Sorry, another doom & gloom thread....

Mahoganybay

Mahoganybay

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i have an 11 year old mare with significant arthritis is coffin joint on left hind & significant arthritis in hock on right hind. Headshakes & ties up, stressy mare whose hormones really affect her, she is very dominant in the field.

Coffin joint arthritis is due to pedal bone fracture 2 years ago; small section of pedal bone still not completely filled in / healed.

Hock arthritis is due to chip fracture 1 year ago, had arthroscopy performed at Leahurst Oct 2011, section of bone removed but significant cartilage damage. No arthritis seen on x-ray Sept 2011 so onset is quite fast. Hock medicated in Jan 2012 but no improvement.

Nothing further the vets can do all avenues/medications/joint supplements/magnet boots explored and insurance money now run out. Been advised to give bute 2x a day for 2 weeks, ride and see how she is, if ok give bute 2x a day for further 2 weeks and then vet will exam, if not ok on 2x bute VET has advised pts.

Current yard situation:

Expensive competition yard, turnout only 3 days a week (but quiet turnout with just my gelding) and no overnight turnout could have use of a small paddock other 4 days but for short periods only. Small amount of turnout in winter.

Option of:

Cheap grass livery, turnout 24/7 (larger herd of mares so possibility of agro due to being very dominant in the field) over the summer with possibility of stable come winter, but no turnout in winter.

Try and make current yard situation work and see how she goes going into winter. Also have gelding at this yard so more convenient for doing two.

Move mare to grass livery for the summer, let her have 24/7 turnout and see how she is coming into winter, will make things less convenient but do able.

I think that my thoughts are unless significant comfort with bute then I would be looking to pts before winter sets in, this mare is very uncomfortable and do not want to keep a horse in pain, so would it be best to let her have a nice summer before the deed is done?
 
Poor you, a horrible situation to be in. I think as you say it depends how comfortable bute makes her, but would it be fairer to both of you if you let her go sooner rather than later if it doesn't work out? From both an emotional and a financial point of view. Only you know what's right for both of you, best wishes in your decision at this difficult time.
 
Pinkatc said:
Poor you, a horrible situation to be in. I think as you say it depends how comfortable bute makes her, but would it be fairer to both of you if you let her go sooner rather than later if it doesn't work out? From both an emotional and a financial point of view. Only you know what's right for both of you, best wishes in your decision at this difficult time.
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Many thanks for both replies, i am going to take her for a gentle ride tonight with my daughter and the gelding, she has been on 2x bute a day for 3 days now so would think that it is in her system. I am just too emotional to think straight at the moment and don't want to make the wrong decision either way :-(
 
If a horse needs to be PTS then I don't see the point in dragging it out. If she can be made comfortable on bute, then I would retire her. If she is obviously in pain even when not in work, I would PTS. Horrible situation, though I suspect by the sound of it she could probably comfortably retire.
 
Very sorry to hear about you're mare.

See how she goes over the next two weeks, if she's not pain free on 2 bute a day i guess that you need to have another chat with your vet.

Maybe the bute will keep her happy & comfortable enough to hack out & enjoy the summer, i think that these things need to be continually assessed as, the weather, conditions & the mares problems change.

I hope that the bute helps. Best wishes.
 
This might sound blunt but personally I would just have her PTS in the autumn after giving her bute over the summer. Best solution all round for several reasons.
 
Sorry to hear of your mare's problems, I know what you are going through! With the problems that she has then no turn out or limited turn out in the winter would be a no no. I would see how she goes on the 2 bute a day and full turn out in the summer and then look for somewhere that has turn out in the winter, problem is that arthritic horses need to move to keep themselves supple, box rest or excess time in the stable will make her sieze up.

My gelding has 3 lots of athritic changes plus 2 other serious complaints, and although looks good on 2 bute a day, out 24/7 come winter when he will be in over night and no exercise he will not cope. He will have as much bute as he needs, have the summer and be pts before we start bringing them in again. Obviously if he deteriorates before then it will be sooner. Horrible situation to be in but once the decision has been made it makes day to day life easier, until that is the date is set!
 
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