Aged horse - what to do???

[Persona]

My aged horse, mid to late 20's, has athritis in most joints and I suspect cushings too due to coat retention and water consumption. When he walks he puts his front feet down toe first, which suggests navicular. His teeth are now starting to fall out and he's generally looking 'old'. The winter before last he was very uncomfy both in the field and in the stable (stabled overnight in winter), last winter he really struggled walking when it got muddy and although he likes being stabled overnight he's not happy being in longer than that. At Christmas last year he became very lame, had slightly swollen tendons on both front legs and stiff all round. He's permanently on one bute a day but when he got really lame Vet put it up to 3 and within 3 weeks he became much better. He has glucosamine too. He lives out in summer, and through this summer has been reasonably comfortable. My concern is that he will go downhill even more this winter, as he has got progressively worse each previous winter. Instinct tells me to have him PTS at the end of this summer or early autumn, while he is still reasonably comfortable. I would be mortified if he became really 'unwell' this winter and I had to do it when he was really suffering. I'm trying not to be selfish by keeping him 'going' just because saying goodbye is so hard, but am I being unfair on him if I PTS too early?

Your opinions on this would be most appreciated, and I don't care if anyone wants to make any nasty comments because they can't hurt as much as having to make this decision does.

[chev]

By the sound of it, sad as it is, I think the fairest thing for him would be to say goodbye and let him go before winter. It's a horrible position to be in, and I went through the same thing with my old cob Shadow a few years ago, but it is down to us to make the decision for them. I'm very glad now that I didn't let Shad go through another winter, even though he was looking relatively well when I did have him PTS - the previous winter had been awful and I think the best thing I ever did for him was to let him go before he became really unhappy and started to suffer any more.

Shad was in his late thirties by then. It's a little easier when they're old; I have an eight year old now for whom I know I'll have to make that decision a lot earlier, and I'm dreading that day. But it's all part of the relationship we have with our horses, and I have a huge amount of respect for you for putting your horse's welfaer and happiness before your own feelings.

You know when it's the right time; and it does sound like he's not going to make it happily through another winter. I'm so sorry. It's heartbreaking when you have to let go. :( But if it was a choice between maybe having it done a little early and meaning he never had the chance to suffer, or leaving it and finding his last weeks or days were unhappy; well, I know what I'd do.

Thinking of you both.

[Big Ears]

he sounds as if he is going to struggle through the winter.

if he were mine, I would let him have a lovely summer, spoil him rotten, then when the weather changes in October, say goodbye.

the horse charity I am involved with often culls a number of their horses at the end of the summer as they feel that they will struggle during the winter. the ones that haven't picked up on the grass, who just aren't quite as good as they should be. the vet comes out and they assess each horse.

not nice but they don't have the staff/facilities to nurse horses in the way that a private owner might be able to.

my donkey has arthritis in her shoulder and she has got stuck in the stable a few times this year. so it is going to get worse. her quality of life is excellent in all other ways, so for the moment, I get down and shove her up onto her knees and she gets up. but eventually it is going to become more of an issue for her.

i hope he has a nice summer and eats well and enjoys himself. i think you will know yourself when the time is right, but sometimes it is better to let them go out beofre they hit a crisis and an emergency. i have just had to have my 19 yo cat pts - he did really really well, fought for years, then suddenly he just in one turned the corner from where his arthritis, heart murmur, kidney problems were greater than his quality of life. saw the vet on thursday, agreed he was ok to let go on a few more weeks/months and see how we go, Friday afternoon, he wasn't as bright, saturday had him pts. he just went down hill in that short space of time so we made the decision as he wasn't going to beat what was wrong with him. yours is much the same, he copes as well as he can, but there is just that little change that makes you think enough.

i feel very sorry for your as it is horrible always wondering is this the day.

[dcp]

It really upset me to read your post. I know I will probably have to go through this one day and the very thought of it actually brings tears to my eyes. Your horse sounds like he is suffering and will probably go downhill this winter. The time is going to come and instead of him being in a lot of pain to the bitter end it would be kinder to let him go peacefully. I can understand you don't want to do this because it's how I would feel too it's a very difficult choice to make. I'm sure he has had a very nice life with you. Best of luck

[Supercali]

If you think that he will suffer (and it sounds like he does) then I agree that it would be kinder to let him go before the winter comes and let his last thoughts of being out in the summer.

I will have to come to this decision in the next year or so as my mare has got arthritis in her hip and stifle and possibly just starting in her front leg. She is not keeping her weight as good as she used to and the vet thinks that she will start losing some of her teeth soon. I have already come to a decision that if she ever started struggling to get up then I would put her to sleep because it is really distressing for them.

