when do you call it a day ?

[Riverboy]

Paintbox - you do just know. We battled with River for nearly two years, I always knew it was going to be when not if. Then one day he looked at me and I knew, I rang the vet the next day and he went two days after that. We buted him up and spoilt him rotten and as the injection went in - he looked at me as if to say 'thank you'.

Nothing in particular had changed, and previously I'd wrestled with should I/shouldn't I over and over again - but once I knew I didn't back down nor wimp out like I thought I would.

I guess I wanted to say - massive hugs to you hon and you will know when its right - he'll tell you he's had enough.

T xxx

 

[sjmcc]

deep down you know what your going to do. i was going threw the same thing as you but diffrent problems in feet colatral ligament damage and damage to deep digatil flexor tendon all in one go the chances i get flexor to heel was nil so rather that put my mare threw it i called it a day . it was a sad thing to do but i couldnt do that to her . its heart brakeing but when times up its up and i wasnt the 1 in pain she was

 

[Theresa_F]

Unless you can't afford to keep him on the danilon and as a pet, not yet by what you describe.

Cairo was our most beloved pet and at 19 got low ringbone and had to go on 4 danilon a day being a clydesdale he took a lot of pain killers, he was still very hobbly but we decided to give him a chance to come field sound.

I bought some magnetic straps which he wore 24 x 7 to the day he died, for him they made a huge difference, within the month he was off danilon and stayed that way until six months before he died.

He came back into work apart from much schooling and only the occasional tiny jump and on soft ground still enjoyed a good canter for a further two years.

The winter before he died, he had some bone chip off which unfortunately was where the ligament attached, the tendon then bowed. He was treated as best as we could - he could not have box rest due to his age but was allowed out in a sectioned off piece of the field. He ended up on two a day and field sound - he was more mechanically lame than anything. He still went for short walks and once a week I jumped on him bareback and rode 5 minutes to the pub as he seemed to really like being ridden out and got very excited as I came down with his bridle.

In April his one remaining eye went very short sighted, he was basically blind for 3' in front of him. Stinky changed from a rough and tumble play mate into a very caring youngster and took him everywhere and really looked after his old "dad".

In late June he had liver failure, pulled through the first time, but the second occasion about a month late was too much. The first time we gave him every chance, we just knew he was not ready to go, but the second, he didn't want to get up and he looked old and tired and it was time to say that love and money and wishing could not bring him back so we did the right thing and said goodbye.

Some people may have done this earlier, but he was a fighter - had fought cancer since 7 and was very healthy to look at, well covered, glossy coat. He also was very happy pottering around with Stinky.

Cairo was 22 when he died, though physically more like 25 due to the chemo. Big horses rarely live long lives and leave a huge gap behind them.

Try the magnetic straps on him, they may give him the help they did Cairo. You will know when it is time, Cairo was happy, eating and not grumpy and still enjoying life to the end and with the magnets and later the danilon comfortable.

I was dreading the winter, and I think this may not have been good for him and we may have been forced to make a decision, but in a way the liver failure for us was a blessing in that their was no other decision to be made.

Sorry to have gone on so much, eighteen months have passed since we lost Cairo and we still miss him terribly.

 

[Ranyhyn]

All I can say is only you know, but I have never heard anyone say "I let him go too soon" but I have heard too many people say "I wish I had done it sooner"..

Huge hugs and vibes for you, not an easy time at all.

ETS perfect example in my life

My Mums old labxspringer bitch Holly her legs were starting to fail and we were moving house and our bouncy happy lab was starting to lag behind in all things. We gave her her dignity and had her pts @15yo.

Her son, Baba, my own dog, was ill for a couple of weeks, and i couldn't let him go it culminated in him lying in his own pee next to my bed with blood coming from his nose and I was so ashamed of myself, letting my feelings make him suffer...I took him to the vets that day and had him PTS and his last breath was the first easy one he'd taken in weeks and I was intensely relieved, I'd done the right thing, but too late.