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  Discussion on When is the time to put a horse down?
Author Message
Member:
dakotab

Posted on Saturday, Dec 6, 2014 - 9:11 am:

How do you get past the emotions of making the decision to have your horse put down? The vet can't tell us and the farrier won't. And we want to make sure we are doing the right thing. But the vet bills are running high and no one can give us any hope.
Because of the problems I would NEVER buy another horse with out x-rays first.
This might not be the right place to say all this but I guess I need some kind of support.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Saturday, Dec 6, 2014 - 9:44 am:

I measure the horse's quality of life, what's wrong with him that there is no hope?

Is he eating, drinking, pooping and comfortable? Can he get up and down, can he walk? How much medication is he on?

Are you keeping him alive because of your emotional attachment, you need to separate your emotions from whats the best solution for your horse.

The decision to euthanize is a very difficult one and only you can make that decision that's why the vet and the farrier can't tell you what to do.

I had a very similar experience and what helped me make the decision to euthanize was when I did not give my horse his pain medication for one dose and he could not move. That was enough for me, I made him as comfortable as I could and called the vet right away. His last few hours he spent out walking and grazing in a big field. This was a horse I paid $500(from a horse sale) for because I felt sorry for him. Turned out he had a very serious knee infection which had destroyed all the cartilage in his knee and the joint was bone on bone. I bought him as a race horse, but after he was diagnosed,( the day after the sale) I would have been happy with him as a pasture puff. But that was not to be. He is in a much happier place now with no pain.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Saturday, Dec 6, 2014 - 10:30 am:

I judge the quality of life for the horse. After all the money is spent, what are the horse's chances of living a mostly pain free life? How long will it take to get to that point? IMO horses live one day at a time - will you be able to make most of those days good days? How do it's eyes look? What is it's demeanor? I've only put down one horse that didn't tell me with it's eyes that it had had enough; with most, the " light goes out," if you know what I mean. The one was three legged lame and would never get better. It's a tough decission, but as Rachelle said, look at it from the horse's side. What is best for the horse long term.
Member:
dakotab

Posted on Saturday, Dec 6, 2014 - 9:56 pm:

It is my husbands horse and he does not want to make the decision. I don't feel I should. But tonight we decided to control his pain and make him as comfortable as we can and see what happens for a week or so. But you are right you can see the pain in his eyes until the pain meds take affect and then he seems much better and content. But he is confined to his stall 24/7 and that is no life for a herd animal. I should say that he was diagnosed with navicular 2 month after we got him. Then he foundered this last spring. 4 weeks ago we had him tested for IR and cushing and his numbers were high with both. then 3 days ago diagnosed with white lines in the rear foot. We have to soak his hay and it is all getting to me as I am the primary care giver while Tom works. I thank you both for your input I needed someone to be frank with me. It always helps to have and outsider giving some input. We have had him 12 years. Thank you again/
Member:
mrose

Posted on Saturday, Dec 6, 2014 - 11:45 pm:

If you take each issue seperately, they are managale usually; all together it sounds pretty rough for both you and the horse. Is he on pergolide or anything else for the IR/Cushings? Soaking hay helps for sure ( grass hay?) The white line is treatable, but takes dedication and time. Depending on the severity of the navicular, that is usually manageable. Did he founder from stress on a good foot due to putting too much wieght on to relieve the navicular foot? Do you have a good vet and a farrier that can do corrective trimming and shoeing?

There is some good info on this site if you haven't read it yet. Somme of the articles might give you some guidence. There are website that are helpful for just foot problems that might be of use too. I dont recall the names right now; Rachelle or someone else might.

Do you have him on bute? I'd keep him on it unless there is some reason the vet feels you shouldn't. I've kept horses on bute for a long time when they've been in pain. Some people have better luck with previcox. I think Dr. O might say something about that in one of his articles.

Good luck. It's not easy. Many of us have fought similar issues; some have been very successful and other's not; just depends on the horse and the severity of the problems and how much time, money and effort the owner is able to devote.
Member:
rtrotter

Posted on Sunday, Dec 7, 2014 - 6:10 am:

I agree with Sara, all these problems are manageable, but the the thing that struck me is his confinement. Why is he confined? Is he in shoes? Oh there are so many questions, I want to ask, to be able to know better what to do to help your horse.
Member:
dakotab

Posted on Sunday, Dec 7, 2014 - 10:09 am:

