I have a 14-year-old mare who just over four years ago sustained a broken splint bone and torn impar ligament. Splint bone healed but calcification grew and pushes on the suspensory ligament and other soft tissues. Vet said surgery was an option at that time but it wasn’t something that I could afford. He said to retire her and if I wanted to ride her a little bit to just give her bute. He advised that previcox would not help her, but I tried it anyway, and he is correct. She has been pasture sound all this time but the leg has gotten larger over time and in the last week has gotten very swollen to the point where she is noticeably limping I know it’s not time right now but how do I know when it is? Is it when bute won’t even make her pasture sound or is it when she has to have bute constantly? I think this is really hard for me right now because I just had to put a two-year-old to sleep a month and a half ago.
I’m sorry you are in this position. I’d definitely have the vet out. Personally, a horse limping or needing daily bute to not be in pain are hard boundaries for me.
X-rays may show that the calcification has broken off if it is acutely swollen and painful.
I am so sorry that you have to deal with this. It is not easy as owners to make this final decision, but they depend on us to get it right. So hard.
My personal criteria is two-fold. First, can they do all the normal things horses do without medical assistance and will they be able to do so in the future. So if they can still gallop, buck, eat, drink, have friends, roll, lay down, get back up etc - that’s a baseline. If they cannot, I call it.
Secondly, are they having a decent time doing it. There is a difference between a happy horse and a distressed horse, and this line is most definitely more gray.
I’m looking at putting down my DSLD older horse because though he can still do all of the above things, he is starting to seem less bright, stands off by himself more often, and I think his cribbing (always a problem for him) is intensifying which has to mean that he is uncomfortable.
I don’t want to wait until he is down and unable to rise or has complete breakdown of the suspensory apparatus (the vet’s suggestion when I asked) - IMO then he dies afraid and in pain. I’d rather give him a beautiful day with alfalfa and grazing and sunshine (and no bugs, his personal hatred) and let him go. That’s what I’d want if I were him too.
My heart goes out to you - the decision is hard, and heartbreaking, but it is the best gift we can give these creatures who have given us so much.
That is one of the things I’ve noticed over time. She doesn’t run anymore and she used to love to jump up in the air from a standstill and buck and she doesn’t do that anymore either. Yesterday, she wanted to trot over to her alfalfa, but couldn’t because she was limping so badly. I contacted the vet last night and I’m going to send her some pics and video and get an appointment to see what’s going on with the leg now.
If you’re asking the question, it’s time. Based on your description she’s been in chronic pain. Why extend her misery? Not leaping or play bucking is one thing, but watching her suffer as she hobbles to her food would leave me gutted. I’d have no qualms euthanizing ASAP, so her last days aren’t any more miserable than you describe.
Yes, you will be sad, upset, heartbroken, etc., but it is our responsibility as caretakers of these wonderful animals to do the right thing for them as soon as we can’t keep them reasonably comfortable. Our pain comes second - theirs comes first!
This is a new development, then? First you find out what is going on, then worry about what’s next.
This blog might help you answer the question about knowing when it’s time. This post specifically, but there are others too.
I faced the same problem with my late Paint gelding who had a lump on his left knee when I bought him at age 7 in 2001. X-rays showed that it was outside the joint. The vet speculated he hit it on something that allowed a small amount of fluid to seep out and accummulate in front of the joint. .He was perfectly sound through 3/31/2020 although his flexion started declining slightly when he was in his early 20s. The BO had him for 19 years. She locked all horse owners out of the farm for the month of April 2020. She locked the horses in their turnout (he was pasture boarded). When I finally got him back on 5/1 he started having bouts of lameness but would get back to being sound and I could do some light riding. In October he didn’t recover. There were other problems with his care so I moved him to a new barn with a perfect BO taking care of him. Our vet had retired, but I found an excellent new one. Following a thorough evaluation with a lameness specialist she asked me to agree to put him down when she said it was time. I did.
The knee deteriorated and the flexion was getting much worse. The arthritis got quite bad, but he was on previcox and a shot of Osphos every few months. He showed no signs of discomfort or pain. When the vet said it was time I thought she has jumping the gun but set a date a week later. I could feel him growing stronger after a recent Osphos shot. When I had someone lead him I could see more problems with that hoof. He dragged the toe and the limp was quite pronounced, but he still didn’t show any pain. I could still lead him out to hand graze. One day I couldn’t - he wouldn’t walk away from the barn. He was swinging that hoof in an arc if he didn’t drag the toe. A couple of days before we put him down, I told the vet what I saw. His knee could not control the hoof. I could have tried more agressive treatment. I wouldn’t inject the knee, and I had promised him years ago I wouldn’t let him turn into an old man. He still was bright and happy. But deep in my heart I knew it was the best thing for him.
We put him down on 7/20/22 at 28. He was well known in the area and a couple of dozen people came to the barn. That made it a little easier – I was submerged in huge hugs. He stayed with me until 1/10/24. I think he is lurking around someone else who doesn’t know he is there. I won’t be surprised if he returns.
As others have said, have the vet out first to examine the leg and maybe do x-rays. Then, you’ll have more information with which to make a decision. And it might make the decision for you.
Bute is hard on horses, and they can get ulcers from it. If I had a horse that had to be on bute daily to remain pasture sound, I think that would be the tipping point for me. It’s not just about her being pasture-sound, but about her being pain-free. That’s something you and your vet need to discuss.
Based on this, I agree with the recommendation to have her examined and make sure there is nothing else going on.
If this level of pain is the advancement of her chronic issues(and not something else that you are able to heal); it is already time. Not in a few months, not next year, now.
Unable to trot, let alone run, is a significant level of daily pain. Additionally, for a prey animal that relies on “flight” to keep themselves safe, being unable to run to flee from a potential threat is extremely stressful. They are aware of their own vulnerability and will do their best to hide it, so if you are seeing it to this extent, they are feeling worse.
I would absolutely see if there is anything you can do. If there isn’t, I would not allow my horse to continue to live with this much pain (knowing they will never get better) for any significant period of time. I would give them a good last day and let them go.
Thank you guys for your perspectives. The vet is going to take a look and see what’s going on with her. The vet told me to give her bute for a couple days and she is significantly improved (back to the normal level of swelling). We’re going to see how she does off of it and I’ll take her in for some updated x-rays.
