How much longer should I let this go on?

0ldmare

0ldmare

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Those who have seen my recent posts will know that my lovely gorgeous gentle mare went down with unexplained laminitus 3 weeks ago. She went from almost sound when I found to progressively get lamer and lamer each day. Finally the vet diagnosed cushings and 4 days ago she went onto Peroglide. Each day she is still getting worse. She now is barely eating and I've had to force her pills down her. She's either lying down or (barely) stands. This morning I coaxed her to eat a bit by sitting down next to her and hand feeding her while she lay down. I'm going to call the vet again tomorrow, but I suppose what I'm asking is do you think there is still hope? She just gets worse.

Before you say call the vet, the vet has been out 5 times in the last 3 weeks and all they seem to have to offer is Danillon (that seems useless), xrays to see if anything has changed, acp and pads on her feet - one of which has falled off and I can't get it back on as she can't stand on 3 legs.

Surely there must be stronger pain killers tha Danillon?

How much longer do I keep going before I call it a day :(
 
The definitive thing to do will be xray. That way you will know if there is rotation of the pedal bone.
Pain relief is a big must. When you are sore and hurting, eating and pleasing everyone around you is hardly top of the list of priorities. Get the vet back out and assess the pain relief she is getting. If you haven't already, get her on the thickest bed you can....all the way to the door. There must be no gap at all. And laying down is good. It's giving her poor aching feet a chance to rest and recover.
That said, given she is going to be on box rest for the forseeable, you might have a tough decision to make if she really is that depressed.
Lami is a nightmare. I really do feel for you.
 
it isn't sounding good :( can you call the vet (on the phone) and have a chat with them? Go through some options and see what their opinion on her prognosis is? I can't imagine what you are going through, big hugs xx
 
Sadly I think she is telling you that she is ready now.
You have done your best for her.
I watched a poor soul on my old yard be dragged on for 12 months before the owner finally gave in. Twelve months too long.
 
Have you had her xrayed? I wouldnt consider ending her life until I knew the results of what is going on with the bones. As with the person above, lying down is good. This might be a transitional (sp) stage and once she is stablised she will start to feel better. Once you have facts in front of you then you can make educated decsions.
 
Has the vet tried her a finadine, i think thats how you spell it, my sister old pony used to get bad lami and it worked really well for him. Also the lack of energy and laying down ect could also be down to the fact shes on acp so bear that in mindit is a sedative and it affect horses in different ways im not sure how high her dosage is? Is she drinking she could be deyhrated? That would make her fell that way?
 
I am not in any position to give you advice as have thankfully never been in your position.

However, I am sure that you will do whatever is necessary for your mare and it will be the right thing - thinking of you both.
 
Oh, how I know how you feel - my heart goes out to you. I lost my boy last year to exactly the same thing and remember it as if it was yesterday. By posting what you did, I think you know deep down what to do. You know your little mare, go with what she is telling you.

Thinking of you. x
 
I'm so sorry but I think you know deep down what is best. The last act off kindness for your beloved mare. Sounds like she's giving up and closeing down, let her go without added pain.
Iv been here I know how hard it is and it's so so hard and hurts so much so be brave. Xxx
 
Thank you for your kindness, I may be sitting here sobbing my eyes out, but I do appreciate your replies.

She has been xrayed twice, once about a fortnight ago and once last tuesday. Wierdly there wasn't very much rotation but I would hazard a guess that wouldn't be the case if you did another now. How else could she be in so much pain? I just don't understand why, each day, she is worse :(

I carried over a bucket of water and she drank a bit and I left it near her. I don't think she is massively dehydrated, just in misery from the pain

Yes, finadyne is a pain killer I recall too! I remember it as being very effective too, I wonder if I could still get some. I'm going to get the vet again tomorrow, she was coming on wednesday anyway. We will make a decision after that, but I just can't watch her keep deteriorating like this, its pitiful
 
I went through this with my mare a few years ago. She was only 13 but was starting to show the signs of cushings. The vet had just agreed to test her when she took laminitis. To cut a long story short, the cushings tests came back positive, the x-rays showed rotation in all 4 feet and sinking in the fronts, She was in a lot of pain so sadly the decision was taken to PTS. I've known a few with Cushings and once they get laminitis I'm afraid it is a downward spiral. They also seem more prone to it in the winter months, unlike grass related laminitics. If your horse is relatively young like mine was, I think it would be worth getting the x-rays done as there may be some hope, however if she is elderly and already retired it might be the kindest thing to PTS. Sorry you are going through this - its heartbreaking.
What does your farrier say? My farrier was a great support to me and it was him that told me that really there was no hope for my mare.
 
