Is it time to pts?

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Farma

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I am facing a hard decision, my wonderful horse who is now 19 has had navicular for many years, has an old fracture in her shoulder and arthritis in several places but most notably her hocks. She has been in ridden work which has been limited.
Recently she has become notably lame ESP showing from the left hock, the front feet which are had remedial shoeing for the last 11 years are becoming harder to balance because of her conformation.
The vet has said we should try 2 bute a day for a week and then discuss again.
I have noticed that when she trots away in the field she struggles and also leaving her stable in the morning.
Would anyone peruse further treatment or pts? I am struggling with the thought of saying goodbye to her but also want to make sure I do the absolute best for her.
Any thoughts most welcome!
 
Farma said:
I am facing a hard decision, my wonderful horse who is now 19 has had navicular for many years, has an old fracture in her shoulder and arthritis in several places but most notably her hocks. She has been in ridden work which has been limited.
Recently she has become notably lame ESP showing from the left hock, the front feet which are had remedial shoeing for the last 11 years are becoming harder to balance because of her conformation.
The vet has said we should try 2 bute a day for a week and then discuss again.
I have noticed that when she trots away in the field she struggles and also leaving her stable in the morning.
Would anyone peruse further treatment or pts? I am struggling with the thought of saying goodbye to her but also want to make sure I do the absolute best for her.
Any thoughts most welcome!
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can only give coment on a livery


30 years old

has navicular for many years had cortizone which helped now just had another course still lightly hacked on joint supplement.

May soon go on a low dose danilon.


I would ask your vet first before you go any further a good joint supplement can help

Qualifeid for the regional finals show in veteran
 
Thanks for the replies, I cant believe how difficult this is, I thought I would just know when the time was right but am completely on the fence as to whether I persue medicating joints etc or maintaining bute daily or pts while she isnt suffering too much as when the cold sets it could be alot harder to keep her even field sound.
Its worse that the horse isnt even that old, you dont expect to see your horse a bit lame and have to decide whether it should live or die.
I have always felt quite matter of fact about horses being pts when they are no longer soundf but now its mine I feel totally on the fence. So hard :(
 
Would it be possible (or helpful) to leave her out 24/7 so she doesn't stiffen up in the stable ? If the shoeing is not helping, how about taking them off so, along with the farrier's expertise, she can balance her own feet to some degree ?
Sometimes, when you know your horse very well, you probably know better than the vet, who sees them for only a short while, what is best in the long term.
I'm really sorry you're facing this dilemma, its so hard when trying to be fair to them and wanting to do what's best.
 
horserider, Thanks for the kind reply, she has lived out previously and will do happily if I so choose but I fear that come winter this will not be beneficial for arthritis, I could be wrong but I fear that I could make her worse by putting her out esp if it is snowy or icy. I also have to manage her weight carefully as she is a part heavy horse and a seriously good doer.
We tried the barefoot route when she was 1st diagnosed but she was horrendously lame and we decided to use remedial shoeing instead which has kept her sound with no other treatment for over 10 years now. I asked the vet if we could take the shoes off and she thinks that I may make a problem to other areas of the leg ie the tendons as she has had her heels raised for so many years now.
 
I see you've been there and have the T-shirt as regards her management.:D
Hope the vet is able to give you an objective assessment then which will help you to decide, or to not decide to decide for now.

I'm no help, but I do know its so b***** hard when they can't tell you how they're feeling.
 
If you have £300 to spare why don't you get her hocks fused with ethanol. This is pure alcohol and is non evasive insomuch as its one injection into the hock, a contrast dye is added, the hock is xrayed and if suitable (i.e the contrast dye goes straight or downwards according the the xray) the vet can then proceed to injectiong the alcohol. The alcohol kills the nerves in the hock which straight away results in lack of pain. There is hardly any lay off period, the horse can go out straight away in the field, there is no risk of laminitis as it is not steroid based and the hocks will eventually fuse in 18 months or so.

Might be worth considering, if you want more details please PM me. I'd consider it if I were in your shoes if your horses main problem appears to be related to the arthritis in her hocks. If the navicular can be managed I think you have your solution xx
 
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Nugget La Poneh said:
For me, the fact you are asking suggests that it possibly is the time :(

Hugs for whatever you decide
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I totally agree with this. A year ago today I had to make that dreadful decision for my boy and he was only 10 years old :( he too had navicular, sacroiliac issues and arthritis of the stifle.

