Pts, honest opnions please

Please give me your opnions said:
Yes, I believe the one thing we owe them is to do this for them. In all honesty, if my pony had fallen down on the way to the field I would have called a vet :( I know that sounds harsh - I had my 44 year old pony put down before he had shown any reason really but I knew his body was giving up and I was desperate for him to go happy and healthy. He jumped two gates and a hedge the day he went, I have never regretted it - had he gone down at any point I really would have regretted not doing it sooner. You know your pony and what is normal, I'm sure you'll do your best by him.
Click to expand...
 
Yes i would pts a horse to avoid it suffering in the future.
But then i'd also have called the vet today, and not for a chat, for an emergency call out.
Your horse was so bad you are seriously considering putting him to sleep yet wasn't bad enough to need a vet?
Sorry but the two don't add up, you should have had the vet when he went down and should have discussed pts with your vet, asking on here should be in addition to vetinary advise, not a substitute for it.

I do wish your horse well, and hope you make the right decision by him and i'm sorry if my post seems blunt regarding getting the vet, but it's honestly how I feel and i will not be the only one who feels this way.
 
Buds_mum said:
In my heart of hearts, and I know this is ridiculously selfish I know I don’t want to see him ill, stiff or not himself.
Click to expand...

No. It is absolutely not selfish to make the decision to put a horse down to stop them from suffering OP. Please put that out of your mind because however other people around you may make you feel, you would be doing the right thing for your horse if you were to choose PTS to stop him from deteriorating into a bad state. I'm not saying you should be calling the hunt right now, but when the time is right, it won't be a selfish decision.

I would second the advice to get the vet out and have a look. Also, assuming he bounces back, I would start considering your options now. Get everything straight in your mind so that when the time comes, you have all the arrangements that you need to make done and dusted and all you have to do is pick up the phone. Then put it to the back of your mind and enjoy your boy while he's still healthy, knowing that once he is not healthy you are ready to do the right thing.

The information on this page might help with that: http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/information/just_in_case
 
I don't agree with having horses put to sleep whilst they are healthy and happy rather than waiting for them to suffer. I do, however believe that horses should be PTS immediately they BEGIN to suffer, if they could not reasonably be expected to make a good recovery. How can you put a horse to sleep if it is really enjoying life? A small amount of suffering at the end and being quickly put out of it's misery, is the most humane thing in my mind, otherwise they are robbed of weeks, months, even years of quality life, and life is a precious thing.
 
The way he was stumbling and stood with legs out, could it be laminitis?
Or other foot soreness but just the stiffness?

I hope he feels better quickly.
I would get the vet to check him over.
 
Wagtail said:
I don't agree with having horses put to sleep whilst they are healthy and happy rather than waiting for them to suffer. I do, however believe that horses should be PTS immediately they BEGIN to suffer, if they could not reasonably be expected to make a good recovery. How can you put a horse to sleep if it is really enjoying life? A small amount of suffering at the end and being quickly put out of it's misery, is the most humane thing in my mind, otherwise they are robbed of weeks, months, even years of quality life, and life is a precious thing.
Click to expand...

In part, I agree with you. However, the horse will never know just how much 'quality' life it had ahead of it, they are not being 'robbed' of anything. Of course life is precious, but in the case of a slightly 'early' demise, the only person who may suffer is the owner, if they beat themselves up with guilt.

OP - you will make the best decision for your horse, we all try to. Sometimes we have to struggle to listen to them, though, particularly if they are trying to tell us something we don't want to hear. ((( HUGS )))
 
Last edited:
I decided two weeks ago that I'm not going to put my 29 year old through another winter. She struggled enough this year and it wasn't particularly cold or wet. She is full of arthritis and although she is quite bright (when she is awake) and seems happy enough she is just plain tired. It is getting to be real problem trimming her hooves, particularly her back ones because she just can't hoik her legs ups any more (I do the trimming myself). It breaks my heart to see a horse that was so sparky and energetic, plodding around and spending half the day asleep. I want her to be able to go with some dignity, not lying in a puddle unable to get back up. The day I bought her was the happiest of my life, the day I lose her will be the worst.
 
