Snowfilly
Well-Known Member
Looking for some insight because I'm too exhausted to do it myself.
My poor clydesdale is 20 this May. Last year, he had a mysterious virus in March which resulted in 3 days severe illness, almost like flu. He came back from that and enjoyed some in hand shows and hacking, after 3 weeks complete rest. Blood tests were inconclusive.
In late August, he developed a sudden and nasty abcess which needed vet treatment and stabling for 4 weeks, although he was allowed in hand walks once he was sound.
In late September, he went to a show, fell in the lorry despite a 10 year history of being a wonderful traveller and cut his face and lips as well as bruising his ribs. Needed a week's rest, came back to hacking again.
In October, the sarcoid he'd had for a couple of years had an awful growth spurt and began to rub against his sheath, meaning an operation was needed. Against my express wishes (and that's another story) the vet used Liverpool cream as part of the treatment and horse had awful reaction, losing a great deal of weight and the site being incredibly painful. The last of the scab only fell off a fortnight ago. He spent most of the winter stabled, and only started being walked out in January.
Last night, he was lame. This morning, vet says there's a toe abcess which we've relieved but she's concerned that there's something else in the foot causing pain and thinks the abcess from last year may have spread and possibly infected the bone or hoof capsule.
He is uninsured and uninsurable. Obviously, if the infection has spread he will be put down. If there's improvement, he will have to be stabled completely to allow the hoof to grow down - the hole she's made is massive, I would have preferred a farrier dug it out but wasn't possible. Probably another 8 weeks at least, if not more.
I feel so conflicted - I love this horse to bits. I wanted so badly to get him right but this ongoing list of problems mean that he's been stabled and on painkillers for a good part of the last year. Yesterday morning, I was grooming him in the sunshine and thinking we could do some shows next month - he looks a million dollars. He has been enjoying hacking out, limited only by daylight, and we were doing some schooling sessions as well.
Today, I looked at his poor face as I put him back in the stable. He's so miserable, in so much pain and I just don't know if it's fair on him to put him through it again when there's no garuntee he'll be fit for any length of time. He just seems to be on an everlasting sick note and I'm wondering if I'm being selfish because each time I say 'no more' but next time, it's another seperate issue and the vet says it's more than worth treating and he keeps getting better, back in work, which makes it harder to think about.
Should I put him through it all over again, I guess is what I'm asking.
My poor clydesdale is 20 this May. Last year, he had a mysterious virus in March which resulted in 3 days severe illness, almost like flu. He came back from that and enjoyed some in hand shows and hacking, after 3 weeks complete rest. Blood tests were inconclusive.
In late August, he developed a sudden and nasty abcess which needed vet treatment and stabling for 4 weeks, although he was allowed in hand walks once he was sound.
In late September, he went to a show, fell in the lorry despite a 10 year history of being a wonderful traveller and cut his face and lips as well as bruising his ribs. Needed a week's rest, came back to hacking again.
In October, the sarcoid he'd had for a couple of years had an awful growth spurt and began to rub against his sheath, meaning an operation was needed. Against my express wishes (and that's another story) the vet used Liverpool cream as part of the treatment and horse had awful reaction, losing a great deal of weight and the site being incredibly painful. The last of the scab only fell off a fortnight ago. He spent most of the winter stabled, and only started being walked out in January.
Last night, he was lame. This morning, vet says there's a toe abcess which we've relieved but she's concerned that there's something else in the foot causing pain and thinks the abcess from last year may have spread and possibly infected the bone or hoof capsule.
He is uninsured and uninsurable. Obviously, if the infection has spread he will be put down. If there's improvement, he will have to be stabled completely to allow the hoof to grow down - the hole she's made is massive, I would have preferred a farrier dug it out but wasn't possible. Probably another 8 weeks at least, if not more.
I feel so conflicted - I love this horse to bits. I wanted so badly to get him right but this ongoing list of problems mean that he's been stabled and on painkillers for a good part of the last year. Yesterday morning, I was grooming him in the sunshine and thinking we could do some shows next month - he looks a million dollars. He has been enjoying hacking out, limited only by daylight, and we were doing some schooling sessions as well.
Today, I looked at his poor face as I put him back in the stable. He's so miserable, in so much pain and I just don't know if it's fair on him to put him through it again when there's no garuntee he'll be fit for any length of time. He just seems to be on an everlasting sick note and I'm wondering if I'm being selfish because each time I say 'no more' but next time, it's another seperate issue and the vet says it's more than worth treating and he keeps getting better, back in work, which makes it harder to think about.
Should I put him through it all over again, I guess is what I'm asking.