RIP Fred. My lovely boy was put to sleep this evening.

myhorsefred said:
Thank you everyone. I am absolutely and utterly heartbroken. I feel I've let him down because I couldn't make him well again.
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But you have made him well- he is fully restored again now, just not in this world. Seeing him painlessly on his way is not letting him down. Allowing him to struggle on because you couldn't accept the truth would have been letting him down. RIP Fred.
 
So sorry to hear your sad news. I lost my boy of 14 years just over a month ago, feels like yesterday. I would give anything to see him one more time. Hugs to you x
 
myhorsefred said:
Thank you everyone. I am absolutely and utterly heartbroken. I feel I've let him down because I couldn't make him well again.
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Please do not feel you have let him down. You could have done no more than I could have done for my two boys. I couldn't make them well again, so I set them free from their pain and suffering. Just as you have done. I feel for you so much, as I know how much it hurts, we all do. You did the right thing, and he is free from his pain, galloping free, xx
 
Thank you.

Fred was diagnosed with liver disease after having a biopsy in November last year. The biopsy showed it was not ragwort, but was inconclusive really. He was managed with steroids and antibiotics in the first month, along with other supplements, milk thistle being one of them.

My vet thought he wouldn't make it past Christmas. But Fred was still eating and he hadn't given up, so I wouldn't give up. We made it to January and his bloods had improved. Feb his bloods had improved and march blood results were even better. He stayed on his supplements.

He had a lovely summer with his friends , my other three horses, in his field. However, he needed worming.

I did a poo sample to be sure he needed worming, he had 900 eggs, so needed worming. Vet ran bloods to check they hadn't got worse, all ok. So vet and I decided on a milder wormer, panacur 5 day guard, along with 5 day course of steroids. We started this on Tuesday last week and he finished the course on Saturday. He looked well, even perky.

Yesterday he suddenly changed. I won't type his symptoms here, because I don't feel ready. I think the wormer tipped his liver into failure. The vet was in no doubt either. We ran more bloods at lunchtime, because I didn't want to pts without definitely knowing it was his liver. The results of blood test were bad.

I had been keeping a close eye for colic symptoms, but I had no idea this could send his liver over the edge.

I blame myself for giving him the wormer. But deep down I know he had to be wormed as his liver would have failed from worm burden anyway. I do feel it is my fault though.

I desperately want to turn the clock back but I can't. He is lying on my drive awaiting collection tomorrow and I am broken.

I want to write a tribute to him on here, but I don't feel ready quite yet. Thanks for all the lovely messages.
 
I am so very sorry for your loss. Please don't blame yourself, there is nothing that you could have done any differently, and you cared for him so well he had a lot of time that he wasn't expected to have, including a lovely and happy summer with his friends. When you are ready to I am sure you will write a beautiful tribute for him, but take each day as it comes, there isn't any right or wrong in these situations.
 
I'm so very very sorry for you.

Please do not blame yourself in any way. You did everything you possibly could. You nursed him back to health when he was poorly and he had a wonderful Summer with his buddies that he wouldn't have had without your love, care and dedication. And when he became seriously ill you made the ultimate sacrifice and sent him on his way with your love and blessings.

Lots of love to you at this terribly sad time. x
 
So sorry for you, I lost a lovely TB to liver failure, it was awful and I kept him going for too long! So do not feel bad for putting your boy down, you did the right thing! x
 
Very sorry to hear this. RIP Fred. It was not your fault, you were looking after him correctly and doing the right thing, seeing to his worming, and you looked after him so well. He has had nearly 1 year since being on the medicines.

It was just his time to go. Even if you had not wormed him, he could still have gone quite suddenly with so much going on inside him.

Just remember that you did everything you could for him, and remember the good times.
 
myhorsefred said:
Thank you.

Fred was diagnosed with liver disease after having a biopsy in November last year. The biopsy showed it was not ragwort, but was inconclusive really. He was managed with steroids and antibiotics in the first month, along with other supplements, milk thistle being one of them.

My vet thought he wouldn't make it past Christmas. But Fred was still eating and he hadn't given up, so I wouldn't give up. We made it to January and his bloods had improved. Feb his bloods had improved and march blood results were even better. He stayed on his supplements.

He had a lovely summer with his friends , my other three horses, in his field. However, he needed worming.

I did a poo sample to be sure he needed worming, he had 900 eggs, so needed worming. Vet ran bloods to check they hadn't got worse, all ok. So vet and I decided on a milder wormer, panacur 5 day guard, along with 5 day course of steroids. We started this on Tuesday last week and he finished the course on Saturday. He looked well, even perky.

Yesterday he suddenly changed. I won't type his symptoms here, because I don't feel ready. I think the wormer tipped his liver into failure. The vet was in no doubt either. We ran more bloods at lunchtime, because I didn't want to pts without definitely knowing it was his liver. The results of blood test were bad.

I had been keeping a close eye for colic symptoms, but I had no idea this could send his liver over the edge.

I blame myself for giving him the wormer. But deep down I know he had to be wormed as his liver would have failed from worm burden anyway. I do feel it is my fault though.

I desperately want to turn the clock back but I can't. He is lying on my drive awaiting collection tomorrow and I am broken.

I want to write a tribute to him on here, but I don't feel ready quite yet. Thanks for all the lovely messages.
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Oh Sweetheart - how heartbreaking for you - but this is most certainly NOT your fault. You did the very best you could for him - and he is suffering no more. Gentle hugs coming your way - please be kind to yourself.

P
 
Please don't beat yourself up.
Ultimately it was out of your control. Catch 22 situation... so awful but you did what needed to be done.

Hugs and love to you xxx
 
So sorry for your loss :( You did all you could and he had a longer and happy life than he would have otherwise had without you - he was lucky to have you. RIP Fred x
 
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