Is it time to say good bye :'(

C

coloured_c0b

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 December 2011
Messages
228
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
My boy was diaganosed with osteoarthritis in April this year ( very well progressed) at the time of being diagnosed I was told to either pts or retire on a life time of bute. He had been doing ok but lately I've noticed he's walking alot slower from the field, hes holding his rail slightly raised ( thought this might suggest he's in pain) and just seems to have lost some of his spirit. Had a good cry about yesterday but today seemed a little more alert. I've increased his bute tonight n got the bet coming to see him next week. I'm preparing myself for the worst and really don't want my boy to suffer just wish he could tell me how he feels. Anyone Amy experience, this is my first lad and dreading having to make the decision! Sorry for the long post!!
 
So sorry that you are having to think about making that decision for your boy, I dread the time when I have to do that myself :(

Fingers crossed that he's not as bad as you think and you can have many more happy years with him.
 
A cob that used to be on my yard had the same and I know he had good days and bad, sometimes he overdid it trying to keep up with the others and the weather could affect him too. Sorry not much use but didn't want to read and not comment - hugs to you, hope the news from the vet is not as bad as you fear and others are able to give you better advice xx
 
I would add in a good joint supplement if he's not already on one as they can make the world of difference to how he feels.
Otherwise he will tell you when it's time, if his good days outnumber his bad days then work with him, keep him warm but moving so as much turnout as possible while not standing around in driving rain type weather and once his bad days outnumber the good ones then thats probably getting towards the time :(
 
I know this may sound daft, but what are his eyes telling you?

You know your horse best and must make that decision for him regardless of how much you want to keep him going, we can say what we think or would do, but it is up to you, your vet and your horse.

I would say that if he seems to be fading in spirit, and is having mobility problems and certainly problems getting up then personally, with my horses, that is the time.
Preferably with the sun on his back and his head in a bucket of goodies, he won't know a thing.

I won't be the only one to quote that old lemon "better a week too soon than a week too late"
 
Just like the others said- You will be able to tell when its time. I have no experience with horses but when It came to my dog who I had for 14 years, I could tell in his eyes he wanted to go. Im so sorry to hear you have to make this difficult decision it must be heart breaking :( thoughts are with you
 
He's on a joint supplement prescribed by the vet (synequin) and he's managing to get up n down for sleeping, the yard owner keeps an eye on him for me during the day. I definately agree I'd rather do it early than let him suffer another day than he needed to. My vet is very good very open and honest and as he saw him 2 months ago hell be able to honestly tell me his opinion. Hopefully he'll have many happy years left and has just felt a bit low with the weather. Thanks for your replies so far just think I needed to put something in words about it!!
 
I had my boy PTS last October due to arthritis and severe mobility problems. Believe me, you will know when it's time. If anyone had said that to me beforehand, I would have doubted them, but you really do know. Mine wasn't happy in his stable, but when I took him to the field he didn't want to be in there either. He deteriorated quite quickly at the end, so the decision was actually quite easy, although still heartbreaking for me. You also need to consider that once winter comes, the wet weather can be really hard for horses with arthritis and I was so glad I let mine go when I did as he would never have managed the wet winter we had here last year. Big hugs to you xx
 
My old girl is in her final 8 weeks now. She has severe OA too and although she can still get up ok (rolled in the mud yesterday) she ends up flat on her face very easily if she catches a toe and can't really cope with having to wade through deep muddy gateways. She stands there licking and chewing because she doesn't want to do it. She is very slow these days and it is really hard watching what was a sparky, lively girl who would round everyone up for a mad half hour each day, pottering about and seeming oblivious when the others spook at something or run around. Her eyes and ears are failing and I'm terrified of her going over and not being able to get up on wet ground. It actually wasn't a hard decision to make at all. In the last few weeks she has lost quite a bit of condition too and although I'm dreading making the final call to the vet (she is in agreement with my decision) and the day itself I know I'm doing the right thing for my best friend. Her 29 year old body is just plain worn out.
 
I lost my boy a month ago tomorrow through the same thing.

He was retired and managed on danilon. But in your heart you'll know when it's time just don't leave it to late.

Mine loved galloping round and he still had his good days. But his bad days were really bad where he'd literally take small steps and stop. He couldnt be stabled and I knew he wouldnt make another winter. I made the decision and had a final weekend with him, your emotions will be up and down. I was desperate to phone the vet and cancel but knew deep down I had to let go.

In a way I'm glad I did, the few days leading up to the dreaded day he looked fab but on his final day I could see it was enough.

The weather afterwards has been horrible, raining heavy everyday with cold winds that'd have done him no favours. He left with the sun on his back :)

My heart goes out to you, but if you feel it's time trust your instinct and let him go. Arthritis is a horrible, painful disease that ultimately you cannot cure.

Everyone told me I'd know when it's time but up until that point I just laughed but it is true.

Massive hugs to you, a lot of us have been there and know how you feel.

It's not nice but spoil him rotten and dont be too hard on yourself for making the right choice to end his pain. Be with him until the end and have someone supportive to help you.

PM me if you ever want to talk.

