very sad news - does anyone have any advice?

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sue_ellen

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I have posted a few times about my best friend's horse, Boo. He has been lame for most of this year, and on Friday we got a firm diagnosis and sadly, it is not good news, however, the vets have been warning us for some time that it wasn't looking good but you can't help hoping can you? He has a chronic lesion on the ligament within the pastern joint, this ligament has also stretched so the pastern joint is not stable. This extra movement within the joint has caused bony changes (arthritis) within the pastern joint, and this is developing quickly because of the instability within the joint. He has had MRI, x rays and ultra sound scans, shock wave therapy, steroid injections into the joint and box rest for almost 6 months. He was almost sound at the vets 3 weeks ago and they were surprised at how well he was doing and told us to start walking him for 5 minutes a day, but sadly as soon as we started this he became lame again, and all the vet could suggest that we had left to try was to turn him away for a year. So we took him home and turned him out, he was so happy! But by the next day he was looking sad and depressed and very lame. That was 10 days ago, and things are no better. He is now on 3 bute a day but is still in pain inbetween doses, there is no way that he can be allowed to go on like this, and so my friend has decided that the best thing is to pts. She has no close partner or family and so I am the strong shoulder for her to lean on, I could do with some hugs from some of you out there because its getting difficult now, I am nearly crying typing this! She has had him for nearly 9 years, he is 15 so not that old really, and he hasn't had a hard life, its just so sad. I am wondering now what the insurance company will say, does anyone have any experience of this? I have to ring them on Monday as she is too upset to, do you think they will pay up? Not that it matters really, because we need to do what is best for him, but I dont know what to expect, and if they will argue that he doesn't need to be put to sleep. My head is in such a whirl, any kind thoughts and advice will be greatly appreciated, sorry it's so long!
 
I think call the vets and explain that he's terribly lame and whether there's anything else that can be done? If it could possibly fuse then maybe cortizone for a year while it's fusing?

Sorry to hear your sad news x
 
if the horse is in pain (as he obv is if lame again) the insurance company will be guided by the vets. i hope it's a good insurance company, btw...
very sad, it's the worst thing about having horses, having to do the responsible thing. the only comfort is that they don't know anything about it, and that your friend will know she has always done and now is doing the best thing for him.
i would have it done as soon as possible, and ideally ask the vet to do it. your friend does not have to be there, sometimes it's best to give them a last fuss and lots of treats and leave it to the vet, honestly. (my vet, who has known me for over 20 years, won't let me stay with any of mine when he has to do it. he bullies me into going away, and i know he's right, there's no point in being even more upset.)
lots of distraction tactics afterwards, going to the movies, keeping busy etc and not letting each other think about it, and time eventually helps.
*big hugs*
 
Your poor friend and poor you. 6 years ago my daughters horse was in the same situation with ligament injury and coffin joint instability. He was lame in hand in walk on 2 bute twice a day. He was 8 years old. There was nothing more to be done and 7 months down the line he looked sad thin and was worsening by the day and my poor daughter looked just as bad. The insurance company (well known company beginning with P - can I say that?) were very very unhelpful and refused to say if they would pay or not. He needed to be PTS and the vet wrote to them to say this but it did not change their attitude.
In the end my husband sent them a fax saying the horse would be PTS at x time on x day at x place and if they wanted to send a vet to see him they needed to do it sooner rather than later. They never replied.
The day he was PTS was terrible and I informed them by phone. They still could not give me an answer but by then I was beyond caring. Two weeks later a cheque for his full insured value arrived in the post out of the blue.
I would try to ensure that you give them an opportunity to view the horse or speak to your vet but there is not much more you can do. However as you say you are doing the right thing by the horse and the money is secondary.
You know this is the right thing and your friend will need you to be there for her for a long time to come. She is lucky to have you and I hope you have someone there for you too.
 
Its a straw; but Has it been wet & cold, when his been Lame recently? Arthritus "flares" up in Damp condtions. we have a 27 yo , who in Devon was lame 24\7. Over here in warmer climates, she is now sound. Im not telling you to "Move here" But, Damp condtions arent good for Arthritus sufferers.

If not (((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))) from across the channel
AngelPray.gif
 
Thanks everyone for getting in touch. Yes we have had 2nd opinion, been desperately asking and asking and hoping for a different answer but its not to be, I'm afraid. Yes, we know that pts is the right thing to do, doesn't make it any easier though, does it?
 
Sue-ellen: if every other avenue has been explored and there is nothing more that can be done to give Boo a quality of life, then your friend is doing absolutely the right thing. My wonderful Sullivan suffered something similar 4 years ago and watching the deterioration was enough to make my mind up. But it doesn't make it any easier. My insurance company were very, very understanding but according to the fine print, they didn't have to pay out for an "elective" pts (he was 20 and on a veterans policy) but my wonderful vet spoke to them on my behalf and they made a goodwill payment of 65% of the value, which I was quite satisfied with.

Now I'm hoping that this part of my Sullivan's story might help your friend. Sullivan was only 20 when he was pts and he'd been a trekking centre pony most of his life and had carried total beginners safely around for years giving them wonderful experiences of the beautiful Welsh countryside from the back of a safe, honest horse. Why then, I asked my friend in floods of tears, why then was his "reward" for doing all this so faithfully for all those years to get this terrible disease and have to die early. No, said my friend, his reward was that he came to you at the end. As much as it still makes me howl today (now) I feel better seeing it that way. Maybe your friend can see how important she is in Boo's life. She's the only one who can give him this reward for being who he is by giving him the release of a peaceful and dignified death. My heart aches for you both. PM Llwyncwn for the poem "God Lent me a foal" xxx
 
What terrible news. I lost my boy on 18th of June from colic so I know how it feels to lose one.

Def discuss it fully with the vet before he is PTS as his/her support will be required for any insurance claim. NFU took 6 weeks to pay my claim even though it was a very simple case of colic - he was PTS on the operating table so couldn't be contenscious in any way whatsoever. I found the whole process very upsetting so do try and get the vets support and reccomendaton he be PTS on humane grounds - which it should be as he can't be on a high dose of bute permanently I would have thought.

Big hugs
 
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