The decision to euthanize

Absolutely the right decision. If money is very tight consider having him shot. It is very quick, painless and will be carried out by people who do it everyday. I lost my 2 last month, both arthritic but pretty old. It cost 210 plus vat for shooting and cremating per horse. The chap was lovely and very caring and sensitive. It was over v quickly, no fuss.
 
I forgot to say there is a charity called the Fallen Stock Company and they will make all the arrangements for you free of charge. You pay the crematorium and euthanase service of course. It's an excellent service.
 
Please don't feel bad I would pts in your position, I am sorry your having to make this decision it's so hard especially when it's a young horse, no one has the right to make you feel guilty or bad about it and it's nobody's business.
 
I have just had to very sadly put my young horse to sleep. Lame in all 4 legs, unhappy in the field and in pain. It’s been the hardest decision that I had to make and I feel so sad I couldn’t find an alternative for him but I feel it was the right thing to Sadly have to do. People will always have opinions but you know what’s best for your horse.
 
Bubbles74 said:
Please don't judge me. We are in a seriously tricky situation.

My horse currently lives barefoot in a field. He's been through surgery, is arthritic in all four legs and suffers from gastric ulcers. At present he is sound, but is showing signs yet again of ulcers.

Financially we have maxed out insurance. We have tried alternative therapies. Due to personal changes in our lives money is extremely tight. We struggle to check on him more than once or twice a week.

I've tried to re-home him but he's too big to be a companion and honestly nobody wants a horse with these issues. It breaks my heart, but really I'm thinking the time has come to say goodbye. I can't afford anymore ulcer treatment and I really want to let him go before the steroid injections wear off (advised he would need them every 6-12 months).

Am I wrong? I get very mixed opinions, some who say I've done way more than anyone would, others say it's inhumane.

This horse has has £15000 of vet treatment in less than a year. He's young.
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How terribly sad for you. It does sound like you have the best that can be done. If you could turn him away for a few years in a huge field with others he might fix himself but if that's not feasible maybe its kinder to say goodbye. You cant risk him getting in the wrong hands if you loan him out as a companion. I had a horse stolen on loan
 
PTS is the only good outcome for most horses with problems. It is highly unlikely that he will ever be right and financially he could be a huge burden especially for a mum with a baby on her own. PTS is never the wrong option but passing on often is
 
Let him go now - with love and dignity and then walk away with a clear conscience. And don't listen to those who would keep him in, at least, boredom if not pain. You can see the support you have on here.
 
Bubbles74 said:
Please don't judge me. We are in a seriously tricky situation.

My horse currently lives barefoot in a field. He's been through surgery, is arthritic in all four legs and suffers from gastric ulcers. At present he is sound, but is showing signs yet again of ulcers.

Financially we have maxed out insurance. We have tried alternative therapies. Due to personal changes in our lives money is extremely tight. We struggle to check on him more than once or twice a week.

I've tried to re-home him but he's too big to be a companion and honestly nobody wants a horse with these issues. It breaks my heart, but really I'm thinking the time has come to say goodbye. I can't afford anymore ulcer treatment and I really want to let him go before the steroid injections wear off (advised he would need them every 6-12 months).

Am I wrong? I get very mixed opinions, some who say I've done way more than anyone would, others say it's inhumane.

This horse has has £15000 of vet treatment in less than a year. He's young.
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So sorry for you to be in this predicament with your horse.

You have had gd advice here, what does your gut tell you?. What I would do, depending on how bad his symptoms are and how quick they escalate. I would speak to one of the vets, one you know know's horse well, we are still in cold weather and it could get worst and be worse for him. I would either go by vets advice and pts soon, or let him go in the warm weather with the sun on his back, but that depends on your feelings and what you feel is right. Gd luck hope things sort out soon.
 
Bubbles74 said:
Please don't judge me. We are in a seriously tricky situation.

My horse currently lives barefoot in a field. He's been through surgery, is arthritic in all four legs and suffers from gastric ulcers. At present he is sound, but is showing signs yet again of ulcers.

