Reasons to PTS

pistolpete

pistolpete

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May have to consider this for my horse, having lots of problems and now losing condition too. Not really sure why everything has gone wrong for him this year but it has. So...
Reasons in my head that are fair justification for PTS
1. Pain
2. Continued loss of condition despite feeding rugging etc.
3. Fear of injury, horse is unsteady on his feet now.
4. General look of dullness now not interested in surroundings.
5. No hope of any improvement of symptoms.

Anything else? Could just about cope with a field ornament although would be tough as he is on livery. Mud getting to him now and his legs fill when he is in. Just trying to prepare for the worst really any thoughts?
 
All of your list. If that was one of mine I would make the decision.

I dont even think you would be making it "a day too early".

I consider this every week with my oldie who is 36 now.

He is not in pain, still loves life and always looks bright an interested. But he does loose condition in winter and its a constant fight.

If he had the other three I would definately PTS.

Sorry if that is not what you wanted to hear.
 
Any one of those on your list, if an accumulation of any then definitely yes.
I wouldn't dream of putting something with any of those problems out as a field ornament, it would be totally unfair to them.

Sorry, but you did ask.

Besides, the only one you have to justify yourself to is your horse, nobody else; do what is best for him, sod the rest.
 
I have a 25 year old mare who has bone spavin and is "riddled with athritis" vets words. She gets half a bute a day is out in all weathers (rugged up). She doesn't loose condition during the winter. My main concern for her is quality of life. At the moment she is happy with her field chum, eats well, gets all the usuall yearly check ups and is generally spoilt rotten.

She is lame in trot but she doesn't need to trot if she chooses not to.

Should she show unhappiness in any way I would pts. I would also pts if I could no longer give her a level of care that she needs. I will never sell her or pass her on. She owes me nothing, I on the other hand owe her everything.
 
For me the overriding thing would be lack of interest in his surroundings. I think all horses (and people) are different. Pain and losing condition if the horse is obviously still perky, cheeky and interested in life is a reason to keep them going. But when that pain and loss of condition are having a detrimental effect on his psyche, then that is the time to PTS. Personally, I could not put a horse to sleep that was obviously still interested in life. I believe that if you know your horse well, they will tell you when it's time. If your horse honestly and truly is not interested in his surroundings, and it is not just him having a bad day, then the time has come IMO.
 
I'm facing the same thing with my 14 year old dog at the moment, and it is so hard. I'm waiting for the moment when my heart tells enough, or when he tells me enough.

I had a mare here, she was only 19, but had a hard life, she fell in a ditch overnight and by the time we found her she was not doing so well. We got her out of there, and indoors, rugged her up, and nursed her, lifting her every day to try and pull her through. One day I just looked at her, and I saw she was ready, a kind of distant look in her eye, a resignation, it sounds stupid, but I made the call there and then. We dosed her with bute, and let her chill and relax and waited for the appointment. I have never regretted the call for one minute, it was time.

From what you describe it is time maybe for your guy, a life of constant pain with no hope of recovery isn't to much of a life.
 
From that list it sounds like it is time. To have a general look of dullness and general disinterest in his surroundings would be enough to prompt me to make the call.
 
I had my old girl (29) PTS last Tuesday. She was full of arthritis and it wasn't right to just keep upping the painkillers any more. I would have been facing side effects very soon. She was eating well but had lost over 50lbs in weight since the spring and despite all my best efforts didn't regain any. She was prone to tripping and falling down as a result. Her eyesight was failing and I'm pretty sure she was going deaf. I was struggling to even pick her hooves out, let alone file them short because she just couldn't hold two out of four legs up for more than a few seconds so the tripping would have got worse. She was still happy enough, tootling about and dozing alot but her good days weren't good enough for me any more and I was terrified of her going down and being unable to get back up and end her days in the mud. I stated my case to the vet when he came down with his injection and he agreed completely and praised my judgement and reasoning. She deserved a quiet dignified end and she got just that.
 
Im facing this is a possibilty will my 17mth filly. Has had unexplained lameness, had op minor lesion found (vets dont think this is cause of lameness though), so were throwing everything at her and giving her a few months but otherwise i will have her PTS.

She isnt a field ornament and is bred to be a comp horse, if she cant cope with the work load for later in life i dont see that its fair to keep her in the "possibility" of life as a light hack etc. I cant promise her that home and i dont her to fall into bad hands that might push her and break her completely.

I know its very much a personal thing but this is my view, and as i bred her I think its only fair that i am responsible as possible for her future.
 
Our 25 year old pony was pts as the pain killers stopped working and he had stopped eating that day.
Anyone of those would be a pts as quality of life is more important than anything else.

Our 21 year old is going through a bout of lami, he has been in for two months, is sound and pain free a week after he first went on box rest and came off pain killers but he is still very sore over his pedal bone and has no sole.
He is however still a cheeky chapy and pleased to see everyone. Tho we are thinking of pts if in three weeks he hasn't improved as he was lean and nicely muscled up going into box rest but has lost so much weight he is looking ill. Tho he is still happy within himself.
It's a hard thing to think about but quality of life is the most important and little pony losing that much weight on a lami feeding routine( which he has been on all summer) isn't far for him.

Hugs
 
pistolpete said:
May have to consider this for my horse, having lots of problems and now losing condition too. Not really sure why everything has gone wrong for him this year but it has. So...
Reasons in my head that are fair justification for PTS
1. Pain
2. Continued loss of condition despite feeding rugging etc.
3. Fear of injury, horse is unsteady on his feet now.
4. General look of dullness now not interested in surroundings.
5. No hope of any improvement of symptoms.

Anything else? Could just about cope with a field ornament although would be tough as he is on livery. Mud getting to him now and his legs fill when he is in. Just trying to prepare for the worst really any thoughts?
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I feel so bad for you, I can tell from your posts this is understandably tearing you apart :(
 
But why is the horse like this and only 14 years old, has the vet seen it or just asking is it being neglected in the hope it will become ill and die.
 
My boy is being PTS tomorrow. He is 20 is fat, well and happy. He has had a year in retirement but can't come in as breathing suffers. I would rather he goes like this than leaving it too late. I don't care what others think , it is the right decision, but having had him 17 years we will all be very upset .
 
Ditchjumper2 said:
My boy is being PTS tomorrow. He is 20 is fat, well and happy. He has had a year in retirement but can't come in as breathing suffers. I would rather he goes like this than leaving it too late. I don't care what others think , it is the right decision, but having had him 17 years we will all be very upset .
Click to expand...

hope it goes well and he passes peacefully x
 
You are being responsible and seeing him through to the end and he will be at his familiar home with the best human he knows. This is the best end for a much loved horse. It is tough losing a best friend but you can feel confident in your humanity and kindness. If you are familiar with human rights and thereafter 'freedoms' adopted by rspca/farming sector your horse has a right for freedom from fear or pain. There will be tough days ahead but this is all part of being a caring responsible, loving owner and thank god there are people like you who see their loved horses to the end, peacefully, without stress at home. My thoughts are with you.
 
Hi putasocinit he has had thousands of pounds worth of investigation. Vet doesn't know what's wrong. Bizarrely she saw him this week and think he is looking stronger in his movement. I am too close to see changes. Feel he is suffering but vet wants me to start leading him out and long reining him. Maybe it will bring things to a head one way or another.
 
I think you know in your heart what you should do. Your vet is trying hard to find a cure, but you know your horse. Winter is upon us and he will find it harder to cope.

It's the hardest decision in the world.
 
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