How do you know when to let them go?

itsonlyme

itsonlyme

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 May 2011
Messages
788
Location
Cheshire
Visit site
Mo is 21 this year. She's had many injuries in her life & was diagnosed with Cushings in July 2011.
Lately I've noticed her getting 'quiet'. Today she seemed positively miserable. Im going to get the vet to re-do her bloods (again).& check there's nothing untoward. She didn't want to go out for her usual afternoon walk & even when we turned to come home, her head stayed low & she was breathing as though she was tired. One of her legs went from beneath her, twice. I don't know if it was because she was dawdling or something else. She refused point-blank to trot when i asked her to (in-hand - she's retired). And you've never heard so much joint clicking in your life.

She's on Danilon and 1mg pracend. She lives out & seems 'happy' in that she never waits at the gate or anything - she's always off grazing somewhere with her friends.

I know she won't live forever. I just want her to be happy whilst she's here. Today she wasn't. How long do you give them? I hate talking like this but i need to be realistic. But i don't want to do something drastic, then wonder if i'd given her another week or 2, she'd have been ok again :(
 
you may find she just needs a bit more prascend. my mare was diagnosed in august 2011 and she has gradually gone up to 2 prascend tablets as her levels did not come down as much as hoped. one of the symptoms of cushings can be depression and sometimes they get breathing problems as well so fingers crossed this is all your current problem is. my mare will be 21 next month and i am very aware that she wont last forever but at the moment is very lively and is still being ridden daily.......im sure you will know when it is that time, hopefully not for a while..good luck
 
The best piece of advice I was given is that it is better to pts a day too soon than a day too late.

I had my old boy put down this autumn after a discussion with my vet. He still seemed bright within himself but was getting progressively lamer even on 4 Danilon a day. He had been diagnosedvwith Cushings in the summer.

You have my heartfelt best wishes for you and your mare whatever your decision.
 
You know her best, but I'd say she's telling you as plainly as she can that she's pretty much had enough.
Talk to your vet - today might be just an 'off' day, but I'd say if you have any/more days like that, it's time. :(

Never, never an easy time. I do sympathise.
 
It's almost like a "lights on but nobody home look" known ones that physically looked ready but were v happy & pain free but also some can be the opposite. Ultimately it has to be your decision as only you know the full story. Either way the "what if" will haunt you as guilt is part of the grieving process. I felt guilty after an elderly dog with terminal cancer & a tb with an irreparable fracture, even tho I knew it was the only option. Horrible situation for you, hope she perks up & your decision can be delayed.
 
Talk to your vet, maybe adjust her meds, remember spring and summer are coming!
I know that brings its own probs, but maybe she just needs the sun on her back!
I would never let a animal suffer but dont jump in to making a choice you may regret later.
She may have had enough or she may just be fed up with winter etc.
Only you can make the choice,just dont rush in to anything untill you have checked her bloods meds etc.
 
I worry about this too as my TB is an older lady now. I also used to know two horses where the owners kept them alive for too long and they really suffered. I worry that I'll do the same.
 
I've been asking myself this question with my 36 year old. This is the first winter when he has seriously lost weight, its always been a battle, but for the first time I felt I was loosing it.

However he still bounces around the field, canters to the gate, escapes and goes walkabout and generally is happy in himself.

If he ever looses that love of life I will know its time, until then I will fight with finding a way to keep the weight on him.

Luckily he doesn't need any medication.

Good luck with your girl.
 
Thank you everybody. I just expected her to be cheery because it was so sunny & warm & she was naked, but she looked so sad :(
I'll book her in tomorrow. Im starting to convince myself that it's just the Cushings, so fingers crossed for the time being....
Thanks again & good luck to the other oldies too :)
 
I always go on quality of life. If they seem happy and can cope with what is being asked of them, even if that is only living as part of a herd in a field, that's fine; they have a good quality of life. If they can't cope happily, it's time. But, of course, any-one can have an 'off day'. I'd talk to your vet about the possibility of adjusting her medication. I usually ask the vet not 'What should I do?' but rather 'What would you do if this horse were yours?'

