In light of the Human vs Animals thread..

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Starbucks

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It confuses me a bit in that vets seem to be so keen to advise PTS as being the best option?

My mums old horse Caffrey is 17, he's had quite a hard hunting life but loved every second of it. He has DDFT damage in his foot and the vet doesn't think it will get any better, wear and tear over the years he think. He was quite lame when he the vet saw him and said kindest thing would be PTS - but then as since he came back from the vet he hasn't been bad at all! Certainly at a level where he can have a nice bit of retirement with a bit of bute to take the edge off - he's probably about 1/10 in walk and 3/10 in trot but totally cheerful.

Why are they so keen to PTS? :-/
 
Starbucks said:
It confuses me a bit in that vets seem to be so keen to advise PTS as being the best option?

My mums old horse Caffrey is 17, he's had quite a hard hunting life but loved every second of it. He has DDFT damage in his foot and the vet doesn't think it will get any better, wear and tear over the years he think. He was quite lame when he the vet saw him and said kindest thing would be PTS - but then as since he came back from the vet he hasn't been bad at all! Certainly at a level where he can have a nice bit of retirement with a bit of bute to take the edge off - he's probably about 1/10 in walk and 3/10 in trot but totally cheerful.

Why are they so keen to PTS? :-/
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Most aren't, as the younger ones seem to want to use each and every diagnostic and therapy tool known to man. TBH a vet who gives the advice to pts, in the above scenario, is one who I would prefer to use :)
 
But then my dad is about 7/10 lame in walk and he doesn't want putting to sleep!

We won't keep him going forever or if he seems like it's bothering him but honestly, unless you really looked closely you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with him!
 
YorksG said:
Most aren't, as the younger ones seem to want to use each and every diagnostic and therapy tool known to man. TBH a vet who gives the advice to pts, in the above scenario, is one who I would prefer to use :)
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Well yes - I am glad he didn't go down that route TBH... could be expensive and make the life he's got left less enjoyable!
 
Starbucks said:
Well yes - I am glad he didn't go down that route TBH... could be expensive and make the life he's got left less enjoyable!
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Ahh so I guess he's living with you, has absolutely no income and you're paying for all his food and every piece of medical care he receives until your credit card runs out, then you'll ship him off to some country in the EU that agrees with euthanasia.
 
Starbucks said:
He was quite lame when he the vet saw him and said kindest thing would be PTS - but then as since he came back from the vet he hasn't been bad at all!
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But your vet was making a recommendation on the 'quite lame' horse he had in front of him... Not the slightly lame horse pottering around quite comfortably...

Starbucks said:
But then my dad is about 7/10 lame in walk and he doesn't want putting to sleep!

We won't keep him going forever or if he seems like it's bothering him but honestly, unless you really looked closely you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with him!
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You might want to have a chat with your Dad first... :D
 
I think PTS is quite an extreme conclusion for a 1/10 and 3/10 lame horse :confused: It's all about quality of life for me, even if a horse is slightly lame (if it has any sense, it'll stick to walking, then again ....) but is still perky and enjoying life and food then there's no reason to PTS.
 
Starbucks said:
It confuses me a bit in that vets seem to be so keen to advise PTS as being the best option?

My mums old horse Caffrey is 17, he's had quite a hard hunting life but loved every second of it. He has DDFT damage in his foot and the vet doesn't think it will get any better, wear and tear over the years he think. He was quite lame when he the vet saw him and said kindest thing would be PTS - but then as since he came back from the vet he hasn't been bad at all! Certainly at a level where he can have a nice bit of retirement with a bit of bute to take the edge off - he's probably about 1/10 in walk and 3/10 in trot but totally cheerful.

Why are they so keen to PTS? :-/
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Because he's in pain all the time I can't bear seeing old retired horses limping round fields IMO its just plain cruel.
 
He isn't 1/10th lame and 3/10th lame. That isn't how it works. Unless you're Sue Dyson I believe who does grade them separately.

If he's 1/10th lame in walk he's actually about 6/10th lame :confused: ie pretty blimming lame?

If you think he's happy then he probably is, you know him best of course, but I'm not entirely surprised the vet is suggesting PTS for a horse that is 6/10ths lame with no chance of improvement tbh. Lame in walk is probably not a good indication of a pain free horse IMHO.
 
jesstickle said:
He isn't 1/10th lame and 3/10th lame. That isn't how it works. Unless you're Sue Dyson I believe who does grade them separately.

If he's 1/10th lame in walk he's actually about 6/10th lame :confused: ie pretty blimming lame?

If you think he's happy then he probably is, you know him best of course, but I'm not entirely surprised the vet is suggesting PTS for a horse that is 6/10ths lame with no chance of improvement tbh. Lame in walk is probably not a good indication of a pain free horse IMHO.
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Sound in walk is the line that I draw in the sand when making the retire verses PTS desision if they are not sound in walk I PTS I just think a flight animal like the horse who spends most of its life on its feet needs that as a minimum requirement if you going to retire them .
 
My vet said my lad is no where near ready to be PTS, even though he has arthritis in all 4 legs, shiver and knackered suspensory ligamanents and is unrideable, he is lame in trot but its not a huge degree, but he can still give it a good go in the field when he wants too.
 
Vets vary just like owners in their approach to this issue.
Of course some situations are black and white a badly broken limb , total liver or kidney failure but most are not it's the owner choice and responsiblity to make this call for their horse.
 
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