afirmation from other horse owners.

They all have to go sometime, and it certainly sounds as if this little horse's day might have come.
 
Have answered in Veterinary. Have been in a similar situation with a 34 year old mare, I had her pts when she started to struggle to get up, I could not face the thought of her being down all day or night if no-one was about. A very hard decision but as MFH says, quite surprised a vet nurse hasn't already made it. Perhaps she just needs a gentle nudge from a friend.
 
i had nearly the same happen to my old boy about 5 years ago, he rolled and couldn't get up for about an hour. just as the vet pull into the yard he started twitching and i thought he was fitted but the next minute he staggered to his feet. so i decided not to have him pts and he went on fine for 4 and half more years.
 
Well if the horse was mine I shoud make the decision to pts before it goes down again when there is no-one around to help.
It is always difficult to know what to do with older horses but I'm sure a vet nurse understands the saying 'better a week too soon than a day too late'.
 
i went throught this with my 27 year old the week before easter.
he is used to living out and had an abcess, he was staying out with it poulticed, but then the weather turned. He ended up having to come in, this was not good at all for his mobility! I went down one evening and he was down, and didnt seem able to get up, i rubbed on his back leg (the one under him) and he then tried to get up, by this time the vet was on the way. i didnt want to force him and we spent some nice minutes together - i honestly thought it was the end. The vet arrived, listened to his chest and diagnosed a massive heart mumar, i rubbed his leg again and the vet saw how he then tried to get up, we decied to roll him over and give him one attempt to get up, it worked. nearly every day i wonder if i did the right thing? BUT, he is back living out and fingers crossed, it hasnt happened again. From talking to the vet (one who i trust imensly) he said it was prob as he was used to being out, he had got down for a rest, gone a bit stiff from laying on his spavin side and given up. he also had an infection in his system at the time as i had asked the vet to take some bloods the week before, so i guess he was weak at the time.
As i say though, it haunts me daily if i have done the right thing. He is happy at the moment though and that my main concern. i did tell the farrier last time that he will prob not see him again. IF it ever happened in the field, i think there isnt really any answer apart from PTS.
I think maybe you should just suggest that your friend sets a date and enjoys their last few days together, spoil him rotten and then say goodbye.
Hugs to your friend x

ETA - the same weekend as i had this with my 27year old, there was another local to me, they ended up getting the fire brigade out to hoist him up, IMO - that is really pushing it as i dread to think of how bad he must have been
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