Long term lameness PTS/field ornament- Thoughts

[McNally]

Chestnut Cob- sorry in reply to your question. When he's ok he grazes and mooches round happily, trots up to the gate with a little whinny when he see's my car and hoovers up his feed.
When he's inbetween jabs he just stands at the gate and windsucks, is just very quiet in himself and not very interested in anything apart from what he can suck on (even my pony!) He also wont eat much when he's like this. I have to hand feed him.

He gets bute when he's sore but up til recently that was only needed between steroid injections.

 

[ihatework]

Chestnut Cob- sorry in reply to your question. When he's ok he grazes and mooches round happily, trots up to the gate with a little whinny when he see's my car and hoovers up his feed.
When he's inbetween jabs he just stands at the gate and windsucks, is just very quiet in himself and not very interested in anything apart from what he can suck on (even my pony!) He also wont eat much when he's like this. I have to hand feed him.

He gets bute when he's sore but up til recently that was only needed between steroid injections.

Your horse gets bute mid injection cycle.
Also mid injection cycle you see an increase in windsucking and a downturn in his behaviour.

Bute is contra-indicated for horses with gatric ulcers. I would urge you to consult your vet and consider some gastric medication/supplements and a change in pain relief - you could end up with a vastly happier horse.

 

[Circe]

It s a horrible decision to make...
I had my old boy pts last wk. He was comfortable on bute after an injury, very happy enjoying his retirement ( he was over 30yrs ). I was happy to let him be a field ornament, he'd earnt the right.
Last wk he started needed more bute to be comfortable. I wasn't able to make him pain free.
The biggest thing for me was that he looked miserable and walked away from his feed. I made the decision then to pts.
Other people had different opinions, some thought I should have pts earlier, others thought he was ok to carry on, but I knew he was changed. I was told that they let you know, and he did in his way.
If your boy is showing signs of being uncomfortable and you cannot make him comfy ( I don't know how much bute he is on, is he on daily ? ), then I would consider pts before he starts to suffer. What does your vet think ?
I really feel for you.
Kx

 

[chestnut cob]

Chestnut Cob- sorry in reply to your question. When he's ok he grazes and mooches round happily, trots up to the gate with a little whinny when he see's my car and hoovers up his feed.
When he's inbetween jabs he just stands at the gate and windsucks, is just very quiet in himself and not very interested in anything apart from what he can suck on (even my pony!) He also wont eat much when he's like this. I have to hand feed him.

He gets bute when he's sore but up til recently that was only needed between steroid injections.

This sounds just like my dog who was on Metacam long term which resulted in gastric ulcers. Definitely talk to your vet about different pain relief as I suspect his change in behaviour/unhappiness is more related to the bute than anything else.

 

[McNally]

Oh gosh- no i'd never thought of that! He does have a stomach soother supplement but when he's not right like i say getting him to eat is hard so the time he's at his worst lameness and emotionally he's probably not getting much of it.

I was going to try Subsibute- any one used/had experience of it?

Cirlce- I'm sorry about your horse. It certainly sounds like you made the kindest decision xx

He seemed brighter this morning and ate his breakfast (and ponies breakfast!) Then at his Lunch visit he was away grazing which is the first time for a while so i'm encouraged by this and hoping the steroid is kicking in.
Am going to trot him up later and see how he's looking.