Nearing the end.

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dozzie

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I think we are nearing the end with my old horse. He has cushings and is losing weight rapidly despite being fed 3 scoops of fast fibre and two scoops of speedibeet per day, plus hay although he cant eat it due to his lack of teeth.

He is not on pergolide but tbh i think the weight loss is possibly something else on top of the cushings as it seems to be getting worse. He did pick up but has gone down hill again. Pretty rapidly tbh. But he is still perky and eating.

My heart says call the vet and run tests to see if there is anything I can do but my head says call it a day and dont waste the money. We are not talking about a youngster. Let him go whlslt he still has some dignity and is still strong enough to stand.

I dont need hugs but maybe a word of support as I really feel quite harsh about making this decision as there is a financial side to it. If I felt throwing money at him would help I would but tbh it isnt really going to make a lot of difference now. There is no way I can take him through another winter as he is anyway. I am thinking half term tbh and it will be the hunt that are called.

Just feel like a really bad mum.

I have had him for 30 years...
 
You are not being a bad mum, it sounds like he has had a long life with you, I am guessing he is quite old as you say you have had him 30years.
You know in your heart of hearts what is best for him and perhaps if he is really deteriorating you should pts.
I am so sorry, it must be incredibly tough, but it sounds like the kindest thing.
My friends mare is 34 and I think she knows this is her last summer as she has various ailments and the back legs are going.
You know your boy better than anyone, if he is losing that spark then I think its perhaps time x
 
If he's not going to make it through another winter, and he's going downhill, and you can't get weight on him, then it would be kinder on all to give him a good couple of days, something to eat that he can deal with, then go with the sun on his back.

Will send a hug anyway (stick it in a drawer for later).
 
You can't be a 'bad mum' you've had him for 30 years.

I am sure you are making the right decision, you don't have a horse for that long and not know what is right for him.

His dignity is an important fact, don't let him lose too much, you will know when the time is right.

I just read in a book "Having a horse put down can be a heart-rending decision, but it is the owner's ultimate responsibility to his horse."

Good luck and be strong for him.
 
I hope this doesn't come across as brutal but I think you should do it now while he's feeling okish. It sounds like he owes you nothing and perhaps you owe him a dignified end.

Last summer one of the horses at our yard was pts. She was very old and very arthritic and on constant pain relief. Her best times were in the warm weather and her owner decided to let her go at this point. Thinking that another winter would be an awful end. At that point she didn't know how cold and icey the winter was going to be. At many points of the winter I thought of that horse and how I was glad she had gone when she did.
 
I have put two down over the last two years from old age. Basil our shire had arthritis in his hip and I was terrified of him going down and not being able to get up. Generally he was well enough despite nearing 30 but he was finding it hard to keep weight on. It was desperately hard to do but it felt right afterwards as I know he never lost his dignity. Likewise my old mare, sometimes you just know it's time. Do what feels right!
As my vet said, 'you could give me a million pounds but I can't make him any younger!'
 
Moggyinmanolos said:
You are not being a bad mum, it sounds like he has had a long life with you, I am guessing he is quite old as you say you have had him 30years.
You know in your heart of hearts what is best for him and perhaps if he is really deteriorating you should pts.
I am so sorry, it must be incredibly tough, but it sounds like the kindest thing.
My friends mare is 34 and I think she knows this is her last summer as she has various ailments and the back legs are going.
You know your boy better than anyone, if he is losing that spark then I think its perhaps time x
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He is 32 but he hasnt lost his spark tbh.That makes it harder. He trots over for his food. I am having to work hard on his coat to keep him comfy. He has a grade 5 heart murmour so not ridden even before the cushings took hold.
 
Hugs anyway.Its a horrible situation.I don't think you should feel bad about considering the finance.He has had a long and no doubt very happy life and I expect you would spend the money if you seriously thought it would do any good.Go with your gut feeling.God bless.
 
You're being a good mum not a bad one. My old girl is 34 and still happy in work a couple of times a week. She's on dengie hifi senior and we give her buckets of it in her field as her teeth are pretty ropey now. She manages it better than hay. She's still keeping the weight on at the moment. But I have already decided that I will not intervene and keep her going for the sake of it. She will go quickly when the time comes. She owes me nothing (I've had her since she was 5), and I owe her dignity and a quiet end. I wish more people took as much care as you do for their oldies. You have my respect and support.
 
ladyearl said:
I hope this doesn't come across as brutal but I think you should do it now while he's feeling okish. It sounds like he owes you nothing and perhaps you owe him a dignified end.

