Christmas Crumpet
Well-Known Member
Just wondering at what point does anyone decide to have their horse PTS and what are their reasons behind it?
When to PTS
- Thread starter Christmas Crumpet
- Start date
foxviewstud
Well-Known Member
well i havent actually had to make the decision myself yet but i would def pts when any of mine have lost their quality of life for whatever reason, would much rather let them go with their dignity same as all my animals.
jojoebony
Well-Known Member
With my first mare, I had her PTS after a series of seizures which left her paralysed in the field (brain tumour - previously caused very errectic behaviour when ridden and nose bleeds). I didn't want her to suffer any more as I felt it would be too distressing for her - the rest of the time she was ok (not good but ok).
My 2nd boy was a 4 yo TB, I'd had him from 16 months. He had navicular and DJD. He was managed on bute for a while but continued to be lame. I kept him going until an MRI scan showed his coffin bone had split in two and his pain management would never be any better and there was no chance of him being comfortable again. This was just 3 months ago.
Tragically I now have to make this decision with my 16yo who has a multitude of problems. I am struggling with this. If he will never get better then now would be the time, if there is the slightest chance he could improve I don't feel comfortable making the decision.
It is the right time in my opinion when you can say without doubt that you know you are doing the right thing by you and the horse, that might be at different times for different people/horses.
Jo
My 2nd boy was a 4 yo TB, I'd had him from 16 months. He had navicular and DJD. He was managed on bute for a while but continued to be lame. I kept him going until an MRI scan showed his coffin bone had split in two and his pain management would never be any better and there was no chance of him being comfortable again. This was just 3 months ago.
Tragically I now have to make this decision with my 16yo who has a multitude of problems. I am struggling with this. If he will never get better then now would be the time, if there is the slightest chance he could improve I don't feel comfortable making the decision.
It is the right time in my opinion when you can say without doubt that you know you are doing the right thing by you and the horse, that might be at different times for different people/horses.
Jo
Spot_the_Risk
Well-Known Member
We had an elderly mare on loan as a companion for over a year. When I contacted her owner to say could she have her back, she made the decision to have her PTS instead. I think she made the best decision for the mare, she was 28, and despite being fed twice a day all summer she hadn't held her weight, had grown her winter coat early and whilst not being bullied by the others, wasn't really part of the herd anymore. So the decision was taken to give her a dignified end, rather than a hard cold winter to get through. Some people may say that whilst she could still stroll around the field, and was sound, it was too early, but personal preferences will always be different amongst people.
LusoLover
Well-Known Member
It's a hugely personal decision and someone's point to PTS may differ greatly from anothers. IMO it should be about quality of life and dignity. I have seen some have put their horses down without giving them a chance and others have let their horses suffer for too long, but as I say it is purely my own scale of when I would do it. The important thing is that you are happy about your decision and don't be swayed by others. Many told me to put my pony down a lot sooner as he had cushings and recurrent bouts of laminitis. The weekend before he went I was galloping him across a field with him kicking his heels up with exhuberence, which is wonderful lasting memory to have.
Happy Horse
Well-Known Member
I made the decision when my boy got chronic diarrhoea. I had the option of intrusive diagnostic tests but the vet advised due to the presence of multiple melanomas in his rectum and appalling blood results that any findings were very unlikely to be curable. This combined with a long term lameness issue and the fact he was starting to lose condition made the decision fairly easy. He went on steroids for a week which made him feel a load better and I spoiled him for the week and he was PTS on the Friday morning.
Tia
Well-Known Member
I have to say, I'd far rather put to sleep earlier rather than later.
I think if you know the horse well then you just know when the right time is; it's an inner feeling for me.
Once I have made my decision I tend to go onto automatic pilot and just deal with it, pay for it, have the body removed....and then after everything has been taken care of, I make time to grieve.
I think if you know the horse well then you just know when the right time is; it's an inner feeling for me.
Once I have made my decision I tend to go onto automatic pilot and just deal with it, pay for it, have the body removed....and then after everything has been taken care of, I make time to grieve.
Bluecat45J
Well-Known Member
I had my ex racer put to sleep when I was told that he would not get any better after two years of treatment ( collapsed heels and arthritis) and would not be able to go out in the field and just be stable bound. So while he had his quality of life, I let him go out for his last weekend with his mates and the sun on his back ( and say his goodbyes) and then I took him on the following Monday and was with him while the Vet injected him. Glad I was with him and had a chance to say my goodbye to him.
I did have to battle with the insurance company as they wanted to keep him going for another six months + even though my Vet, the newmarket specialist and my farrier said that there was nothing else that they could do for him.
RIP Rocky, still in my memories and my heart.
I did have to battle with the insurance company as they wanted to keep him going for another six months + even though my Vet, the newmarket specialist and my farrier said that there was nothing else that they could do for him.
RIP Rocky, still in my memories and my heart.
