Sensitive subject - PTS

I'm so sorry you're facing this. I let my old boy go last October. He was 30 and had been retired 4 years. I had certain criteria in my mind that were non-negotiable. He reached the point where one was borderline so I made the choice not to put him through another winter. In the run up to it I questioned whether it was the right thing to do over and over but as soon as it was done I just felt relief - for him not me. My vet knew I was planning it and was supportive but never suggested it to me, it had to be my decision from start to end as I was the one who really knew him.
 
I'm so sorry you have to go through this, I think it's rare these days for a vet to suggest pts when they can put forward other options ( even if they themselves think those aren't what they would do). You know your horse best and if you feel they aren't happy and that trying other things will probably only keep them unhappy for longer with little chance of a good outcome then I think you are absolutely right to call it a day, it's a horrible feeling when you keep any animal going longer than you should just because someone has said x,y,or z MIGHT work, I know you don't want to feel you gave up on them and didn't try your best but sometimes your best is being strong enough to know they've had enough and give them a kind end.
 
Thank you everyone. It’s extremely tough and can’t imagine her not in my life as it’s feels like she’s been here forever. She’s currently on bute and having a few days box rest to see if that alleviates the strain and hoping for some improvement. I don’t want to keep her on box rest for too long as again it’s her quality of life that is important. I’m giving it a few weeks to see if there is any improvement and will then evaluate unless there is a drastic deterioration during that time.
 
I had an old mare who was 35 and had been retired for a few years, she wasn’t lame as such but not walking out freely and rarely ran around when the others did . I felt I should PTS but got my trusted vet to look at her and his first comment was she doesn’t look too bad but as you have asked, I would PTS today. Well I burst into tears and he said let me explain my reasoning, he then said the weather was good, the fields weren’t rutted but in a few weeks we will be in winter and she will struggle with the mud or frosty ground so better to be done while she is relatively comfortable… it was done that day and I’ve never regretted my decision as it was the best for her (not me)
 
That’s it, it’s always about what’s best for the horse. I’m very much looking at my old mare daily thinking is this a time I need to start really looking? Thankfully so far she has done something daily to make me comfortable knowing she’s okay (eg today she came into the stables as normal, decided nah I’m going back out, proceeded to run about screaming cause everyone else was in then ran at lightspeed back into her stable to eat her dinner 😂) but I’ll be looking again at her tomorrow and beginning my reassessment.
 
When i made the decision to have my mare pts my vet laid out what I could have done long term to help her but I said I didn't want to put her through any more treatment n she said I had made the right decision n it was the nicest thing I could for her. Go with your gut you know what's right
 
Really sorry, it’s never easy but take comfort from loving her enough to do right for her. Take care of yourself too.
 
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