When is it time to say goodbye

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jvoyce

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I'd welcome your views/experiences on how you have decided that it is time to say goodbye to your horse. I'm faced with a quality of life decision for my boy who is once again on box rest due to his chronic laminitis. I think the time may be now but am wavering.
 
You say once again on box rest. No horse or pony likes to be stuck in a stable everyday with nothing to enjoy. It is a very hard decision but if I were you I think I would be saying goodbye. It is very hard but you have think what is the best for him..hope this helps
 
How old is your horse? Has he had a good life and what would his quality of life me like should you continue it? What does your vet say? Can you afford to keep your horse on medication and pay for ongoing vets bills should these arise? These questions should all be taken into consideration before you make the ultimate decision and I would and have been in the past guided by what the vet thinks. If you are really stuck and then ask your vet "what would you do if it were your horse?" you won't go far wrong, even if it may be what you don't want to hear at the time. Only you can make that decision but as the old saying goes "it is better to lose them a week or two early than an hour too late". Good luck with your final decision. x
 
I'm really sorry to hear the predicament you are in Lliedi, but I truly think that if your horse is in a lot of pain, and cannot carry on 'acting' like a horse then you need to look into doing the right thing. It must be the most difficult decision that you would ever make, but it really will be for the best, and your horse will thank you for it.
Maybe speak with your vet, to see where you go from here?
((hugs))
 
I think once it comes down to a question of quality of life for the horse, sadly, it is time to say goodbye.
But i do hope you and your pony pull through a few years ago i was all ready to have this pony i bought PTS because of laminitis and the day the vet came it started going away and he was fine ever since, he is now enjoying his life as a PC pony.
Good luck x
 
It's the hardest decision to make as you want what's best for your friend but don't want them suffering unnecessarily. I waivered for a while with my old pony and when I made the decision I knew it was right. What does your vet say, although they won't actually say yes or no you can usually make a good judgement from their comments.
Good luck
 
It is better to do it too early than to leave it too late.

What is your gut feeling? If you think enough is enough go with that and do NOT feel guilty for being a caring responsible horse owner.

I have recently been through this myself and it could possibly have been too early but my gut instinct said it was the right thing to do.
I have also been in the situation where I let things go on too long and that is a horrible burden.

Good luck.
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Hi
I was about to post on the same subject.
I like to think that my resolve to maintain my mare's quality of life will stand when I have to make that decision, which may not be far away. It will break my heart to say goodbye, but I see too many lame ex-working horses pottering around fields, sore, unhappy & not understanding why they can't be ridden and have fun any more. A laminitic horse on our yard has been on box rest for about 3 years (really) and barely knows what to do with himself when he does step out of his stable. It's the owners' decision to keep it like that, but I know I can't do that to her. Once you've done all you can for them, I think it's our duty to take a decision that they can't take themselves. Good luck.
 
Follow your heart hunny....be guided by your vet,and once youve made a decision stick by it,no matter what your friends say only you know what quality of life your horse is having at the moment.
 
I think you sort of know - you can see it in the horse, i just think their whole demeanor changes and the look in their eye says it all.

We had two of our oldies PTS many years ago. One (a donkey) we think kept having strokes and eventually he gave up trying to get himself up so we decided enough is enouigh. Up til then he had some odd episodes but then come throigh ok but they got more frequent and he became, well not him anymore. Our old pony was the same, he eventually decided enough was enough. Both had been regularly seen by the vet and he had been happy with how they were - eating, still enjoying life etc but we knew when we'd done all we could.

Speak to your vet, see what, if any options there are. I don't think it's fair to keep a horse in for a long time, what sort of 'life' is that?

I
 
I am so sorry to hear you are in this situation.
For me the time to say goodbye to my mare came when I had exhausted all treatment options which I felt were reasonable and fair to put her through.

In the case of a laminetic, I have given some thought to this too, with my gelding I will call it a day if I cannot prevent laminetic attacks from re-occuring (does your horse have cushings?) and if he can no longer lead a reasonable quality of life. At the moment he is turned out in a bare paddock and walked out in hand, I hope to bring him back into work soon. If he could no longer go in his paddock and walk out then I would call it a day as he would be miserable stabled and out of work.
 
I would say, only you know your pony and how he copes with box rest.
I had one who did box rest for lami twice, for periods of 8 weeks at a time. He was ok with this, as he was a laid back chap. After his final box rest, he went on to have 2 great years being a horse and being ridden again. I even managed to have him turned out most of the day in an enclosure with very little grass.
Don't think just because he's confined now that the time has come. I would speak to your vet and farrier and try and get a long term outcome. Make your decision based on what they have to say and what you in your heart of hearts think.
 
Please PM me if you need advice.

I had my 15 year old mare PTS in July due to laminitis which she'd had due to an infection, from late May. I still cry every day, but the sense of relief (as if a huge weight had been removed from my chest) as soon as she was gone, was unbelieveable. I'd been going round in circles unsure if it was the right thing (this mare had one pedal bone coming through her hoof and the other about to - another day and they'd have been completely through. Robert Eustace gave a 20% chance of surgery working). She'd had a wonderful life with my husband and then with me as well when I cam along. She was an amazing little mare and I miss her like nothing you'd know, but it was the right thing to do.