Sarah1
Well-Known Member
Your horse will tell you when it's time. Mine did anyway!
I had the most wonderful pony who'd had a few scrapes but was a true fighter! When he got colic he was PTS within 24 hours - he didn't want to fight anymore, he'd had enough and at 27 yrs old I decided that if he thought it was time then I had to live with that - I knew I'd given him the best life for the time he'd been with me and I was there for his final moments (as were the rest of the family - in buckets of tears of course). He knew I loved him and what gives me comfort is knowing that he knew I'd thought about him til the end and put him 1st again for that 1 last time.
I miss him terribly even 6 yrs on but the sadness is worth it because at least I knew him and had the pleasure of him for his last few years, grumpy old b*gger!
I had the most wonderful pony who'd had a few scrapes but was a true fighter! When he got colic he was PTS within 24 hours - he didn't want to fight anymore, he'd had enough and at 27 yrs old I decided that if he thought it was time then I had to live with that - I knew I'd given him the best life for the time he'd been with me and I was there for his final moments (as were the rest of the family - in buckets of tears of course). He knew I loved him and what gives me comfort is knowing that he knew I'd thought about him til the end and put him 1st again for that 1 last time.
I miss him terribly even 6 yrs on but the sadness is worth it because at least I knew him and had the pleasure of him for his last few years, grumpy old b*gger!
louisewatcham
Well-Known Member
I agree that somehow you will just know it's right. I had felt for a couple of weeks that my old mare did not have her usual spark, and I felt a definite 'the end is coming' though I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Her head was a touch lower and the walk to the field slower and she just seemed tired of life.
I made enquiries about cremation and had all the necessary phone numbers to hand and decisions about how and where made, so that when the day finally came I could deal with it with as little extra stress as possible.
RIP Cleo
I made enquiries about cremation and had all the necessary phone numbers to hand and decisions about how and where made, so that when the day finally came I could deal with it with as little extra stress as possible.
RIP Cleo
Tiffany
Well-Known Member
I've only had to make the decision once and although she had been retired for 2 years I had to make the decision quickly. Luckily, my vet was fantastic in a very stressful situation and I knew she was very ill and travelling her would have stressed her even more. She was 23 and I made the decision to have her PTS there and then, I just knew she's had enough.
Christmas Crumpet
Well-Known Member
Thank you everyone for what you've said.
I've been struggling with getting my horse right after he did his SDFT last year. He's an old hunter and it seems as though having those 9 months off made everything stop working properly and him essentially falling apart.
I worked really hard with the vet to get him right and he'd have a week of being right and then 3 weeks of not. He hasn't felt like the horse he used to be. He became lame 2 weeks ago and so the vet came out last night. He was not happy and thinks the best thing to do would be to put the old boy to sleep. We are giving him a week's grace to see if he becomes miraciously better but the likliehood is not. Its heartbreaking because he is my best friend and I love him so much but he wouldn't be happy not hunting and being an old man.
Sods law - he looks better than he has ever done and he's mellowed in his old age. I stood with him crying into his neck for about half an hour last night and he just stood there nudging me and indulging me. At least I have a huge amount of happy memories and photos of him in his prime.
He will most certainly go to the hunt kennels but what I can't decide to do is whether to be there at the end. Does anyone have any advice about this?
I've been struggling with getting my horse right after he did his SDFT last year. He's an old hunter and it seems as though having those 9 months off made everything stop working properly and him essentially falling apart.
I worked really hard with the vet to get him right and he'd have a week of being right and then 3 weeks of not. He hasn't felt like the horse he used to be. He became lame 2 weeks ago and so the vet came out last night. He was not happy and thinks the best thing to do would be to put the old boy to sleep. We are giving him a week's grace to see if he becomes miraciously better but the likliehood is not. Its heartbreaking because he is my best friend and I love him so much but he wouldn't be happy not hunting and being an old man.
Sods law - he looks better than he has ever done and he's mellowed in his old age. I stood with him crying into his neck for about half an hour last night and he just stood there nudging me and indulging me. At least I have a huge amount of happy memories and photos of him in his prime.
He will most certainly go to the hunt kennels but what I can't decide to do is whether to be there at the end. Does anyone have any advice about this?
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
So sorry you have to make this decision. I am sure you will get loads of different opinions about staying with him when the time comes. Personally,I didn't stay with my old mare when she was pts. I wanted to have good memories. I gave her a load of treats and then a good friend held her for the vet and I hid in the house. It is a very personal thing but please don't you "owe" it to your horse to stay with him,you have to do what is best for you, which in turn will be best for him.
Bounty
Well-Known Member
Things are a bit too raw for me to comment in detail, but I just want to say how sorry I am that you are having to go through this.
I stayed with Cybele until the end, an the only thing I will say is that you need to be prepared for the nerve responses. I knew that there might be a little movement, but at no point was I pepared for the fact that it would still look like she was blinking and breathing for so long after she had gone. I found it incredibly distressing.
