When is time to say goodbye

J

JANANI

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My old gelding is 30. After looking really well in the spring (he wintered out and was in the best condition in years) he has slowly deteriated (sic) over the summer. His weight is still OK (as he is still well covered) however he has lost alot of muscle tone and his spine sticks up as such as the muscle has disapeared. The other day when I picked up his back leg he nearly fell over. He is stiff although he is still happy as larry. I always said I would put him to sleep when he was no longer happy, however I am slightly concerned that I will be reported on how he looks although the rest my horses are in very good condition. I do believe he will not make it over the winter this year.

So when do you say good goodbye when they look like crap but happy or wait until they are unhappy?

Sorry pointless post. Don't know what to do with my old man!!
 
Only you would truley know as you know your horse.

However if you believe he will not make the winter then I would consider sooner so he does not struggle with the cold etc
 
It's not a pointless post

I don't really know but I think I would keep him as long as he was happ. It doesn't matter what he looks like unless it's causing him distress. It doesn't matter if people report you, you are looking after him as best you can and if he is happy then that's what matters. I think some people on here have been reported but their horses are well looked after, members of the public have reported them because their horses are old and thin, like yours sounds.

Sorry I can't really help, but I know you'll make the right decision. You'll know when it's time to go.
 
What a tough choice. I guess the main question is, Is he still enjoying a good quality of life? If he's still enjoying his feed/turn out etc then perhaps he still has a little while left?
Sorry, I really dont know if im giving you the right advice or not as I've not been in this situation yet myself. I know they say better a month too soon, than a day too late...But i guess its not always as easy as that.
 
We have a 20 year old with kissing spines. He started to look like this, this year we are going to see how he is in the winter. If he start beeing down in the dumps let's say then we will have to have him PTS, but until then as long as he's happy we are going to leave him plodding around with my 4 year old.
 
I am in a similar situation except my boy is 23. He eats like a horse and still looks awful and I too have thought that maybe someone would report me, but like you I have healthy horses in the field too.

I am concerned about the winter but I have been for the last 3 and he always comes through fine. I think he will tell me when the time comes.

xx
 
We made the decision about the old Appy in the last summer we had her, she went in the October, was happy but had slowed right down. I made the decision that I did not want her to be unhappy, I owed her more than that. If she had gone down and not been able to get up, if the pain from her stiff joints had 'broken through' the bute then I would not have forgiven myself for making her last days sad and painful, as it was the last few weeks of her life were sunny, she was fed twice a day and had loads of attention and died with a mouthful of food, having just being flirting with the knackerman (she would flirt with males of any species, the tart
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) Not a bad way to go.
 
my friend had to have her nag but down as he had tendon issues in his hind leg- the vet said he may potter about retired for a time but we could have 6 weeks or 6mths before his tendon ruptured. She made the choice to let him go soon after she had thenews. He was happy and unsound- we could havve kept him until it ruptured but that would have been crueler IMO than cutting his life shorter and letting him go when he was happy.

It is ultimatly your choice but i would be devastated if my horse got to the point of suffering before i did the deed.

I hope you r ok and big hugs for a tough choice xxx
 
The loss of muscle is not overly important imo, if they are not in work, they will get muscle wastage. Older members of every species slow down, and I think if he is happy, and only in mild pain (as in stiffness) then there's no problem.

For animals, death is just a part of life, and while I am for animals not suffering, I think many horses are PTS just as they are entering their twilight years because they start to look poor. We have had 3 oldies that are all now gone, and all I can say is that you will know when its time. Don't stress about making the decision, you will know when its the right time, and imo if you horse is stil happy and relatively sound, then its not the right time.

Horses also don't care what time of year it is, so I don't quite get the whole 'let them have one last summer' when they are ready they are ready, and that is it.
 
if is weight is ok and he is still happy and doing horse thinks pain free keep going. Start playing with his food to get more weight on is he on anything for his stiffness? he will loose muscle top line due to age and no work!
 
Better a week too soon than a day too late! Think about why you still have him and ask yourself is it for you or for him. Dont mean to be harsh but alot of people keep old animals alive for the wrong reason. It's never going to be an easy decision.
 
Although he is stiff he is not in pain and will still dance when he is excited. He just looks like crap. He is on hard food at the moment and his weight is not an issue it is just the lack of muscle. He hasn't been ridden in five years and it is only now his muscle seems to be wasting away.

Suppose I will just rug him up and see how he goes!
 
<font color="blue">The loss of muscle is not overly important imo, if they are not in work, they will get muscle wastage. Older members of every species slow down, and I think if he is happy, and only in mild pain (as in stiffness) then there's no problem.

For animals, death is just a part of life, and while I am for animals not suffering, I think many horses are PTS just as they are entering their twilight years because they start to look poor. We have had 3 oldies that are all now gone, and all I can say is that you will know when its time. Don't stress about making the decision, you will know when its the right time, and imo if you horse is stil happy and relatively sound, then its not the right time.

Horses also don't care what time of year it is, so I don't quite get the whole 'let them have one last summer' when they are ready they are ready, and that is it. </font>

I couldn't agree more and you will know when the time comes, without question you will know. While you have doubts and are basing it purely on 'what other people (who do not know your horse) might think', then it's too soon. It may only be the day after tomorrow when you decide, but I don't think it's today.
 
One of ours looked awful for a few years, and we really had trouble keeping some weight on - he couldn't/wouldn't eat hay. The vet saw him regularly, and was of the opinion that if he was still happy (or a right miserable sod in the case of this pony!) then he was fine.

Remember being on the skinny side is good for oldies, less pressure on the joints
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