I think my gelding is dying

The insurance has accepted "multiple organ failure" as a diagnosis for payment as there were so many earlier tests over the last 2 weeks, and we've decided not to do a full PM. My vet is sending a piece of his liver to RVC as apparently they can test for certain toxins and is going to have a "quick look in" as he calls it in case there's something obvious. I'll be honest that cost is a consideration as we'd have to pay for the PM out of pocket (insurance wouldn't cover) and we already have a lot of costs of livery and supportive treatments, etc ...

If nothing obvious, then I'm going to tell myself he had a tumour somewhere that they couldn't be identified. Because if I think he was "poisoned" or something like that, I'll never sleep well again because of the other horses.

it's been a real difficult experience and think it will take us a long time to calm down and even start the grief process. Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts. Not everyone in the "real world" understands :(
 
Please be kind to yourself, you did your absolute best for your boy. Every time they go, they take a piece of us with them - so remember all the good times that you had together and don't dwell on the last few weeks.
 
You have my deepest sympathy as I am going through similar. My boy was perfectly fit and well last Tuesday and then knocking on death's door on Wed morning. His kidneys were found to only be functioning at 25% and despite pouring fluids into him to rid him of the toxins building up in his body, they couldn't save him and he was put down on the Saturday.

Heartbroken doesn't even cover it - he was the sweetest horse, my horse of a lifetime and 16 was no age to go. We are now waiting for the PM results and toxicology as vets think it has been some form of poisoning and there are other horses in the same field as he was including my companion pony. I feel sick thinking about it all. But the reality is the vets say they may never find out why this happened which gives no closure.
 
ExRacers said:
You have my deepest sympathy as I am going through similar. My boy was perfectly fit and well last Tuesday and then knocking on death's door on Wed morning. His kidneys were found to only be functioning at 25% and despite pouring fluids into him to rid him of the toxins building up in his body, they couldn't save him and he was put down on the Saturday.

Heartbroken doesn't even cover it - he was the sweetest horse, my horse of a lifetime and 16 was no age to go. We are now waiting for the PM results and toxicology as vets think it has been some form of poisoning and there are other horses in the same field as he was including my companion pony. I feel sick thinking about it all. But the reality is the vets say they may never find out why this happened which gives no closure.
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what bad luck for you as well. i am lucky and have never lost a horse suddenly but even after months to make a decision i think it is still a shock when they go. please look after yourself....
 
ExRacers said:
You have my deepest sympathy as I am going through similar. My boy was perfectly fit and well last Tuesday and then knocking on death's door on Wed morning. His kidneys were found to only be functioning at 25% and despite pouring fluids into him to rid him of the toxins building up in his body, they couldn't save him and he was put down on the Saturday.

Heartbroken doesn't even cover it - he was the sweetest horse, my horse of a lifetime and 16 was no age to go. We are now waiting for the PM results and toxicology as vets think it has been some form of poisoning and there are other horses in the same field as he was including my companion pony. I feel sick thinking about it all. But the reality is the vets say they may never find out why this happened which gives no closure.
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Oh god, it's awful isn't it. "Toxins" and "poisoning" have been mentioned a few times and they did initially suspect my boy's kidneys but then they seemed OK after all. You expect many more years and then they'r just gone.
 
Only just caught up with this - so sorry, and just as we thought / hoped he was on the mend. Take care of yourself.

Sympathies to ExRacers too
 
MissTyc said:
He's gone. In total shock. Thought things were getting better, starting to organise his homecoming and care programme. Even started to feel my thread title looked ridiculously melodramatic in the cold light of optimism. About an hour ago, the vet called to say he'd gone down and died. Presuming toxic shock relating to organ failure of some type. I am so sad, and now have to call his loaner who will be just as, if not more, heartbroken. Thanks for all the support and vibes - it means a lot x
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I'm so sorry, and when you really thought he had turned the corner. :-(
 
To end this thread, he had an atrophied liver and kidneys. They don't know why; said he might have always been that way and his time ran out. They just couldn't do their functions any more. How can that happen? I guess there are no real answers. Maybe there was something else going on that the partial PM couldn't identify, but I have to live with that now.
 
how terribly sad for all involved. It could be something as simple as he ate something he shouldnt have been, or it could have been genetic. You at least know he had an issue that it would have been unlikely to recover fully from in any case. You did all you could, and going out loved and cared for is all any horse can ask for. Be very proud of yourself and your loaner x
 
I'm sorry. I'm glad you got some answers. It's not much consolation but, given the nature of his illness you know that everything possible that could be done was done. That might bring some comfort as time goes on.
 
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