Last summer one of the horses at our yard was pts. She was very old and very arthritic and on constant pain relief. Her best times were in the warm weather and her owner decided to let her go at this point. Thinking that another winter would be an awful end. At that point she didn't know how cold and icey the winter was going to be. At many points of the winter I thought of that horse and how I was glad she had gone when she did.
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That is how I feel tbh! I feel bloody brutal but I would rather he went still okish. He isnt on painkillers or anything (well he is having cushinaze now) but this is a horse who lived on fresh air so to see him so thin makes me think there is something else going on. TBH I am thinking put him on some grass for a few days and then pts before lami sets in!
 
eahotson said:
Hugs anyway.Its a horrible situation.I don't think you should feel bad about considering the finance.He has had a long and no doubt very happy life and I expect you would spend the money if you seriously thought it would do any good.Go with your gut feeling.God bless.
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Yes I would . If he was injured I would pay the vet bill without thinking. Even now! If he went down with colic I would pay for pain relief. If he was lame I would have it checked out. I wouldnt let him him suffer.

But no amount of money is going to make him 10 years younger. If he was 10 years younger I would have no qualms about putting him onto pergolide.

"I wouldnt let him suffer". Thanks eohotson you have made me realise this is why I know I have to do this.
 
What a lucky boy to spend almost his whole life with someone who cares for him so much. You know him inside out after that long, and you are being an excellent mum to the end. It's a nice time to go, with a belly full of spring grass and sunshine on his back. Give him a hug from me, and have one for you too.
 
A gut-wrenching decision and one I think you have already made. Have been there and sympathise.

Better to choose a day when he is as well as he can be, even if (as I know you will) you wish to change your mind as the time approaches. You have been a great Mum, Dozzie and that is the greatest gift you can give to any other living being.

Best wishes and good luck

Kate
 
All I can say is that only you will know and please don't let any of us sway you either way ..... you know your horse ....

This is a decision, that I am dreading ............
 
You have served him well, and you're making the right decision.
He has obviously had a very special and happy 30 years with you. Like anything with horses; finish it on a good note.
xxx
 
I had to make this decision almost a year ago, my mare was 35 and had been with me since she was 5. She also had cushings and sudddenly started to lose weight rapidly. I had already made the decision not to put her through another winter, so spoke to the kennel man at our local hunt and chose a nice warm evening when she had been out in the sun all day. My OH had already dug the hole ( she is buried with various dogs, cats etc... we have our own land ). I gave her a feed as the kennel man arrived and strangly enough she had gone and stood right next to the hole. I held her the whole time until she had gone and then went back into the house as I didn't want to see her being buried. I think in your heart of hearts you know when the time comes and that you owe it to your horses not to put them through pain but to let them go with dignity and while they still have some quality of life.
 
He's a lucky horse to have had the same home for so long :) I would agree with the person who said to give him a few days/weeks of enjoyment then let him go with dignity. Fill the time with things he enjoys :) Readigrass in a bucket mixed with soaked grass/alfalfa cubes is quite good for horses with dental issues- I knew a 34 year old with his back teeth missing (but not the front ones! He used to use them a lot to make up for it. Mainly biting people who were rugging him up ;)) who managed to eat that.

Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be the right decision- after looking after a horse for so long you know him VERY well.
 
You sound like one of the best mums to be taking this decision so seriously. I think the question you need to ask yourself is whether any treatment you give him now will prolong his life or his death. If he has reached the point where he's not going to get any better, what's the point in hanging on? I was very lucky that my old boy took the decision away from me as he went with his first ever bout of colic aged 27, he was only ill for three hours but the vet couldn't do anything, but I have seen too many go on longer than they should have because their owners can't let go.
 
Hey honey.

Poor Ricky, I didnt realise that he had dropped off even more.

Your in no way a bad mum. All your horses are so lucky to have you as their mum. He has had a cracking life with you and now seems like it might be the right time to say goodbye to him. I think when there is a big enough reason then its the kindest thing to do. Id rather any of mine go with dignity.

Lots of love, call me if you want xxxxx
 
u sound like a wonderful mum and im sure he feeld blessed to have spent so long with u! A vet once said to me its better to Pts a month to early rather than a day to late, its the hardest decision to make and will always break our heart so sending massive hugs!!!
 
I just wanted to add a few words of support on this decision.

