Update on Lanky - operation today

L

LankyDoodle

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 July 2008
Messages
6,731
Location
Wellington, Somerset
Visit site
Lanky had his arthroscopy today.

It's really not good news at all.
frown.gif


He has had OCD since he was 2 years old at least, so it's really old OCD. He has so many lesions they just didn't know what to do with it. He has arthritis at a considerable level for his age and the level of work he has done. He had a meniscal tear which they sorted by removing damaged cartilage, but he also has very soft cartilage causing problems between the bones in the joint. The femur has levels of degeneration. There were other problems that were mentioned. The vet said that the problems are so severe that he has grounds to recommend destruction of the horse now, but that in the eyes of the insurer humane destruction cannot be considered until the horse is deemed to be in long-term, accute pain; the vet cannot say that he is going to be in accute, long-term pain until he's had 6 months' rest/walking out/turning out etc. He is likely to have pain on and off throughout his life, but may make a light hack if the pain can be controlled, but again, it would have to be reviewed after the 6 months.

Basically, the vet is saying that yes he could make a light hack if he has a good level of soundness after 6 months, but that the severe problems that have shown up are grounds to say that he won't come sound at all, ie will have some pain, and so on that basis he'd put down; but that in the eyes of the insurer, they want to see incurable, accute pain. And he's never ever going to do riding club stuff.

I don't actually care now. The insurer will pay for the op and treatment, and I think I have a long discussion to have with my husband because whether the insurer sees it as humane or not, itis in my eyes.
frown.gif
 
Am so sorry to hear this, i am sure you will make the right decision for both of you something that will take a bit of time to think about
 
So sorry to read this - I remember how excited you were when you got him, and everthing you have been through, first with your mare, then all the yard trauma and L getting injured and now this.

So hard to believe you were happily hacking him and schooling him one minute and now he is actually so bad.

Have you spoken to insurers? really tough decision. I had the opposite - horse written off and insurers would have paid out but I just couldnt give him up.
 
Thanks all.

The insurers know he is going for an arthroscopy today and I will have to put the claim in so that I can pay the bill; but how does it work if in 6 months' time he is put down because of this problem (he hasn't been declared sound by a vet yet and will be reviewed after 6 months)? Will the insurer pay out for death? I am sure they will exclude that limb now (well I know they will), but how can I claim for death on that basis, if it's 6 months down the line?
 
CBAnglo -

I know exactly what you mean. I can't believe how much stuff I was doing with him. I asked the vet why, if his problems are so severe and long-lasting, he hasn't shown problems before. The vet then said that because he has had this for so long, it may have looked like it was part of his actual gait, rather than lameness... can't think how he worded it, but I know what he meant.
 
The claim should be valid for 12 months from the date of injury. They will pay out depending on your policy - do you have loss of use? loss of animal? If you have LOU then you can claim now and not have to have L pts. if you only have loss of animal then vets will have to say that horse should be pts.

alternatively, some insurers may offer you loss of animal if you forgo any further treatment - think Cellie had that offered to her.
 
CBAnglo - I don't have loss of use (my husband is a tight wad and won't have it, but I will force it in future I think!). I have loss of animal.

I think my insurer will do their best not to allow lossof animal, even if I forego further treatment, as I will already nearly have spent all my vets fees from my policy!
 
((((Hugs Hun))))), I'm really sorry to hear your news...I remember you having a [****] time at your yards and thought you were due some good times.

I cant answer your Q's re insurance....but I know you will do what you feel to best for the big lad.
 
I am, gorgeous george.

I have my native, George, who is a welsh cob, and when we lost our mare I took him for granted so much, but he's never given us a day of trouble in 7 years of owning him and I need to not take him for granted or resent him now. I know it will sound cruel, and I feel bad saying this as I feel so upset whenever I lose an animal, but I would feel a lot worse if it was George. I have only had Lanky a year so I don't have the same bond with him... buthe is such a beautiful horse.
frown.gif
 
Very sorry to hear this. There are no comforting words and this is a horrible time for you.

I would echo CB Anglo and say that when I had one with a problem that needed investigation and treatment and then he had to be PTS the insurers did pay out as it was within the year. It was tricky convincing them that he needed to be PTS but my vet endorsed it and put pressure on them and they paid the bills and I got his insurance value
frown.gif
Would have rather had the horse).

