I am making the right decision

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Sags_Deer

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To pts my old horse tomorrow. She lost her balance and fell over this morning had trouble getting up, then she paced around as it obviously upset her. She has been in the menage all winter as she slipped getting up after rolling in the field. She is such a hippo and i know in my heart that when it came to her going out in the field and she laid for a few hours, i think its the back legs getting weak, but would strengthen them. or am i putting off what would happen sooner rather than later. Im pretty sure im doing the right thing very hard when she looks so well.
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Oh poor you, I really feel for you. I know just how hard it is to make the decision. A few years ago I had a similar situation with a 32 year old horse I had had for many years. She also had problems getting up when she rolled or lay down. I kept putting it off and wish I hadnt. In the end she just couldnt be got back on her feet and they had to put her to sleep. I think it would have been better if I had made the decision quicker. If you feel the time has come then it probably has.
 
i have not spoken to my vet but i think he will probably say it is my decision. surely there are only so many times you can help a horse get up when it rolls. She is addicted to rolling unfortunately she has not sussed its not a good idea not to do it in her senior years. such a hard decision to make.
 
How old is she? What has your vet said? Is there nothing they can do for her?

I think you will know deep down when the time is right for you to PTS. Your horse will tell you when the time is right. One thing I have always said when the time is ready for mine, I will never leave the decision till tomorrow, however much it will hurt I dont want my horses to suffer. I dont want my horses to sit in a field in pain just because I want to see them.

I certainly dont envy you making the decision but it has to be done at some point through our lives.
 
I have never been in your situation, but I think it is the brave, honest and respectful thing to put her to sleep. This is a very hard descision to make, the conclusion you have come to is the bravest way out, and it would be wrong, for me, to doubt your judgement!

Good luck, with the future!
 
Personally Id get the vet (ideally 2 to get 2 opinions) and see what they advise, ie. what they would do if the horse was theirs.

Is she on joint supplements? Superflex has worked wonders for my veterans.....

However, Im sure you havent taken this decision lightly and have probably considered everything you could do. I agree, its almost better to do it slightly too early than too late. I know its not the same, but we held off putting our cat to sleep a few years ago - never regretted anything so much and will never do that again.
 
I do not know your horses situation but if your vet feesl the same way as you and you know deep down there is nothing else to do I think once you have made that decision stand by it. I had to put my last horse down and he was only 6 going 7. It is very hard and I do feel for you but there is only so much you can do for your animals and it is much better not to let them suffer. It is not easy but there are many of us out there that have had to do this. I only wish horses could live as long as us... best wishes to you..
 
she has been on cortaflex for a long time, and danilon but i just feel she does not have the physical strength to haul herself up, she is 16.2 so no lightweight, she just lays on her side till she tries to get up so so hard isnt it when they are old. is there ever the right time.
 
Will the warmer weather make a difference to her? (In theory, it is spring now!). Our old dog was a bit pottery last winter, and we said we'd let her have one more summer than that was it. If you feel your horse is really suffering, and has no real future, then having her pts is the kindest thing to do. If you think she might enjoy one last summer, make a decision to have her pts at the end of August or something like that. Whatever you do I am sure you will make the right decision for you and your horse - it is never easy. Good luck.
 
My friends horse went down in a field at 27yrs old and couldn't get back up. When the vet came they said they could try and pull him up, but said it may just happen again. She had him PTS and is safe in the knowledge that he had only been down for a maximum of an hour and she was with him when he went. Its a horrible choice to make and I feel for you.
 
Only you can know if the time is right. It is awful to see a horse you love struggling to get to its feet. It is a brave decision to let a dear friend go with dignity. My thoughts are with you in whatever you decide.
 
i feel for you- i had to make this decision last week, i had my old girl PTS on thursday as her back legs were wobbly and she seemed very uncomfortable, put it this way i just knew it was time, it was hard but i don't feel guilty as i know deep down that it was entirely the right thing to do, in fact i have felt relief for the past few days, especially as the weather has got bad.
 
I feel for you to we just had are 32 year old pts and weve had her since she was 6months old... i would let her go ..its hard and i still think of her every day
 
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I feel for you. I am having my 28yo pts tomorrow, already arranged, he has not been good all winter, he had age related laminitis, his pedal bone had dropped and rotated and I was just giving up hope when he came sound after 3 months of special shoeing, he however had dropped alot of weight because of his restricted diet and he struggles with hay because of missing teeth, he has to chew it spit it out and then chew it again, he couldn't have things like Alfa A and Hifi because Alfa upsets his tum, I just sorted all this out and had him back on his old trusted diet when he injured his manhood, we haven't been able to get it to go back in after 3 weeks and he has to wear a sling permanently. I have struggled with this decision because he is sooooo happy in himself, he is bright and perky and sound, I am fully prepared to do all the work that would go with keeping him comfortable but how can I ask a horse of his magnitude to live with the indignity of having a sling for the rest of his life. I feel I am letting him down because he is still soooo happy with life, this is the first time I have I have told people this in the open forum because when I posted for some ideas to help him a few weeks ago I felt some people took the mick out of his situation but I am now making this public because I want you to know that your not the only one having to make such a tough decision and I really feel for you and everyone who has to make this decision for their horse. My thought will be with you tomorrow.
 
Our old boy who died last summer aged 42 had been on bute for last 3 years of his life after Cortaflex couldnt help him.

Three years ago he fell in his stable and couldnt get up so we had Fire Brigade out to hoist him up. We decided that he could have access to a stable, but not be shut in. This worked so well. Only once after that did we have to hoist him up (we bought a digger, just in case). He must have realised that he couldnt roll, and when jarmies were off he would pester even the horses he didnt like, to groom him! We had to groom him daily for half an hour and scratch his itchy bits. Two days before he died he had cantered up to the stables. He had quality of life, and never once in the last 3 years did he tell me it was time to go.

Lots of love to you at this time. Always question the vets because you know him better. You will know when its the right time.

Hugs x
 
It's the hardest decision of all but i think you kind of know yourself when the time is right.

My arab mare got an unusual and aggressive form of arthritis at only 14, it came on really quickly. We had 3 vets look at her as she was insured but what did it for me was one day her 25yr old field mate galloped off across the field and all my girl could do was a feeble shuffly trot.

The hardest thing was lots of people saying "Have you tried this that or the other" when I knew in my heart it was hopeless. I avoided them in the end. Follow your gut instinct, it is usually the right one
 
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