[Trewsers]

Sorry I can't offer any advice, just wanted to say how sensible and brave you're being facing up to this. I'm sure you'll do the right thing, although I personally echo what the others have said, let him enjoy this summer and then think about letting go. It must be terrible for you having to go through this - one day we'll all have to go through this as horse owners :( Wishing you lots of good thoughts :)

[LinzCos]

It is such a difficult decision to make but I think you already know that you need to act before the winter starts. I am really sad for you. My horse is in his 20's and I have begun to think of the day I will need to make the same decision. So sad :(

I was reading the Veteran Horse Society website the other day and they have some useful information and offer support.

[mayS]

I hope you won't get upset, but I'm going to disagree with planning this so far in advance.

Being in the early 20's isn't that old! My one horse is 20 and the other is late-teens or older, the vet wasn't sure. Both are lively. I've heard of people keeping horses into their early 30s and beyond.

Arthritis can be a problem when it becomes really bad, but most old horses have it in spots here and there when they get older. But then again so do some people when they hit retirement age and they don't ask to be put to sleep because of it. :)

Losing teeth is also something that happens as horses get older. It's not great and it may mean modifying his diet, but it's not a sign he's about to pass away.

Cushings: Is this something your vet told you after running bloodtests? Or is it just based on seeing thirsty horse who was a late shedder this year?

Navicular syndrome: Sorry for asking, but have you had xrays or other tests done by a vet? Toe-first landing could be caused by other things besides navicular. Is he sore in the front feet or is he just walking odd? Navicular syndome can be managed with proper shoeing (or some feel special trimming) and/or drugs (other than bute).

I wasn't aware bute could be given long-term? (please someone let me know either way? i was told it shouldn't be.)

Have you had this discussion about euthanasia with your vet? How uncomfortable does the vet feel the horse is?

IMHO I don't think glucosamine supplements do anything for horses. I've tried them and saw zero improvement in my older mare who has arthritic knees.

I think when he's ready to go he will let you know. I don't think it's selfish to give him more time, and this isn't something that needs to be planned months in advance. Just take things on day at a time. Who knows, he might suprise you.

A family member finally had their aged cat pass away peacefully. She looked terrible when she was in her teens & vet wasn't sure why. Then she perked up on her own and looked better than she had since being a young cat. She lived many good years after her slump. When she finally did pass away she was 16 (that's ancient for a cat).

Best of luck to you!!!

[Zingy]

Such a difficult decision to make :(

IMO though, if you're thinking the winter will probably be too much for him, then it probably will :( You know him better than anyone else and the fact that you have such nagging doubts about it means you have to take it seriously and consider all the options.

If you make the decision not to go ahead with it, your horse will either cope and continue to enjoy life or you will have to make the decision partway through winter when he's struggling and miserable.

If you do decide to go ahead, he will know nothing. He will have been happy, well cared for and pampered until the last moment, surrounded by people who love him and who want the best for him. And the last days he remembers will be good. You are the one who will feel the pain, not him, but you are the one who has to believe 100% that this is the right decision and never, ever regret it.

It's a decision I'd rather take a week to early than a day too late. But also one that fills me with dread for the day I will have to take it :( There is nothing wrong in planning this - you are doing the absolute best you can, and I have done it myself with my dogs.

Lots of hugs to you.

[MarieM]

I am also in the same position as you. My 28yr cob cross has had cushings for nearly 10 years now and this last year he didn't winter well. So I've made the decision to have him PTS at the end of the summer, however, the thought of it at first made me so upset. So I made a point of reading other peoples experiences of having their beloved horses put to sleep and its somehow helped me come to terms with it.

[AppleJacks1988]

My gelding is older in his 20s and the mare im going to be getting sunday is older and i know the winters are hard for her cause shes skinny. Im really sorry I wish the best of luck to you. You are really strong to even consider that i dont ever want to think about it but i catch myself saying 'what if' I dont ever want to lose my big old gelding and i couldnt ever do that. But your really brave for seeing what needs to be done and looking it in the eye then going around it. I hope things get better and you realize you are doing the right thing.

[Tharg]

I know its a horrible position to be in but I think the best thing you can do for your horse is to put him to sleep so he can die with some dignity.

[mustang fan]

About three months ago there was a mare where my friend anthony boards his horse. The mares name was wishes and she was in pain as well. I had a very hard time letting her go but I would rather have her somewhere where she would be a pain free insted of in a stall lyeing there in pain. Im not trying to be discourgaging or rude or any of thoes things but somtimes you just have to let the horse go.now in your case the horse is older so you probaly have loads of good memories.If you do decide to let the horse go at least you know it wil be out of pain. What you are doing is not selfish at all its just hard to let go somtimes.
you just have to look to the bright side and do what you think is best.

You can also keep in mind that it might get better as it goes on. I know some horsees that can never be ridden again but are still very good companions. Like one of my friends has a horse named nikki that she has navicular,and some hip problems now she is there pet but not in terrible pain.

you should do what you and your vet think is best.