Putting my horse to sleep

[Linzi_x]

Hi everyone, I am struggling with a decision and I need some horsey people's advice. I have a 17yr old 17.hh warmblood gelding who I have owned for about 4 years now, 2 months into having him he went very lame. I had the vet out and he did some X-rays turns out my horse has severe side bone and ring bone. He is now having to be on 3 bute a day and have remedial shoes for the rest of his life and he still isn't 100% sound. Then a couple of weeks ago I got him in from the field after he had been running around with my other horse who is 4 years older than him and I noticed he took twice as long to recover from running around than she did. I didn't think much of it as he seemed fine in his self... Until a few days ago he started coughing deeply and there was his green/brown mucus coming from his nose. I called the vet and be came out the next day and he was diagnosed with respiratory disease. He is on a course of antibiotics and will have to be on another set of drugs for the rest of his life plus when we ride we can only walk as his lungs aren't capable of doing much more. He has dropped a lot of weight due to the pain of his side bone.. I am struggling with the decision of whether or not to put him down. He can stay on 2 sets of drugs for the rest of his life but they aren't making him 100% comfortable plus for 1 horse it's costing me £750 a month for him which he is 100% worth it but surely there has to be a line? It's not the money side it's the quality of life I want for him. Like I said he has dropped a lot of weight through pain and now the problem with his breathing is this really fair to him? I think the best option is to be kind and put him to sleep but I need you guys advice

 

[Circe]

Hi
Sorry you are having to make this decision, its horrible, but I have to say I think you would be doing the right thing.
If your horse is on 3 bute a day, and still not sound and dropping weight due to pain, I don't think it would be fair to keep him going to be honest.
Do you have anyone in "real life " that can offer some advice? Have you spoken to your vet about having him pts?
Again, I'm sorry you are facing this.
Kx

 

[Welly]

I think you know in your heart what you need to do and need someone to help you make the decision, we all do. From what you say he is losing weight he struggles to breath and move and no chance of improvement. No one would critisise you if you PTS, and trust me you will feel relived when you have made decsion how ever hard it is. X

 

[fatpiggy]

Respiratory disease will cause weight loss too. I think you have answered your own question already and you don't need anyone's permission here to do what is right for your horse. I hope it all goes smoothly for you both.

 

[Maesfen]

TBH, the lameness wouldn't worry me half as much as the respiratory problems; if you can't breathe you are always going to feel ill whether you are standing or walking about, there is no respite from that so there is absolutely no quality of life and it would be far kinder to end it.
I'm sorry but I would be making the call to your vet/hunt/knackerman today, no question about it.

 

[Gazen]

You can contact the British Horse Society. They have people who will help you through the process on both a practical and emotional level. Trust your heart. Sending you hugs.

 

[phoebe21]

Don't feel guilty about having to make the decision, I went through it just before Christmas so I know how you feel. You have obviously looked after him well for the time you have had him and you don't want him to suffer or worse still find him dead in the field and wished you had made the decision. It is the most heart breaking thing us horse owners have to do, the responsibility is all on our shoulders, but we DO have to make the decision one day. Feel for you.

 

[maj]

hi linze - im so sorry for you - this is the hardest task for anyone to have to do - I know how difficult it is as I have had to do it myself and will shortly be having to make the decision for my 18 year old dog - I wish she would just pass away peacefully in her sleep but they don't and that's the hard thing - you don't want to be the one to take control and end their life but it really is a far kinder and braver thing to do - just exceptionally hard - I hope all goes well for you - you will be in my thoughts and prayers xx