Good luck!
 
Only you know your horse well enough to know when they're ready to go. When I phoned the vet in October about my gelding, I was crying before the vet got there because I already knew the outcome - and I was right. I knew it was the right thing to do. He acted in the stable like he wanted to go out in the field, but when I turned him out, he stood at the gate waiting to come in. He just wasn't his usual sparky self, had become distanced from the herd and although he was eating, it wasn't with his usual gusto.
Make the call when you know they're ready - you will know. xx
 
OP, I bet she is just suffering from a virus. From what you have described, PTS would not even have crossed my mind. She is just feeling a bit below parr. It may be the cushings but I lay my money on a virus. Sounds like what my horse was like 3 years ago. It went on for a couple of months and then suddenly she got a cough and lung infection. But before the cough there was no other sign of respiratory illness. She was just really dull and I could hardly even get her to trot.
 
Gosh she's so young to be at the end of her days already. I hope your vet comes and gives her a check over and that it's just an off day she's having. Got to say, PTS wouldn't be my first thought based on your post either OP.

As to knowing, well I have had my ancient old horses for years and I know them so so well that I've found intuition takes over and I "just know" when their time has come.
 
Don't worry - i would never just have her pts unless the vet told me to. She just seems to be getting like this more often now. Just not herself. And the arthritis is taking over her body. She's broken both back legs & torn several tendons and ligaments in her fronts. She's not aging very well at all :(
I think i was just on a downer today, seeing her so tired & sad-looking. There's life in the old girl yet though :)
 
It's a real tough one (I know you've got fab answers, just wanted to add mine too) I thought my doggie was telling me she was ready to go when she had her 2nd stroke. My mum said "Prepare yourself" and I knew what she was thinking, I thought my dog was dying. We took her to the vets and they said we could either have her PTS or give her one more chance. Being extremely emotional from seeing her stroke (and being given the choice) I said no, keep her alive.
I'm glad I did! This was a year ago and after a days rest she was back to normal. She's still going on 4 walks a day and thoroughly enjoys it! She still plays ball and run around, she's just not as fast as she was.

That's my personal experience, I'm sure she's just feeling her age a bit or perhaps a little virus like someone else mentioned. *hugs* I hope you're alright!
 
Never an easy decision, and age has nothing to do with it really, but quality of life has. I think the horse does definitely let you know, and once the light of life has gone from the eyes, then you will have no doubt. I think many of us, me included have been guilty of keeping an animal alive a little longer than we should have, and that's been to benefit us and put off the decision.

Having given an animal a happy life for however long, the last decision is hard, but the kindest thing to do.

xx
 
jennyf said:
Never an easy decision, and age has nothing to do with it really, but quality of life has. I think the horse does definitely let you know, and once the light of life has gone from the eyes, then you will have no doubt. I think many of us, me included have been guilty of keeping an animal alive a little longer than we should have, and that's been to benefit us and put off the decision.

Having given an animal a happy life for however long, the last decision is hard, but the kindest thing to do.

xx
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I've seen eighteen year olds that were ready to go and 30+ year olds that were fine. Quality of life has got to be the deciding factor, but I find that generally when you're starting to think that it's time it usually isn't too far away.
 
You will know when it is time, I would definitely advise you to speak to your vet and get the bloods taken again. As you say, she has been on the same doseage for a while now and it might just mean that they have to up it to get the dosage correct for her.

Horrible feeling and fingers crossed it's an off day, but don't worry until you have had the vet out. She sounds like she has a lovely retirement life and I'm sure you have many more years of companionship ahead.

big hugs to you both x
 
It could be that she just needs her Prascend increasing. Perhaps she doesn't want to go for walks anymore, are you doing this because of her arthritis? My 22 y.o. has had cushings for 4/5 years and I rode her for a couple more years after diagnosis, but one day out hacking she just stopped, turned round and tried to walk home. She did it again the next day even though I was with 2 other horses. She was saying I don't want to do this anymore and she's been a very happy field ornament since then.