(((HUGS))) to you at this dreadful time x
 
You're right, I will poppymoo.

The only reason I care about being paid on death of animal, is being able to afford another horse; but I wouldalways put the animal first and screw the money. It's 3k we would miss, but if I'm not paying to keep weight on him and save him from getting sweetitch all summer and keep his feet good and shoes on them, then I'm able to save that money each month towards a new horse anyway, and I don't want a new horse yet. Well, he's not gone yet.
frown.gif
 
I'm so sorry! Your news is the same that I had for my boy, operation was in November and I made the decision in April.

I'm not back on until tomorrow but if you need any help or support, or just for me to explain every option I had please do PM me.

Lots of love and hugs to you all xxx
 
I'm so sorry about Lanky. I fear I may have similar decision soon so I know what you're going through. On a practical level as soon as the claim is accepted, you should be covered for the condition for a year, so they should pay out if the end of the 6 months is within that year. I think it's terrible that they insist on 6 months if your vet is recommending that you do it now and is sure there is no hope of improvement. Bl***y insurance companies, they're supposed to be there to help not hinder.
 
This is the way I would look at it. If L is in such a bad way that the vet recommends you have him pts now, regardless of insurance, then I would take him home, give him a nice dinner, let george say goodbye and have him pts. Yes, you might not get the insurance money, but being pragmatic, you are going to spend a fortune on keeping him boxrested, shoes, feed, supplements etc. The sentimental side of me says that it is so hard to make the decision but if looking at him makes you cry then the time has come.

I have drawn up a list of things that I have said will be "the line" with my boy and it has basically come down to the day his hocks give out and he cant get up or down. He loves rolling in the field and lying down in his stable and napping. When I catch him lying down now I sit with him and he puts his head on my lap and we can stay like that for ages. When he wants to get up I always hold my breath to see if he will on the first attempt, or if he is going to need a couple of gos. The day he cant get up I will call the vet.
 
I think I agree with CBAnglo I'm afraid. When Gaz fractured his pedal bone in January the vets told me it would be a couple of months box rest so I agreed to that. 4 months later he was still hopping lame and against the vets advice I turned him out. He's getting slowly better, but we still don't know whether he will come right or not. I have to say if I'd have know at the time what I know now I would have pts then and not put him through the box rest.
 
[ QUOTE ]
This is the way I would look at it. If L is in such a bad way that the vet recommends you have him pts now, regardless of insurance, then I would take him home, give him a nice dinner, let george say goodbye and have him pts. Yes, you might not get the insurance money, but being pragmatic, you are going to spend a fortune on keeping him boxrested, shoes, feed, supplements etc. The sentimental side of me says that it is so hard to make the decision but if looking at him makes you cry then the time has come.

<font color="blue"> That was my thinking too and what I meant when I wrote my reply to poppymoo and also what I just said to my husband. I think more of the horse than I need the money and would never keep a horse in certain pain, but need to talk to the vets tomorrow when I collect Lanky.</font>

I have drawn up a list of things that I have said will be "the line" with my boy and it has basically come down to the day his hocks give out and he cant get up or down. He loves rolling in the field and lying down in his stable and napping. When I catch him lying down now I sit with him and he puts his head on my lap and we can stay like that for ages. When he wants to get up I always hold my breath to see if he will on the first attempt, or if he is going to need a couple of gos. The day he cant get up I will call the vet.

<font color="blue">That's really sad but sensible. I know I will be able to make the right decision. We made the decision about a mare we had owned for 11 years and loved dearly, while some people around us were telling us to keep going... try one more thing... give her one more day. But we couldn't and the day we mde the decision, the insurance didn't even come into it, but sure enough, scottish equestrian paid out within 2 weeks and were fantastic. </font>

[/ QUOTE ]
 
I know you will. Its just sometimes really really hard to make even basic decisions let alone difficult ones, and I knew that as the time comes closer and closer I will change my mind so I have told all those around me the criteria and if needs be, someone else will make the call.

So tough for you, especially with being pregnant now you really dont need the stress. Hope you sort something for George as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top