I miss my boy more then I can explain and think of him everyday but I'm at peace with my choice now xxx
 
Poor you, my mare has the same thing, she has also been struggling with summer pasture COPD. He breathing is stable ATM but I am dreading her arthritus getting worse when the mud and cold weather arrive. ATM she is looking and feeling good but I know its only time before I am in you situation. Be bravexxxx
 
I've just had to make that decision for a cat and for me it became too much. I simply felt like I was 'keeping him going'. Holding his tail high might be an indicator of pain, but see what the vet says. It is true that they tell you. My cat's eyes were sunken and his behaviour changed. Haven't made the decision, yet, for a horse, so I hope my resolve is as strong when the time comes. I agree with the comment above about the urge to cancel the appointment - that was unbearable!
 
fatpiggy said:
My old girl is in her final 8 weeks now. She has severe OA too and although she can still get up ok (rolled in the mud yesterday) she ends up flat on her face very easily if she catches a toe and can't really cope with having to wade through deep muddy gateways. She stands there licking and chewing because she doesn't want to do it. She is very slow these days and it is really hard watching what was a sparky, lively girl who would round everyone up for a mad half hour each day, pottering about and seeming oblivious when the others spook at something or run around. Her eyes and ears are failing and I'm terrified of her going over and not being able to get up on wet ground. It actually wasn't a hard decision to make at all. In the last few weeks she has lost quite a bit of condition too and although I'm dreading making the final call to the vet (she is in agreement with my decision) and the day itself I know I'm doing the right thing for my best friend. Her 29 year old body is just plain worn out.
Click to expand...

Can I ask why you are waiting 8 weeks if she is losing condition and already struggling?

OP see what the vet says play around with his bute dosage but as Enfys says, their eyes tell you when they have had enough xx
 
A very good friend has just decided that her 27-year-old arthritic mare will go at the end of September. She's bright enough in herself and still moving around OK but spends much of the time lying down and friend feels that, while that is fine while she's out on grass, she doesn't want to see her lying in the cold, wet and mud in the winter. She also struggles to get up and, again, this will be more of a problem when it's muddy. My friend hasn't made the decision lightly as she loves the old girl to bits but we have discussed it several times and always come to the "better a day too early than a day too late" conclusion. You will know when it's time - it's very tough but trust your judgment.
 
Baggybreeches said:
Can I ask why you are waiting 8 weeks if she is losing condition and already struggling?

OP see what the vet says play around with his bute dosage but as Enfys says, their eyes tell you when they have had enough xx
Click to expand...


Because she is eating well, she is still happy enough going out every day, her her drugs are controlling things to a reasonable degree and the vet says it is absolutely fine to give her the summer and then stop before the cold weather sets in. In fact, when I first asked the vet about putting her down, she was shocked as she knows how hard I've had to struggle to prevent her being put down due to her epilepsy for the last 15 years. She certainly isn't an emergency case but I'm not prepared to let her go into the winter or endure another 3 weeks of "Bonfire Night".
 
It's a very hard time when it first comes into your head 'perhaps this is it ',
It helps to prepare you for what's coming the thing is you know it's coming the horse does not and in this horses are often luckier than humans I would not allow one of my horses to endure what my grandparents did.
The vet will advise you but I would rather do it in the end of autumn planned that in the dead of winter forced.
Anyway it's horrible not easy at all but he's a lucky horse ,all horses who come to the end of life in a good private home with owners who can face the reality of the situation are.
 
My boy was PTS in June this year. It was the hardest decision of my life but he was deteriorating more and more due to joint problems. The hardest thing was the waiting as i thought that i could spoil him more but each day i dreaded what was coming. On the day he went he looked amazing, sun on his coat dragging me around i even asked the vet to cancel but he refused. When i look back at photos i realize how bad he was and i made the right decision. I think that when you see them every day you get used to the way they are and always hope for improvement. I used to search the internet continuously trying to find the best joint supplement for him or best diet. I would say do it earlier rather than later its still not easy thing to do.
 
fatpiggy said:
Because she is eating well, she is still happy enough going out every day, her her drugs are controlling things to a reasonable degree and the vet says it is absolutely fine to give her the summer and then stop before the cold weather sets in. In fact, when I first asked the vet about putting her down, she was shocked as she knows how hard I've had to struggle to prevent her being put down due to her epilepsy for the last 15 years. She certainly isn't an emergency case but I'm not prepared to let her go into the winter or endure another 3 weeks of "Bonfire Night".
Click to expand...

Ah OK, maybe I misinterpreted the state of her. Thank you for answering. God bless x
 
i've just had a 5yr old put to sleep today due too it becoming progressively more dangerous to ride and handle. Think something fairly serious was going on mentally/physically. He looked the picture of health and had been at my vets yard for the past four weeks to try and get to the bottom of his behaviour. We decided best thing was to have him put down before he hurt anyone seriously. It's the hardest decision you will ever have to make and over the past few days I have been sorely tempted to go pick him up and have him in my fields as a companion, however I can't take the risk and knew in my heart that enough was enough and to let him go while he wasn't in any more pain. You will know, and sometimes it just takes a few people reassuring you that you are doing the right thing by the horse, to make the call. I know it helped that everyone in my case knew the pony and knew that we had done all we could for him and not a single person questioned my decision. It hurts like hell but we only want what's best for our animals. I am fairly hard but I'm afraid I couldn't deal with being there today (normally fine to deal with anything being pts) so my wonderful vet oversaw everything as did Karl who had been handling and riding him.
 
We had our elderly mare pts in June. She hadn't laid down for a couple of years as far as we knew but still seemed happy enough plodding around the field with the others. She then started getting really stiff and lame and one day in early june her back end was giving away when she was trying to walk. We knew then that it was time. It was a lovely day and we gave her a long groom and lots of treats and our vet was great and handled it all and waited around for her to be collected so we didn't have to see that bit.
I agree with the others you will know when he's no longer happy and it will just feel like the right thing to do.
 
Sound just like my old boy.
I had him put to sleep in June.
I feel it was the right time before he suffered.
You will know when the time is right.

Just a word if warning if he is insured. Nfu are refusing my claim as they say he didn't meet the beva guide lines. I believe he did or would have very soon. So we are having a fight.
Its not about the money but the principal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top