You won't need to ask when it is her time, you will know.
 
Tammytoo, i just take her out inhand for a change on scenery. And also for her feet (she's barefoot) to walk on something other than grass.

She's a lot perkier today, but I've still booked another bloodtest.

2012-03-01171146.jpg


2012-03-01113357.jpg


2012-03-01171659.jpg


I didn't take her for her walk today, which she didn't seem too fussed about. She's so ungrateful! :)
 
I have a similar situation with my old pony. I have noticed this week she is struggling, the vet said it may be due to the odd temperatures and grass growing as she also has laminitis. I have increased her pergolide to see if this helps. Play it day by day, if she starts having less good and more bad days, then re-evaluate. Good luck
 
In my experience of caring for oldies, sometimes you could be looking at one thing eg Cushings but its something totally different......it could be an infection or such like, I would take her temp, heart rate and respiration and that will give you a guide,
You are always welcome to give me a call as we have many situations like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm_H6XwTfOo
 
Its a gut feeling, and you know! I struggled keeping weight on my mare all last winter and knew I had lost it was still totally horrendous.
 
Nothing to add - you have some fantastic advice from others. Can I just say what a lovely face your mare has, she looks so kind and honest xx
 
My mare is 21 in June and got diagnosed with cushings in November the bloods came back and they said one of the highest recorded levels very strange as i had been riding her in July and used to do 7 mile hacks twice a week jumping everything and she was always a fizzy pony and she seemed to almost overnight feel tired. Above her eyes puffed out and her coat is long and wavy she is on prescend 1mg and she had all the same as you described her breathing was rapid yet shallow and i have never seen a pony so unhappy her eyes were dull and i was at my wits end cant believe it had taken vets so long to diagnose her in hindsight as she was drinking and urinating almost constantly but they kept trating her saying she must have a urine infection, i couldnt put her winter rug on as she sweated so bad she used to get a chill under her rug. So i had to put a light rain sheet on in middle of winter (she has a shelter with straw). A few people told me she had enough and it was kinder to let her go and i said i wanted to give her a proper chance on the prescend. She was off her food which was strange as normally cushing ponies want to eat more but she just wanted hay and nothing else. I cried for a week as i thought in my heart she had enough. But low and behold 3 months on start of feb came. She neighing her head off with her field mate and Galloping flat out to meet me at the gate rearing and bucking and full of life. She is mostly like this now, she still has the odd quiet day where she takes herself away to be by herself and looks a bit sad but maybe only once a week. You never know what the future holds its a hard choice only you have the answer to. My heart is with you and i wish you all the best. Im glad that ive still got Peaches with me just now :) .
 
itsonlyme said:
Tammytoo, i just take her out inhand for a change on scenery. And also for her feet (she's barefoot) to walk on something other than grass.

She's a lot perkier today, but I've still booked another bloodtest.

2012-03-01171146.jpg


2012-03-01113357.jpg


2012-03-01171659.jpg


I didn't take her for her walk today, which she didn't seem too fussed about. She's so ungrateful! :)
Click to expand...
Oh i just love her face in the middle picture.




she might be having just an off day . my vet said they have their ups and downs fingers crossed.

what a sweet looking mare . I do just love her expression in center photo:D
 
I don't know if you have had some of the winds and rain we have had recently but if she is living out could she just be a bit tired and fed up after the horrible weather. Being out in bad weather can make them feel tired as they use up more energy to keep warm etc and if it is windy and wet they don't sleep or rest so well. so when the sun does want to come out they like to sunbathe or sleep and relax. I think the damp weather is not always good for athritis as well so she might be feeling that a bit more as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top