Juno not well, what to do now?

RuthnMeg

RuthnMeg

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 September 2009
Messages
3,502
Location
North Dorset
Visit site
The old girl, (who in reality isn't THAT old) is 24. We've known her since she was 4, and during this time has done pc/rc activities, hunted and been to local shows. She has also been passed around a few times after we sold her (our mistake for selling her) and it took 5 years to get her back. She is a bit of a stressy wizzy pony, has broken down on each front leg. (once walking back from cubbing she mis stepped into a puddle) and the other time was self inflicted in the field. she has been perminately retired now for about 4 years. She has had numerous injuries, and got many scars. She has been getting increasingly stiff over the last few years, the farrier has to be very gentle when picking up her feet.
BUT, over the last few days she has developed horrible oozy weeping scabs on her hind white socks, made her fetlocks puffy. She has also developed a lump on her off side flank, and can only manage to trot half way accross the field now before she gives up and looks tired. She isn't lame as such, just stiff. Another thing I've noticed is that her love for polos isn't so great, it took her twice as long to take one from me than it usually does. She just wasn't keen, kinda like she was in a trance. She is eating grass ok, and does a quick side step to dodge Penny who wants to play. She isn't getting any hard feed now, as she is ok weight wise. She looked very poor in March, but I am happy with her progress.
I've spoken to my mum about her,, and now thinking about 'that day'. A friend has an old horse, and he agreed that Juno could go with his on their last journey to the kennels, as a nice guesture of them both having company. BUT, now I am seriously thinking about it, I don't think Juno needs to be loaded as it would worry her.
My mind feels mushed, Juno looks much older in her eyes, and I so want to make the right choice. The vet came out 2 weeks ago and gave her a check up, he is due out again in 2 weeks. He told us what we already knew, but the old girl isn't in pain, so to carry on as we are.
Do you think because of her fetlocks, the lump and her seemingly tired is her immune system shutting down?

Sorry, I rambled a bit!!
 
Oh hunny.

I know what I would do, but that's me. You will of course make your own choice; it just sounds to me like she's in pain. Is she on any painkillers? Is the oozing things on her legs mud fever? What sort of lump is it?
 
Hard to judge without knowing the horse, but i you feel the time is right then it probably is. That 'look' in their eyes says it all for me.

I'd be inclined to give her the summer if she isn't too down and let her go in the Autumn, I prefer them done at home rather than transported, but as long as your horse doesn't stress with travelling then the kennels are an option.

If she is too depressed and looking miserable I'd say it needed doing sooner rather than later. xx
 
I am sorry to hear about your mare, who appears to be a very important family member.
Listen to what your vet tells you, but also listen to your mare. As mad as it sounds she will let you know when its her time and some how you'll know.

I would get the vet to check her new issues with the scabs and lump, and when did she last see a dentist? Maybe the issue with the polos is down to her teeth?

I cannot tell you what you should or shouldn't do, but just keep an open mind about it, and be prepared to make the decision.
 
Sounds like her time has come, and I personally would be saying goodbye to her this week, at home.

((((((( ))))))
 
Last edited:
MrsMozart said:
Oh hunny.

I know what I would do, but that's me. You will of course make your own choice; it just sounds to me like she's in pain. Is she on any painkillers? Is the oozing things on her legs mud fever? What sort of lump is it?
Click to expand...

The vet assured us she wasn't in pain, so she isn't on anything. We've been rubbing 'muddy marvel' into her legs as we have been told that works best. I suppose it is like mud fever, we just haven't had the damp nor the mud to 'create' it. Skin infection maybe? I don't know, I feel puzzled by it. As for the lump on her off side flank, my gut feeling is it is some form of growth. We declined the vet to take a biopsy 2 weeks ago, going to keep an eye and when vet comes back in 2 weeks will have a rethink. Doesn't effect the pony, isn't painful for her.
I just know that time is getting closer.
 