Sara, We had his navicular ( in both front feet)under control for 11 years. we felt it was not and issue we were riding him, and he was great. We thought when we were on vacation in the spring and he was put out on grass 24/7, that is when he foundered. But the vet ran the IR and Cushings test and found that is why he foundered. He is on pergolide, Isoxiprine, bute and still is having flare ups. We have well over $8000 dollars in him already and have a special farrier doing his feet at the tune of $350 every 4 weeks and that is only the front. Our reg. farrier is doing his back feet.
He has to stay in his stall 24/7 is never allowed out with the other horses. Absolutely NO grass, he is not happy in his stall we were letting him out in the arena. But now he can't do that either.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Sunday, Dec 7, 2014 - 12:10 pm:

That is tough. You have certainly tried with him. I had a mare, Libby, that I think you can still read about on this site. She was beautiful and well bred. I bred her, foaled her out and trained her. She suffered an injury ( at a trainer's) like that of the race horse Barbaro. Because I had to trailer her for 10 hrs to a specialty clinic, she foundered on her good foot. After a year in the hospital ( this is short version of the story) we brought her home and with the help of good farrier care, meds, lots of time and patience, she was able to live a pretty good life for quite a few years, then started to go down hill. Finally, it came to the point where I felt it was in her best interest to euthanize her. She couldn't be turned out except in her small sand filled pen, and was 3 legged lame. She wasn't ready to go. She had more fight than any animals I've known. But winter was coming, I knew she would go down hill further and was terrified she'd go down when I wasn't home and there was no one to help her. Putting her down was one of the most difficult decissions I've ever made, but I know I did the right thing, even though not a day goes by that I don't still miss her. You'll get to that same point I imagine. Too bad your husband leaves it all up to you. Again, not easy.
Member:
dakotab

Posted on Sunday, Dec 7, 2014 - 2:06 pm:

This morning we let him walk around the barn while we cleaned. He seemed pain free at this time, and happy. That is why all the emotions. We keep hoping he will spring back somehow. Right now it is a day by day thing. But we are going to pick and choose treatments at this point.
I want to thank you all for letting me vent. You have relieved some of the stress of this whole situation.
Member:
mrose

Posted on Sunday, Dec 7, 2014 - 2:54 pm:

IMO movement is good for him as it helps with circulation. It helps if you can have soft footing. Didn't look to see where you live, but I know soft can be a problem in a lot of places this time of year. Keep plenty of bute on hand, and take one day at a time. About all you can do. Good luck!

And, trust me, I spent hours on this site venting, crying and learning.
Member:
dakotab

Posted on Sunday, Dec 7, 2014 - 6:06 pm:

Sara the vet had me putting nitroglycerine just below ankles to improve circulation. He has 2 inches bedding in his stall at least. And you are right, outside frozen ground. Thank You again.
Member:
zaza

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2014 - 1:08 pm:

It sounds like the biggest problem here is the cost, which of course IS big problem so...
I don't know what you have already tried in the past so I will start with everything that worked for me to cut cost in the long run...
First ...I bought a good 20 dollar farrie rasp (sharp) and a good 40 dollar farrier hoof knife (sharp) and a nylon (cheaper) farrier appron because I want to keep my jeans new, and good leather gloves cause I want to keep the skin on my hands. Picked my farriers brain on what to rasp and were to touch up (read A LOT of articles on what to look for) and let my horse tell me when I did something wrong.
If you are not into that back breaking activity, I don't blame you BUT touch up here and there will push the farrier fees longer like... You touch up 4 wks after he came a couple of times so he can come every 3 to 4 months... HUGE savings. (usually its just the walls and frog that need to be touched up) and he can come back and do some more detailed work.
Second... Horse can't walk because feet hurt, right? well you would be suprised how quickly they heal and how immediately great it feel to take shoes off! and put on hoof boots (I tried epic hoof boots). My horse had dead lame from bad trim, very bruised sole (you could see it) and bad thrush and I wanted him to be ok walking around so I tried hoof boots but leaving them on longer than a few hours (like for pasture) only promotes more thrush so to cushion his feet and clean the thrush I put a thin layer of magic cushion and paper towel over it so it wouldn't ruin the boot (cause its REALLY sticky) and ductaped it in place then put the boot on and I would change it every other day until I could take it off and he wouldn't limp, me in particular it took him 3 weeks. His hooves loved that stuff, healed up gorgeously.
Third... sounds like he is sensitive to sugar which all my money is put on that is what caused the founder so obviously I can tell you are addressing the diet cause already. BUT he wants to be with his buddies so... while wearing hoof boots to feel good, can he have a muzle? the grazing kind but supper limited that barely lets him graze? Zero grain and low quality hay like bermuda grass (if availanle) I think its last cutting for least sugar in it (only if the limited grazing isn't enough). Is he fat? because there would be an answer too. That way you avoid the soaking, the confining, and the misery.

Hope it helps...
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