I know first hand how well cared for all your horses are and without a doubt its the right thing to do - but hugs anyway as its such a hard situation.
 
You must be a wonderful Mum, you have had him for 30 years, and this post alone shows how much you care for him and how you want to do the right thing. I haven't been in the position you are in so I can only guess how you must feel and how difficult this must be, but I think if it was me i too would want to let him go now whilst he is still perky, rather than see him go downhill.

All the best with what you decide, and I know you say you don't need them but {{hugs}} all the same.
 
I too have been in a similar postion, the Old Appy was about 33 and had been with us since she was 8 or 9. She had dropped a lot of weight, despite being stuffed with food, had lost a fair few teeth and gone from being a good doer who put weight on at a sniff of grass, to a bit of a hat rack. She had been retired for about 3 years as she refused to slow down and I did not want her to die of being worn out after pratting about. We gave her one last summer, and actually put the date back to October in the end, and she had the best six weeks of weather that year. The day the deed was done it took me ages to get her across the field, as she was so stiff, when she got to the yard she realised there was a man there, glared at me, presumably for not telling her there was feller there! She sashayed into the yard, gave him the benefit of her best eley lash flutter, had a last meal and went down to the gun. She died much as she lived and I can honestly say that while it was one of the saddest days ever, it was the best thing I could do for her, to pay back all the fun times she had given me. I am sure you will do the right thing for him, if only we could have them back as they were in their prime, but they too are only mortal.
Best wishes
G
 
Since it is you alone that has to live with the decision and any regrets, it should be left to you. There is nothing wrong in letting them go sooner rather than later and it's really the least and last good thing we can do for a good servant and friend. Timing it right means squaring it with yourself and him and staying firm with your belief that the time is now.

A few days of hearty munching in the sun will go down well I imagine, then off to the bridge. There are so many of ours already there, he won't be lonely while he waits for you...

I hope his passing is peaceful, whenever it happens. A (hug) for later, in case you need one.
 
I'd echo absolutely everything that everyone has said and add the old maxim, it's better a week too soon than a day too late. But just wanted to add, if your ned can't eat hay any more then you could try feeding him as many times a day that you can manage, rather than just twice. It's hard for the oldies to get enough calories when the teeth are gone so little and very, very often can help x
 
I have just put him on cushinaze so will see how he goes. I clearly havent given up quite yet. It is the speed at which his weight has dropped in the last two weeks that makes me think it is something else. Prior to that he was picking up again.
He has just come charging over for his breakfast bless him.

Having seen him this morning I will give the vet a ring and have some bloods done. Just to rule out a liver problem. Although IME liver problems lead to decreased appetite so not really sure.
 
Pergolide is very, very cheap. If your vet will do a prescription, it is really only pennies. However, I think Pergolide wouldn't have anything to offer if laminitis isn't a problem.

I personally couldn't give up on a life that is bright and interested until infirmity threatens either the ability to do basic things (move, get up, lie down and eat comfortably) or health. An elderly horse can manage on grass and a fibre mush, but the weight loss is a sign some degree of investigation is in order, and findings may well help considerably in making the final decision.

I think you are being sensible and generous and you obviously adore him. He's a very lucky boy.
 
my head says call it a day and dont waste the money. We are not talking about a youngster. Let him go whlslt he still has some dignity and is still strong enough to stand.
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I completely agree - and this is what I would do.
 
Have a chat with your vet first, discuss the blood tests.

You need to do what ever you feel comfortable with. But I do think that any owner who wants to PTS when then know their horse is about to go downhill, to save putting them through it is being totally selfless. Good for you.

I PTS my boy under slightly more pressure last year. He had been quite ill for a few months (chronic Diarrhoea, under post morten found out because of melanomas) and the vet and I knew that he was going to colic because of it in the next 24-48 hours. There was nothing more we could do for the underlying condition. So I gave 1 last hour in the field and then had him PTS there and then. I'd had him 10 yrs and he was everything to me, and even the vet said she couldn't believe how brave I was being. But I had to to it for him.

I hope you're ok.
 
I would let him go tbh, he's just about comfortable now and enjoying some warmer weather. I also think after 30 years you shouldn't feel guilty about the financial aspects as you have supported him a lot longer than most.

I am letting my 25 yrs TB go at the end of the summer as he is beginning to get very thin and rickety despite being well fed, tended etc. I don't want to have to wait for him to start collapsing before making the decision and at 17hh i'd have no chance of getting him back on his feet.

Good luck its never easy.
 
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