i think if it was me i'd be preparing myself to say goodbye within the next couple of weeks.
it's the look in their eyes that makes me come to a final decision.

it's never easy but at the end of the day you know your horse better than the vet, you will have to listen to the vet as well as your horse.
 
my oldie went through a phase...............i tried energy-G, a liquid vit and iron supplment, he perked up and i had him for another 6 yrs. i am not saying that this is a wonder cure, but oldies have trouble absorbing the correct nutrients from the feed, so if she is a bit aneamic and also lacking in vits this might be the issue with the sores etc. we saw a difference in about 2 weeks, relative cheap just added to a bit of feed. i agree with amymay about thinking about the time etc, but i have a feeling that you would like to try and see.

don't forget the mud fever will be sore so you probably would not want to be running around either

when the vet pops back, ask him to check her heart at rest and after a small bit of exercise (walking)
 
Last edited:
hollyandivy123 said:
my oldie went through a phase...............i tried energy-G, a liquid vit and iron supplment, he perked up and i had him for another 6 yrs. i am not saying that this is a wonder cure, but oldies have trouble absorbing the correct nutrients from the feed, so if she is a bit aneamic and also lacking in vits this might be the issue with the sores etc. we saw a difference in about 2 weeks, relative cheap just added to a bit of feed. i agree with amymay about thinking about the time etc, but i have a feeling that you would like to try and see.

don't forget the mud fever will be saw so you probably would not want to be running around either
Click to expand...

Thankyou for your idea... will give it a try!
 
Agree with hollyandivy and amymay. On the upside, it's always worth trying something different - and sometimes a personal recommendation will work for your horse just as well as a vet's prescription.

But if all fails, have Juno put down at home,with no stress and really quick, not waggoned off to the kennels or the abbattoir. I know it costs, but by all you say she has been a wonderful friend to you. Now it's payback time. Also, if she's put down your other horse will see - and understand. I'd always been told to let the companions see the dead horse, and have always done so. Last weeked we sadly lost one of our liveries. The owner, somewhat hysterical, insisted on him being covered up instantly with a tarpaulin as "I don't want people seeing!" With the result that the two remaining horses are still grieving and bewildered.

Anyway, give other treatments a try. And all the best for your old girl.
 
Is she showing any cushings symptoms? An old girlie on my yard got mud fever when there was no mud, and her owner said it was due to cushings - not sure if that's a fact or just opinion, but something to think about?

I would definately feed her a feed balancer, as they do have more problems absorbing things from the grass in their old age.

best of luck.
 
I'd try some vit and mins first before taking any action, just incase it's just that. Only being on the grass with no hard feed can effect the older horse.
Walking out in hand every other day, to keep the limbs moving. Horses get old once they stop work.

If she is still like it in a month then i'd seriously think about having her PTS at home if she is stressy about travel.
24 isn't that old but you know your horse better than anyone.

We got a 27 yr old welsh A that when it came to us from a permanant loan home looked like he was going to give up and die any minute, told real owner that we'd give him two weeks in our field but if he didn't pick up then it was time to say goodbye....we changed his feed sloppy 16+.

He then jumped out over 3ft fencing to join other horses in big field (11.2hh), now a year on he is worked by 8 yr old twins twice a week, is a total monster with no manners (angel with kids) gets away with it as he is old and small!!!!

Totally different pony, comes cantering down for his food shouting and has the spark back in his eye.
 
Well, it sounds as though your vet thinks you don't have to make any final decisions just yet. keep talking to them and work on getting the legs comfy as a starting point :-)

When you do have to decide I quite agree about the loading. Personally unless an animal travels regularly and well adn is fit to do so then I wouldn't consider it. It is more expensive to do these things at home but we do them at all in order to relieve suffering so I figure that doing them in the nicest possible way for the animal (who won't understand any poetic justice about going to the hounds if horse was previously hunted etc, etc) is worth the extra. If horse loves being boxed, go for it. If horse loves being at home with carrots then that is fine too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top