It came to a head when he had a bit of a run around in the field and went lame AGAIN.

I had to be strong with myself and remind myself that I had to do what was best for him and not was best for me :( I really didn't want to let him go and I felt robbed on his behalf that he had only had 10 years poor boy.

A few years back a good friend of mine said "better a day too early than a day too late" I have always agreed with this.

You will know I but if you are struggling, your vet sounds like they know your horse and would probably be the best ones to advise you.

Take care
 
Farma said:
horserider, Thanks for the kind reply, she has lived out previously and will do happily if I so choose but I fear that come winter this will not be beneficial for arthritis,

We had an elderly mare ( over 30 ) that had arthritis and she was an ArabX but she was far better being kept out even over winter as she didn't stiffen up by being confined in a stable. Saying that we were able to leave the field gates open so she had access to her stable at all times. Would that be an option for you or a field shelter perhaps. You will come to the right decision for your horse as you will know whats best for her.
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neddynesbitt said:
I totally agree with this. A year ago today I had to make that dreadful decision for my boy and he was only 10 years old :( he too had navicular, sacroiliac issues and arthritis of the stifle.

It came to a head when he had a bit of a run around in the field and went lame AGAIN.

I had to be strong with myself and remind myself that I had to do what was best for him and not was best for me :( I really didn't want to let him go and I felt robbed on his behalf that he had only had 10 years poor boy.

A few years back a good friend of mine said "better a day too early than a day too late" I have always agreed with this.

You will know I but if you are struggling, your vet sounds like they know your horse and would probably be the best ones to advise you.

Take care
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i feel your pain as i had to have my yearling put to sleep 2 weeks ago after she has surgery on her hock for ocd lesions and the surgery failed i am also a firm believer better a day early than a day late.

OP i feel that in your heart you have made the decisions and your horse will thank you of this
 
tikino said:
i feel your pain as i had to have my yearling put to sleep 2 weeks ago after she has surgery on her hock for ocd lesions and the surgery failed i am also a firm believer better a day early than a day late.

OP i feel that in your heart you have made the decisions and your horse will thank you of this
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Thanks for the reply, I'm sorry you had to go through that how devastating for you.
I really am on the fence but am remaining optimistic until the end of the bute trial then will just go from there depending on the vets advise and how she is looking at the time. I appreciate the advice and will retain the 'day early than a day late' in my mind should I need it.
 
You have my sympathies, I'm in much the same place, I've been on the fence for a long time and have swayed from one end of the scale to the other over the last few months. Its a horrible position to be in.

Yesterday my little lad, (arthritic knees, suspected navi, previous concussive lami and ligamint problems) a.k.a hop-a-long, came in from the field slightly lame in trot but fine in walk yet other days he's stiff/lame in the walk and very noticbly lame in trot. All this on a bute every day, or every other day, or sometimes two a day depending on how he seems when I bring him in at nights. Yet hes 100% bright eyed and enthusiastic about life, loves to hooly about and is his general pesky self.

Making an appointment to chat through options with my vet next week :(
 
Farma said:
I cant believe how difficult this is, I thought I would just know when the time was right but am completely on the fence as to whether I persue medicating joints etc or maintaining bute daily or pts while she isnt suffering too much as when the cold sets it could be alot harder to keep her even field sound.
Its worse that the horse isnt even that old, you dont expect to see your horse a bit lame and have to decide whether it should live or die.
I have always felt quite matter of fact about horses being pts when they are no longer soundf but now its mine I feel totally on the fence. So hard :(
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I could have written this post back in January, just before I made the decision to let my old boy Robbie go.:(
He was only 17, but had been retired for about 18months due to ongoing lameness issues. Like you, I was really struggling with the idea of having him put down so young, without trying further treatments. He was also still bright in himself, eating and looking well, but wouldn't always go for a hoon round the field when his mates did.
In the end, I had a long chat with my very lovely vet, which made me realise that any treatment we could do would only really delay the inevitable, and that there was no way of knowing for sure how much discomfort he was in.
I still get sad thinking about it, but I don't regret having him put down.

I'm not saying this is the right decision right now for your mare, but I also don't think it would be the worst decision you could make for her.

I'm sorry you're having to make make this call, it's never easy when it's your own horse. :(
 
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