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If I were you I would be making the decision in the morning to call it a day for her. Sometimes we can't win the battle with lami. If she is not weight bearing, depressed, not eating etc she has made the decision for you I am afraid. I was once told this by someone I knew many years ago,,, better to be a week too early than a day too late. This really says it all for me. Hugs.xxx
 
I'm sorry, it really doesn't sound good.
We lost a 6 yr old Shire to Cushings related laminitis which it took the vet 3 months to diagnose. She wasn't comfortable but the pain was controlled with 3xbute per day until the farrier made the diagnosis and then we pts. I'm afraid that your vet should be prescribing something to control the pain, although as someone else said, possibly the ACP is making her lie down.
I always try to consider quality of life when making the decision to pts. What would you say is the quality of your mare's life?
 
so sorry to hear this. you were so kind to me last week. i hope your horse is more comfortable and that things improve .whatever happens im sure you will do whats right. big hugs to you both. loving a horse can be hell.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I'm sorry, it really doesn't sound good.
We lost a 6 yr old Shire to Cushings related laminitis which it took the vet 3 months to diagnose. She wasn't comfortable but the pain was controlled with 3xbute per day until the farrier made the diagnosis and then we pts. I'm afraid that your vet should be prescribing something to control the pain, although as someone else said, possibly the ACP is making her lie down.
I always try to consider quality of life when making the decision to pts. What would you say is the quality of your mare's life?
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At the moment she doesn't have any quality of life. The only thing I have clung to is the lack of rotation and lack of dropping and just keep thinking if that's the case she must start to get better. I'm going to get the vet out tomorrow and see what her view is and whether there is anything that could make the poor animal more comfortable. If the outlook is poor and there isn't a more powerful painkiller to give her some relief then I'm going to have her PTS
 
So sorry to hear that she is still in pain, however with the not eating thing, this can be a side effect of pergolide, it can take a couple of weeks for them to eat normally again. I'd discuss with the vet in the morning, see if you can get her pain under control and then give the pergolide a chance to work. If her pain can't be controlled then pts may be the kindest option.
I do hope that she can be made comfortable, if not my heartfelt wishes go out to you both xx
 
I would definatly talk to the vet about poss taking her off the sedative and seeing if she perks up! If she doesnt then you know shes just given up because of the pain, but you never know, some people cant handle sedatives, so horses must be the same!!

*HUGS* to you both xx
 
Finadyne is still prescribed, we had it for one of my ponies at work about a month ago from the vet, also as it was for a fussy eater he gave it to us in the tube/paste form which would be a real good option for your mare, must be worth a shot, whenever our pony got lami the finadyne would really help him a relieve pain quite quickly, might be worth a go, good luck, and all the best.
 
I'm sorry to hear that your mare is so unwell.

My daughters pony has had laminitus twice this year, and was clearly in pain, we did all that those suggest on here and thankfully she pulled through both times.
I never considered having her PTS as she never lost the glint in her eyes, and I dont know how I would have coped if I had reached that stage, I only know I wouldn't let her suffer if there wasn't light at the end of the tunnel soon.

I think you know your own horse and maybe already know the time has come, but I'd defintely get the vet and ask if you can have other pain killers, discuss other options before making the decision to PTS.

Good luck xxxxx
 
Nothing to add in terms of practical advice, but I'm so sorry - I'll be thinking about you and her .....
Let us know what the vet recommends. How old is she?
 
Is the vet absolutely sure she has lami? I just wonder because of the lack of rotation.

I had a horse that I sadly lost & was misdiagnosed with various conditions before a second opinion (at Oakham) discovered a Septic Oesteitis in his sesamoid bone. This was basically an infection in the middle of the bone & unfortunately barely showed up in the x-rays. There had been no trauma to the foot, it was just a bug that started an infection spontaneously. The infection could have started anywhere. By the time it was diagnosed it was too late unfortunately. He had got progressively lamer over the course of a month after what we suspected was the start of a foot abscess.

I'm not suggesting your horse has this but am wondering if something else is going on.
 
I know that you know your horse best but I would get x-rays if you can afford to to see if you have rotation. I always try to keep lami ponies/horses out if poss and moving, very important to keep the blood flowing and use up some energy. Also they musn't stop eating as all this being inert and not eating concentrates all the bad proteins etc that make it all worse. If you have a cold stream to stand her in it will help or if not stand her in cold water.

Can you ask you vet for stronger iv painkillers, or if not when I had a mare with a bad shoulder injury (vet advised PTS as couldn't diagnose without moving her and spending thousands which I didn't have) I gave bute and danilon in larger doses than recommended as it was that or give up. Not sure what painkillers are safe with lami but also could consider Finadyne? Just about got her moving again and is now cantering around the field with tail up...

Good luck with her, I think if all fails you will know when she has had enough.
 
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