I don't like seeing animals in any kind of pain, and when their quality of life is compromised and there is something I can do to end it, I would make that decision.

However, I have no idea how old your horse is, or what your circumstances are. What stage of laminitis is he at? Also, if he has recurring laminitis, how likely is it that he will ever be 'free' of pain. This was the problem with Sparkle - she had one nasty attack after the infection; we got her back a bit and then she had another attack, then a third. The third was what took it too far really.

On her final day the life had gone from her eyes. She laid with her head on my husband's chest for a couple of hours in the afternoon. Then we had to walk her down the galley to the barn where she was being PTS and she couldn't move. It was the first time I could actually see she wanted it to go away. Before that day she'd been so full of spirit and fight and I was determined to keep fighting for her as long as she kept wickering when she saw us, walking to her stable wall to greet us. Her only option was to travel 2 hours in a trailer for a 20% chance of it working, and anywhere upto 4 months at the hospital - away from us so if she was PTS we couldn't be there. There was no guarantee it would stop her getting it again either. I knew when I saw the pain in her eyes that it was time to let her go... you just get a weird feeling in your stomach and it just feels unbelieveable that you have got to let go to a horse you took for granted would always be there.

Best of luck.
 
Thank you all for your experiences.

I've had my handsome and kind section D for nearly 7 years. Throughout that time and despite incredibly careful management he's had laminitis on and off and has been out of work since the worst bout about 18 months ago, but has had a decent life in a bare paddock with his little pony companion. I did even manage to ride him again very gently in the autumn and he was fine.

We've gone through all the tests (insulin resistant but cushings negative) and treatment and there is nothing more that the vet can do. The issue is now that it has recurred and I just don't know whether this is the moment. He's otherwise in great condition and has been having a good life so I don't want to make the decision too soon.

He's been in his box on bute for coming up to a week now - how long would you think it is fair to keep him rested before deciding ?
 
No idea in your instance, but can only say is the most gut wrenching decision I ever had to make. The thing that made me certain it was the right one was when my mare couldn't stale properly even when on three Bute - she couldn't live like that. It was so desperately hard, as in every other way she looked and acted perfectly fine, other than her walk was a little stiffer when not actually lame and the turns were getting longer, she couldn't spin round at all.

You get to the point where despite what your head is saying - all the excuses and reasons you come up with, and all the treatments you go over and over with your vet, even though you know what she will say because you've had this conversation so many times, your heart just knows when it is time to stop.

So many hugs to you. C.x
 
Insulin resistance is hard to manage and sometimes vets are not really the experts
Do you add extra magnesium to the diet?
Has your cob been on pergolide?
Have you tried vitex?
Do you soak hay and feed low sugar diet? It sounds like you do.
If you have tried all those things and are still not winning then probably the time has come, it is the last kindness we can do for them
Have you tried asking for advice on the Metabolic Horse Forum?
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheMetabolicHorse/
 
We have explored every possible diet and treatment option - it really is just whether it's time or if he could still have some good quality life.
 
My horse was PTS in his early / mid 20's - he had navicular and arthiritis so was living out to try and stop him seizing up. He coped well with the winter but strangely in the spring began not being able to get up once he'd lay down in the field.

After a few episodes of myself and / or other people having to almost drag him up, and a new issue developing where if I picked his back foot up he's shake and nearly fall over, i knew enough was enough. I didn't want him to lie down one night and be distressed for hours if he couldn't get back up.

Its a tough one - hope you are able to make the right decision x
 
I had to make this very decision today. We have just lost a very dear 31 year old pony who I trusted with my daughter in EVERY possible way, Pecky brought her on in leaps and bounds but her arthritis simply made her sieze up a few weeks ago,.

Despite cider vinegar, cortaflex and bute she simply got so bad that this morning she could literally not even take a step forward. We could have buted her up more, but in essence she has taught loads of kids to ride and will never be 100% again.

She nudged me several times at her stable doorway unable to step out. I just knew it was time. It is the second pony my 9 year old daughter has lost in 5 years BUT, it would have been selfish to keep her going any longer.

I opted for injection (very unlike me!!) as she was older and so quiet anyway, it seemed a nicer way to go for an older pony.

She went at 11am this morning and we havent even had her that long, but I know i will miss her like mad for the pure fact she looked after my daughter 110% always, on the roads, at shows the lot, worth a million pounds and more that lovely little mare.

You will know.......good luck xxxxxx
 
all i would say is when a horse can not be horse in its on way by eating sleeping turn out quality of life if it can not do this it is unfair to keep a horse horses live to eat play and sleep. so sorry for you it is a very hard desision i only had to make it 7 months ago!
 
Well today's been a different day and he's looking comfortable and content. I think a few more days to see whether he's recovering. If there's no change or he starts to look miserable again then I'll get the vet to have a look and give me their advice.
 
Its easy to convince yourself your horse is looking better, especially when you are doubtful you are doing the right thing. Why not call the vet out now to discuss rather than waiting until he goes down hill again? I personally think you are putting off the inevitable. I was selfish with my dog and so much wanted her to survive xmas day a few years back. She was actually put down in an emergency on Boxing Day in pain. There's that saying again, better to lose them a day too early than an hour too late! It one of my biggest regrets in life letting my dog go on for too long even though it was on vets advice. RIP Jemma x
 
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