I also found that once the decision was made I went on autopilot and just go on with it. I think I'm still on autopilot to a certain extent and am now finding myself dwelling on it much more now (2months down the line) than I did initially.
My thoughts are with you and your gent.
I stayed with Cybele until the end, an the only thing I will say is that you need to be prepared for the nerve responses. I knew that there might be a little movement, but at no point was I pepared for the fact that it would still look like she was blinking and breathing for so long after she had gone. I found it incredibly distressing.
I also found that once the decision was made I went on autopilot and just go on with it. I think I'm still on autopilot to a certain extent and am now finding myself dwelling on it much more now (2months down the line) than I did initially.
My thoughts are with you and your gent.
louisewatcham
Well-Known Member
It is a very hard decision to make but if your gut instinct says the time has come it is probably the right choice to make. I had my old mare put down 3 years ago next week. I had already made my decisions about how and where so I was fully prepared when the vet came to check on her to say 'just do it now'.
I walked her out to the grassy area outside the field (easy access for the lorry) and held and stroked her while the vet sedated her. At this point the vet took her from me as she said many owners try to hold them up as they start to go down. I turned away as the injection was given, still talking to her, and it was not long before I heard a huge thud as she hit the ground. The vet immediately walked me away not letting me see her. Bless her she was very understanding and sympathetic. I went back later to see her body and say goodbye.
Even now when I think of her I remember the last day and my distress and her body and most of all the thud of her going down. However, if I hadn't been there would I now be thinking what if...she was looking for me, wandering where I was, she was scared of the vet etc., so it's impossible to say if it was the right choice to stay.
I'm crying my eyes out now. I will never forget it.
Thinking of you and your old boy.
I walked her out to the grassy area outside the field (easy access for the lorry) and held and stroked her while the vet sedated her. At this point the vet took her from me as she said many owners try to hold them up as they start to go down. I turned away as the injection was given, still talking to her, and it was not long before I heard a huge thud as she hit the ground. The vet immediately walked me away not letting me see her. Bless her she was very understanding and sympathetic. I went back later to see her body and say goodbye.
Even now when I think of her I remember the last day and my distress and her body and most of all the thud of her going down. However, if I hadn't been there would I now be thinking what if...she was looking for me, wandering where I was, she was scared of the vet etc., so it's impossible to say if it was the right choice to stay.
I'm crying my eyes out now. I will never forget it.
Thinking of you and your old boy.
EquestrianFairy
Well-Known Member
My young mare may be PTS in the summer, shes got high and low ringbone which has advanced rapidly, she also has arthritis in her hocks.. shes had a sh1t life and ive spent thousands on her trying to get her sound.
Shes now mechanically lame and badly so, even though we have proven there is no pain involved anymore, watching her walk is heartbreaking and reduces me to tears.
Her bones have fused so that she cant physically flex her front feet the way she would be able to, she finds it easier to trot/canter however the after affects of her doing this (during a wild bout in the field!) make her very stiff and seemingly sore. I give her 1 bute a day to help her with her arthritis but it does come down to quality of life and me and my amazing vet have agreed to give her, her last winter with her baby.
If by any miracle she some how gets better then obv it will be rethought, but in all honesty its not going to happen.
She is the best thing to ever happen to me, and i dont care how much money i owe because of it- shes a complete star and the only pony i could ever wish for.
Nothing will ever compare, but im hoping her baby will grow on and be just like her mum in temprament and style!
Ive got a few months to get used to the idea and already it has me in a mess!
Shes now mechanically lame and badly so, even though we have proven there is no pain involved anymore, watching her walk is heartbreaking and reduces me to tears.
Her bones have fused so that she cant physically flex her front feet the way she would be able to, she finds it easier to trot/canter however the after affects of her doing this (during a wild bout in the field!) make her very stiff and seemingly sore. I give her 1 bute a day to help her with her arthritis but it does come down to quality of life and me and my amazing vet have agreed to give her, her last winter with her baby.
If by any miracle she some how gets better then obv it will be rethought, but in all honesty its not going to happen.
She is the best thing to ever happen to me, and i dont care how much money i owe because of it- shes a complete star and the only pony i could ever wish for.
Nothing will ever compare, but im hoping her baby will grow on and be just like her mum in temprament and style!
Ive got a few months to get used to the idea and already it has me in a mess!
Spot_the_Risk
Well-Known Member
I was there when the loan mare was PTS, the owner had a mutual friend of us both come up and deal with it, and she held the mare at the end. The Vet told her to just give her one more carrot and then turn behind him, and she was put down by captive bolt. It was quick and fairly clean, would have helped if the crematorium people hadn't then been two hours late to take her away. I didn't have a problem seeing her lying on the ground, but I couldn't bear to see her winched into the lorry.