I'm desperate for help

[Caz&Irena]

Please can anyone help? My 25 year old mare punctured her hock and was rushed to hospital as an emergency case. She stayed there for 7 days and was discharged with her leg bandaged but with a very good prognosis. Our local vet changed the bandage and 3 days later she laid down in her stable but couldn't get up. She wasn't cast as her back was to the wall. Eventually after much sedation and the yard owner's digger pulling her to her feet she seemed fine. The general feeling on the yard was the bandage may have given her a dead leg. We crossed tied her for 2 days and sent her back to the hospital for further tests. All tests including a neurological one were normal and she stayed for another 8 days with no problems. We got her back, unbandaged as the wound is healing well, 9 days ago. This morning she rolled in the sick paddock and couldn't get up again. She had to be hauled to her feet again by the digger. Once up she is fine and dragged the person holding her back to her stable. The vet that saw her this morning thinks it could be muscle wastage and to keep walking her in hand as much as possible. Is that possible? She has only been stabled for six weeks and has been walked out twice a day (admittedly short walks). She has also been turned into the sick paddock this week too with no problems. Has anyone had this problem before with an elderly horse. Please help if you can as the vet said that if it keeps happening the kindest thing to do would be to put her down. She is so healthy in other respects I don't want to give up on her yet. Before the injury she was hacking out once or twice a week climbing steep hills with no problems.
I would be very grateful for any help you can give.

Gillian

[Caz&Irena]

Just to let you know that my horse was put down early this evening after going down in her stable again.

Gillian

[KarinUS]

I read your post earlier, but didn't have any idea about injuries like this. That is shocking news. I am very sorry. Did you get any more details on why she stayed down and what happened?

[Miriam]

Gillian I am very sorry to hear the bad news. Did you find out what the cause was? It sounds like a dog I used to own whilst at the vets she was fine running around with the vets dogs and when she came home she was back to square one. We never did find the cause.

[Joy Esau]

That's so aweful. Thinking of you....

Joy

[Wally]

You did the right thing, horrid and awful as it is. 25 is a good age to get a horse to, you obviously spared her nothing. She was without doubt loved.

Just remember she was an old lady and you spared her any suffering.

Nothing anyone can say will make you feel any better, only time can do that. But there is not a person who knows about horses will ridicule your decision.

We too had to make a dreadful decision and put two, seemingly well horses down. They were both about 30. They looked well, there is nothing worse than having to loose a good looking horse.

Give yourself time, there are no rules, do things your way.

[Caz&Irena]

Thank you for your replies. Nobody could give me a reason why she kept going down and couldn't get up. Yesterday she was trotting down the road by the side of me looking a picture of health. I still can't believe this has happened my beautiful girl has been taken from me. We loved her so much. Sorry but I keep breaking down and can't think very straight. I'll try to post when I feel less tearful.

Gillian

[cvb]

My heart goes out to you.

I'm going to write anyway. I know its the last thing you will be thinking about, but maybe there are others out there as well..

My sister's horse is 31. Last winter he went down a few times and could not get up. When he was down, he would get chilled because he could not get himself up.

The only thing we could think of was that arthritis etc made it difficult to move, and the longer he was down, the more difficult it got. It was like he got a 'dead leg' and chilled.

So it was just a question of keeping an eye on him and helping him up. He's still with us and looking a lot better.

I also remember some one else when I was young having a horse that went down every so often. We would get a phone call and all go round to help them get her up. She was ok on one side but not if she was down on the other.

[LindaAd]

I'm so sorry, Gillian. That is really sad, especially after all you went through with her. But as Wally says, she was a very old lady, and you saved her from any more suffering. I think being down and not able to get up must be one of the most distressing things for a horse...

[Em 1]

You poor thing! Although it's not on the same scale, I know what it is like to lose a pet. Our rat died three days ago; she was about 3, old by rat standards. She had a couple of fits which meant that she couldn't use her back legs and we decided to put her down but she then perked up rather like your mare; you look at them and think " you can't possibly be ready to die, you look so normal"! However, she finally gave in and just lay down and died naturally which was better for her and us. We loved her dearly and hated seeing her in pain and distress but after several fits and complete paralysis of the back legs we wanted her suffering to end which made her death a little easier.

Saying goodbye is the worst thing about owning any animal but knowing that they had happy, secure and loving homes for a good life span and were happy, makes a whole lot of difference. We had the joy they bring and the rewards of caring for an animal; we have to take the sadness that comes with it. It's horrible but it will get better; already I can talk about Geddy without bursting into tears; I can't remember the happy times yet but I feel sure they will come. Most of all I wouldn't have missed having her for the world! Eventually, I hope you can enjoy the memories! All the best...

[Julew]

Just wanted to say how sorry I was to read your post about your mare. No words can help but maybe the knowledge that everyone here is thinking of you will ( at least a little ).

[galadriel]

Oh, gosh, how terribly sad. We all sympathise. I know it's not much comfort but I wish you the best.

[Lucy J]

My old horse was very thin, but had been reasonably happy and healthy albeit lying down more frequently though he could still get up. One day he lay down and just didn't want to get back up. He was telling us his time was up. It hurts alot and its very very hard. My heart goes out to you and I hope you feel better soon. At least you know the horse was happy and loved and had a good life. That is the most important thing.

[Speedy]

I'm so terribly sorry. I know words won't help, but I'm thinking of you. I lost my first mare nearly four years ago and although I still think of her all the time, it does get easier. Cherish the memories xxxx

[Nickie]

Thinking of you - and as someone else said - Cherish the memories.

XX

[missy_g]

i'm very sorry to hear about your horse gillian and about your rat Em
ally:(

[Joy Esau]

Hi Em

So sorry to hear about your little girl.

The animals I share my life with are my horse and two fancy rats (sisters). They are very different animals, with hugely different lifespans. But I don't think its going to make that much difference when "that time comes". Fancy rats are often affectionate animals, seeking out human company and coming to call at their name. I'm sure Geddy must have left a huge gap in your life. She was obviously a happy rat to have lived so long.

Joy

[Alison+Rio]

Im very sorry to hear about your horse she was obviously well loved! :(

[Caz&Irena]

Thank you for all your comforting replies. I went down the yard today, she is buried in one of the paddocks, and laid some flowers on her grave. Luckily enough I have another 2 horses so we have to keep going for them. Everyone said that we did the right thing and she was telling us that her time had come. We only had her for five years even though she was 25, but we had such lovely times together. She was very special, a gentle giant at 17.2hh who would carefully carry children as young as 2 on her back. She will be very sadly missed. Thank you again for your thoughts and good wishes.

Regards

Gillian

[Em 1]

Thank you for your kind replies about Geddy. It is so hard to lose a friend but I'm really glad that you mare is near you Gillian and that you have other horses to look after in her memory. Enjoy all the memories of the good times and remember, she was very, very lucky to have you as an owner.