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Horse living in pain.....when do you say enough?; Need advice....things not looking great
Topic Started: May 2 2007, 09:45 AM (841 Views)
Trialbyfire
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So I had the vet out today to do a lameness eval on my permanently lame pony. (I acquired her in this condition to keep her from a kill sale, and as a companion to my TB mare). She was initially thought to have a stifle injury, but no recommendations or treatment were recommended....essentially the owner needed a riding lesson pony and there seemed little chance she'd recover enough....so eventually she came to me. Had a chiropractic vet look at her in September and she could not rule out neurological issues, thought stifle was not good, but not sure it was the only issue.

Since getting her I've been pretty convinced that she has EPSM and also IR, and was hoping that a followup lameness eval might suggest that her lameness is also related to muscle wastage...but alas. No. The primary lameness is, in fact, her stifle....a suspected torn ligament that has not improved since she stopped working last summer. Secondary lameness is bilateral bone spavins, which we also knew about, but not sure how much they contributed to the lameness. Possible treatments for the arthritis, but she will never be sound. :lonely:

In my head I knew that she'd never be sound, but I'm pretty sad about the finality of this (the 3rd look by a vet). I never expected her to be *sound* but was hoping for *more sound*.

The vet says she is in pain when she walks; hopefully her hocks will fuse and that will help, but in the meantime, she's not 100% comfortable. I said to the vet that I didn't think she was a candidate for euthanasia....and he didn't disagree, but in retrospect I didn't specifically ask him if he thought she was.

She is normally pretty content. She doesn't move around a lot (she walks, but doesn't trot unless she has to). She eats just fine and is actually fat (IR, I'm sure) and does not seem depressed. She likes to be groomed, hang out with her pals, stands for the farrier pretty well, sleeps in the sun... http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7da1...26108QcuHDNyxaO

But.....how will I know if I'm being unfair to her? Should I call the vet back and ask his thoughts? :( Any insight?
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HeartofGoldFarm
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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That's an extremely personal decision. All I can say is my opinion is that if they are still happy, content, and seem to be enjoying life most of the time even if they have some limitations, then they have a life worth living and it isn't time yet.

But again, despite what people may tell you on this and other BBs... it is a personal decision, and YOURS alone to make. It is based on you knowing the horse better than anyone and therefore being in the best position to evaluate her quality of life. Go with what feels right to you and you will make the right choice.

Edited to add--I just looked at the photo. She looks very happy and content there. She's really adorable!
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Casey1
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I don't know if a vet will help you. I had a dog who was OLD, I was told I "would know" when it is time. She would have bad days and better days. My vet was also my friend, I would call her crying because I wasn't sure I was doing right by Shadow. She said she would never tell me to put an animal down, it is MY decision. Shadow was her favorite client too. I did know when the time came, fortunately on our way to my friend, she passed on her own.

Is there any medication that can help the pony be more comfortable until her hocks fuse if that is what the vets think will help her? That can be a slow process depending on the horse (or pony). She appears to be in good weight, so she isn't "stressing" over her situation. Her weight would reflect that regardless of the care. With my old horse that is how I knew it was time.

It is a personal decision and an EXTREMELY hard one. It doesn't matter you become attached and it hurts. Put all your realistic options on a piece of paper and look at it, are those things going to make anything better? That might help you decide.

Good Luck
(Cute pony! I know that doesn't help)
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WalkTheLine
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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This is never an easy decision. She looks very happy laying there in the sun. All I can say is when the bad days outweight the good days, it's time :,(
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DairyQueen2049
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What helped me decide was a daily diary - one of those BIIIG calendars in the barn on the wall that I would write daily observations - pain or not, trouble lying down and/or rising, nostrils crinkled in pain, attitude, weight.

I was brutally honest on it. When I got a week of trouble rising, and winter on the way (and then my friends father froze to death while walking the dog cuz he fell and could not rise) I knew it was time. :,(

The hardest, saddest day of my life. 28 yrs of partnership and love and togetherness. I miss her every day. :candle:

Writing it down kept me honest and in my brain, and not thinking with my heart.

LAter I realized, I had been thinking with my heart all along. i loved her enough to let her go in peace.

RIP Miss Rita 1977 - 2005 :rose:
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Fish Cheeks
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What a wonderful picture - she looks like she's smiling!!

I understand your question, as I have an old pony in a similar situation. He's got ringbone and is lame at the walk, with a serious limp. But he is a happy pony and nickers to me and trots to get his food, and tosses his head and canters a little bit to race with me down the driveway. I figure as long as he seems happy and like he enjoys life, then...

I lost my Old Man this winter to colic. Prior to that, he had also been chronically lame, but was also happy and content and well cared for. When he was colicing and it was time, I did know - there was a moment when he looked at me and he was suffering and I couldn't let him suffer any longer.