Financially we have maxed out insurance. We have tried alternative therapies. Due to personal changes in our lives money is extremely tight. We struggle to check on him more than once or twice a week.

I've tried to re-home him but he's too big to be a companion and honestly nobody wants a horse with these issues. It breaks my heart, but really I'm thinking the time has come to say goodbye. I can't afford anymore ulcer treatment and I really want to let him go before the steroid injections wear off (advised he would need them every 6-12 months).

Am I wrong? I get very mixed opinions, some who say I've done way more than anyone would, others say it's inhumane.

This horse has has £15000 of vet treatment in less than a year. He's young.
Click to expand...
I've always been in the 'you don't throw away a life because it's banged up a little' camp and have gone above and beyond in terms of my horse but I've been lucky insomuch I've had well paid jobs with plenty of disposable income to throw on the horse and she's never got to the point where nothing can be done for her or she has suffered. On monday she had a reassessment for her current issue and i was told she was sound. That's whyi keep going, good quality of life etc.

Your horses problems however seem unsurmountable now and although you have managed to date financially the time has come to rethink things.

It has to be your decision. You and your vets. It does sound like you have run out of luck though. Thinking of you. I know how hard it is when you have some people saying one thing and others saying something different.

Thinking of you.
 
sjdress said:
I have just had to very sadly put my young horse to sleep. Lame in all 4 legs, unhappy in the field and in pain. It’s been the hardest decision that I had to make and I feel so sad I couldn’t find an alternative for him but I feel it was the right thing to Sadly have to do. People will always have opinions but you know what’s best for your horse.
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I am in a similar situation, horse lame in all four and vet has said not to spend lots of money on him. I too am so very sad but he is on borrowed time.
 
Thank you everyone for the support. It was heartbreaking but we said our goodbyes last week, at our vets recommendation. They felt there wasn't anything else that could be done, especially as we had maxed out multiple insurance claims ?

We miss him dearly. He had a good send off with loads of treats and cuddles.
 
Bubbles74 said:
Thank you everyone for the support. It was heartbreaking but we said our goodbyes last week, at our vets recommendation. They felt there wasn't anything else that could be done, especially as we had maxed out multiple insurance claims ?

We miss him dearly. He had a good send off with loads of treats and cuddles.
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So very sorry for your loss xx
 
I honestly can’t imagine why anyone will judge you or think badly if you for making what sounds to be a very sensible and kind decision.
I hope your ok? Sick horses are hard to cope with at the best of times but when life’s tough it can become a real tipping point.
Be gentle on yourself, your doing the right thing
 
poiuytrewq said:
I honestly can’t imagine why anyone will judge you or think badly if you for making what sounds to be a very sensible and kind decision.
I hope your ok? Sick horses are hard to cope with at the best of times but when life’s tough it can become a real tipping point.
Be gentle on yourself, your doing the right thing
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Thank you, we seemed to get two sides of it. People who judged that we still had him going in the field and the people who judged our decision to have him pts. It was sad but we are okay. He had gotten to a point where a hand near his belly was causing him to lift a leg in warning. It was time. I really do miss him but I know now that it was the right thing to do.
 
For what its worth I would have done the same even without the financial constraints - it does not sound as if he would ever have a pain free life whatever you did. Well done for taking what must have been a very tough decision.
 
You've done the very best that YOU can do. There is always someone out there who says that they would have done different but until they are in your shoes they cannot tell you to do differently, please don't beat yourself up, this is you and your horse. You have to look at his quality of life, if he really is struggling and nothing more than be done, then sometimes it is kinder to PTS.

We have to remember that as backward as it may seem that we are privileged to be able to end their suffering. And sometimes that is the kindest gift you can give them.
 
It’s no ones decision except yours and you did in my opinion the correct thing .
You learn in time to ignore others in this situation there are always people with opinions but they are not paying the bills and they don’t know the horse .
Be kind to yourself.
 
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