Vet refusing to allow pony to be pts

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Selkie

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A local vet has refused to pts a laminitic pony that has been diagnosed with insulin intolerance.
The pony is currently on danalon, has to be kept in and all food checked for sugar content. The girl who owns 12.2 pony has outgrown it and cannot find it a loan home. The other horse they have will not go out in the field and leave it even though its door is open streight onto the field.
The vet came yesterday and said that they would not put the pony down as it could be used as a lead rein pony. This is no use to a teenager and they cannot afford another pony.

Does the vet have the right to refuse to put the pony down?
 
Yes, the vet can refuse to put the pony down, and from what you have said it doesn't sound as though the pony is currently suffering so he/she has met their ethical obligations. However, the pony's owners are entitiled to seek a second opinion from another vet.
 
Im with the vet on this one. Just because the poor pony is placing a demand on the family doesnt oblige the vet to pts. The other horse will wander out into the field eventually.

If you cant take the responsibility then dont have pets.
 
Either get a second opinion or call the local hunt.

While I don't approve of pts if there are alternatives, in reality it sounds like there's a poor quality of life (no turnout, needs pain relief, no/insufficient exercise, very restricted diet) & no real hope of that improving. It would be difficult to sell or loan as it will always need very careful management. Even setting aside the owner wanting something bigger & rideable is that really much of a life? Would pts really be wrong? To me it sounds a kinder option than carrying on as things are, selling to a home which either may not provide the necessary care or passing on until the pony ends up in the markets.
 
I must say I have based my comments soley on the info posted here.

It may well be that the vet feels that with time and treatment this pony will improve - rather hinted at by the comments about it being a lead rein.

Im sure if the vet felt there was no hope he would have been more inclined to pts.
 
We only have two vets practices on the island and hunt not an option. Someone has found pony a home off the island where it can be used as a lead rein pony but next time it comes down with laminitis have agreed with a vet there it will be pts.

It would have had no quality of life if it was here. I had made suggestions of how things could have been improved for it, shavings being the first thing I suggested and then making a small paddock with a solid surface so that it could at least go out in the sunshine once it had recovered.

Just so as you know it is not my pony or anything to do with me. I was just suprised the vet said no without listening to their reasons.
 
Hi, it doesnt sound as though the pony has been given much chance to improve - i have known ponies with severe laminitis / cushings / EMS improve and have a life they just need careful managment - not always a happy ending but it could be woth a try?
 
Selkie said:
A local vet has refused to pts a laminitic pony that has been diagnosed with insulin intolerance.
The pony is currently on danalon, has to be kept in and all food checked for sugar content. The girl who owns 12.2 pony has outgrown it and cannot find it a loan home. The other horse they have will not go out in the field and leave it even though its door is open streight onto the field.
The vet came yesterday and said that they would not put the pony down as it could be used as a lead rein pony. This is no use to a teenager and they cannot afford another pony.

Does the vet have the right to refuse to put the pony down?
Click to expand...

this sounds plain cruel to keep poor pony alive with next to no quality of life. i wouldn't hesitate to call the hunt who will do the"job" with proficiency and it will be instant. this is the path we took last year with our little 33 year old who couldn't cope any longer.
 
I'm not suggesting this is the case here, but I know our vets refused to put a young horse down that had mild arthritis because they owners wanted to claim on the insurance. They didn't have loss of use cover, so as they wanted the horse as an eventer, and wasn't likely to be up to that they tried to get it pts. They fell out with vets and changed practice but had no joy there either, last I heard they had rather grudgingly rehomed him at a realistic price.
 
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