Honest opinions OP? I think I would be banned if I gave them to you in all honesty.

FatPiggy, you've made a very sad for you but sensible and humane decision for your treasure putting her before your own feelings; I so wish some other people would do the same for their own.
 
Maesfen said:
Honest opinions OP? I think I would be banned if I gave them to you in all honesty.

FatPiggy, you've made a very sad for you but sensible and humane decision for your treasure putting her before your own feelings; I so wish some other people would do the same for their own.
Click to expand...

^5 To this
 
How is the horse this morning OP?

Ours were all a bit shocked by the weather this morning I think, and some were shivering a little (rugged) first thing when it was still snowing, a nice breakfast and lots of hay soon sorted them out though. :)
 
Wagtail said:
I do, however believe that horses should be PTS immediately they BEGIN to suffer
Click to expand...

Exactly so Wagtail. I have recently been in the position with a 36 year old, fit and well and still in charge of his herd. But he was 36 and things could change in an instant. I wanted him to enjoy life but not for it end in a catastrophe. So I drew a ‘line in the sand’ and decided that if ever he came anywhere near that line I would call time on a heroic life. On March 8th that day came and he was pts that very afternoon. He didn’t suffer, he looked terrific and his last act was to turf everyone out of the field shelter. Had I not had a lifetime with horses and a lifetime with that particular one, I might well have missed that ‘right moment’ it was so subtle and his spirit so strong, to anyone else he just looked ‘a bit quiet’ but I knew.
It broke my heart to do it though.

So, aside from all that guff about me, I do hope your horse is Ok this morning OP and it was just a chill. Don’t dismiss this episode though as it is quite a long way from normal and may well indicate that something else is not right.
 
The vet came out this morning, when I went out to the feild he was bright and grazing, walked over to call (chased the dog), still very footy on the concrete... Vet came, hoof tested, the vet is convinced the pain is in his feet... Both fronts but primairaly near fore... Could be laminitis he says but is not sure, atm he wants him treated with bute and for abcess'/bruising. I'm not overly convinced but whilst he has bute I will persevere to tubb and poltice him over the easter weekend...
I asked about keeping him off the grass, in case it is lami, we then had the chat of how would you want to persue the case if it was laminitis, which for me would mean PTS so he is to go out again, booted and pain killered, as Vet feels this is a low possibilty at this time. Thank you for all your opnions and advice it is greatly appreiciated, he is extremely bright in himself, eating and trying to flirt with the girls. I do feel he may loose his phsical strength before his spirit fails...
217283_10150268633984989_500884988_9187570_6997598_n.jpg


Silver last Thursday...
 
OP... Obviously vet knows best, but I'd be tempted to take him off the grass for my own peace of mind. My boy has improved 100% since yesterday and has gone from not being able to move to cantering across the yard, naughty! I would need to know in my own mind if it was laminitis but obviously its your choice.... having seen the pain my boy was in yesterday...its put the fear of god in me about laminitis.
 
I say, he is terrific :)

But (and this is the trouble with being on a forum :cool:) - for any sort of footy at this time of the year, I would treat for laminitis alongside whatever else is suspected and I would have him off the grass and restricted movement wise until I was sure. If it is laminitis it is early onset and you should be able to turn it round quickly, it need not go to full blown but it will if he is out doing goodness knows what to the girls :cool: and concussing his feet and eating grass, particularly after rain. Sorry to interfere and sound high handed.
 
Well this is it, he is standing in the stable today (we have a few others in for company) and I may ask Y/O if it is possible to move him back to the winter turnout with hay and the shetland for company, best of both worlds, very little (if no) grass and still moving around... Wether he will t**t on being apart from the others remains to be seen... I tried to give him a cuddle this morning and he head butted me... lovely creature ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top