I agree that it is a very personal decision. Your mare is lucky to have you as her friend and caregiver. :hug:
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Trialbyfire
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Thanks everyone! You are making me feel much better. I think that she is still enjoying her life, and while lame, I don't think she's *suffering* at the moment. Honestly, until today's appointment we were still unsure as to how much of the limp was pain related v. inability to move or stiffness. So if that's an indication of how she seems -- she doesn't appear to be in pain unless you make her work.

So I am glad I did not just "give her bute and ride her" like I was advised to do by the former owner. I felt that her reaction when asked to be ridden -- even showing her the bridle made her flip out -- suggested that riding her was painful.

I think I will still call the vet just so I can be sure he's not thinking she's worse off than I think she is at the moment. As far as treatment, we could inject her stifles and her hocks w/ steroids and it *might* help but would be a lifelong therapy. We could give her injectable joint supplements that *might* make her somewhat more comfortable than she is now (more than the oral joint supplement), but I'm not sure I'm ready to do that knowing she'll never be sound. Not sure I can convince the husband that it is a realistic expenditure of money and time...not sure I can convince myself either. :(

We are going to have to be very careful about her diet because she cannot really exercise. But that's not hard...and have her on D-Carb Balance too...so hopefully she can lose a little of her crestiness.

Thanks for the support. I was pretty down this morning....but she's out there standing in the sun with her pals and seems ok for now. I guess we'll just take it a day at a time and see what happens.

(PS....she IS smiling in the picture! Dreaming about food, no doubt!)
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Trialbyfire
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:lonely: :lonely:

So I've turned the three horses onto the pasture for a little while the last couple of days. Unfortunately, the two sound horses think it's great fun to gallop full speed to the middle of the pasture, and occasionally just gallop around because it's fun. Needless to say, the lame pony is having a really hard time keeping up, and is definitely hurting.

My biggest fear is that she'll go down in the far side of the pasture and will result in a tragic and unplanned end.

I know you guys can't really help answer this, but I'm asking it anyway...

Is it possible that after the novelty of the grass wears off they'll slow down a little? Right now they are only out for 60 minutes, so they are really impatient to get out there.....but by next week I might have them up to a couple of hours at a time. Maybe they will slow down a little?

Or would you make the decision before something bad happens? :,(

My husband wants me to call the vet today and see what he says, but honestly, I can't imagine he'll suggest giving her bute and waiting a week, which is what I planned to ask him for....

I thought for sure we'd have the summer to figure things out....
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DairyQueen2049
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Trialbyfire
May 21 2007, 05:11 AM


Or would you make the decision before something bad happens? :,(


A week too soon will wear on you less then a micro-second too late. :,( :hug:

On the horse as well. :hug: :hug:

I've witnessed some very unhappy endings, and some gentle peaceful merciful ones.

For my self and my loved ones, human and equine, I want the gentle peaceful merciful ones.


Its the hardest decision you will ever make. :hug: Wish I could be more help. :hug:
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Trialbyfire
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Just got back from dr. appointment w/ my daughter and the pony was separated from the herd. Laying in the new arena but the other two were in the barn, which is not typical. She had a really hard time getting up and very, very lame on the short walk back to the barn for lunch. The other two are pissed they are not getting a grass lunch but I am afraid to turn her out with them right now. Once I stop crying I'll call the vet and figure something out. I'm sure my excavator will dig a hole for me but not sure of his schedule....seems that should be an important consideration.... :,( having a hard time thinking this through right now.
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La Gringa
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Hugs to you during this difficult time. I am sure you will do what is best.

Afterwards, you can always plant a tree on top of where she's buried as a marker. A flowering tree.

Hugs again. So sorry. :hug:
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DairyQueen2049
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Awww TBF- can you give her seperate but equal space from the other more rambunctious ones????
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cowgirl
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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Hold on to that picture of her smiling in the sun :,(

and know that you gave her a happy life to remember when she is at peace :,(
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Kikki
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This is never easy, and almost everyone here has been through the same thing, at least once. I don't believe that there is ever a "too early" but there is a too late, and it is those final moments when things are going down hill that will stick with you forever. One amazing quality about animals is that they have no self-pity. Yes, she hurts, yes its hard for her to get up, but she is taking it all in stride, particularly if she is eating. She could likely go about her business for some time now, but with less quality of life. Another thing about animals is that they live in the here and now, not longing for the past or hoping for the future. She isn't longing for the days she was more sound, but she is not thinking about all the things she will miss out if she were not to make it another week. These are things we as humans put on them. We pity them when they are in pain, long for the days the were able to run in the fields, and cry at the thought of them not being here to sleep in the sun another day.

Cry for yourself and your family who is going to miss her. But try not to place human emotions on her when facing this type of decision (harder said than done, I realize). Try to be very rational about it when examining it from her point of view. You won't let her go too early in her eyes as she does not have a concept of the future (animals are shining examples of how to live for the moment). And when she is gone, cry for the family member you have lost, the pony you won't get to play with, and your own pain, but not for her loss of life as she was happy until the very end.
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just_me
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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Kikki put it better than I ever could. :hug:
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