Debating Euthanizing my Horse...

[Sad_Sack]

…and I feel terrible about it. Please bear with me while I get some stuff off my chest.

He’s probably in his early 20s and isn’t rideable. He has some health issues, mostly controlled by medication but ultrasounds have confirmed suspensory desmitis in both legs. That was a while ago. It’s not terrible yet - he looks normal moving around in the pasture but his pasterns are mildly sunken. I can’t really lunge him to assess soundness - I used to have no trouble lunging him but he won’t trot now and will just buck and act hostile.

I do think he’s getting more sore, and I have had some serious troubles handling him lately. Today I was in tears after trying to bring him in to groom him and give him pellets. He reared on the way in and was kicky and very difficult in the barn - he seemed extremely anxious and pawed, threw his food and kicked out a bit. I could not pick his feet out, and the farrier had trouble last time trimming him.

I’m not a good enough horse person to deal with his behaviour. I suppose I could get a trainer and more vet work but I do not know how long my horse is really going to last. I strongly suspect his desmitis is degenerative. I suspect any more ultrasounds are going to confirm what I suspect - his ligaments are inflamed. Right now I’m scared his escalating behaviour is going to get me hurt, or worse, someone else (there are kids around the barn).

I’m thinking about biting the bullet and having him put down. I could afford more veterinary or trainer interventions up to a point (I am not rich) but it would be difficult time wise (I have a very demanding job right now with little time).

I’m crying about the thought of having him put down. The rational side of my brain says it’s okay - he’ll just go to sleep, and I’ve cared for him despite him being unrideable for a while. The emotional side thinks I suck and should do more, plus I’m worried about being judged harshly by other people at the barn, and the vet. My horse isn’t crippled and looks fine walking around, and I suppose I could try more painkillers and what not. But I’m nervous about handling him again and I suspect he is sore.

Thanks if anyone has read this far. What would you all do?

[Bluey]

Have you brought all this up with your vets?

They can advise you and if you decide to go ahead, they are the ones that will have to do it, so you need them on board.

Hard to say, but any time a horse is in your situation and becoming increasingly hard to handle, you have to do something about it.
First asking your vets would make sense.

[sortofbyx]

He is an aging horse with a degenerative condition. There is nothing wrong with humanely ending his life rather than continuing on a path that leaves you afraid and him with potential issues that are difficult to address. If he is getting difficult to trim, particularly with a degenerative ligament condition, that says that the quality of life is getting difficult to maintain.
It sounds like you know in your heart what the best path for you is, you are just worried about what others will say. Unless they’re paying your bills, their opinion doesn’t matter. You have to do what’s best for you and the horse you have now.

[MsM]

Second the idea of a frank discussion with your vet. Tel her/him in no uncertain terms that you feel that the horse’s current behavior is dangerous to the people around him. And ask if that behavior is coming from pain. Personally, I would likely do a trial of strong painkillers to see if he can be made comfortable and manageable. But I don’t know all that has been done with him.

[wsmoak]

As I understand it, there’s no cure. Once the ligaments start failing, there is no way to un-do it.
I would have NO problem euthanizing a 20 year old unrideable horse with a permanent degenerative condition.

You may find the AAEP guidelines useful when having a discussion with your vet, particularly:

• A horse should not have to endure continuous or unmanageable pain from a condition that is chronic and incurable.
• A horse should not have to remain alive if it has an unmanageable medical condition that renders it a hazard to itself or its handlers.
• A horse should not have to receive continuous analgesic medication for the relief of pain for the rest of its life.

https://aaep.org/horsehealth/euthana...icult-decision

[Edre]

One thing to consider is that a rather sudden change of behavior (or even a progression of behavior changes) often has something to do with a horse’s physical comfort. Biting, balkiness, kicking, bucking, etc, can all be an indication of a horse in discomfort. The degenerative nature of your horse’s condition (plus the fact that you indicate he’s gotten more challenging to lunge due to his levels of pain) make me wonder if this isn’t a part (or all) of the handling issues you are dealing with.

Another key to me is that he is sound for walking (but not trotting) on the pain medication plan you have him on now. This is not a horse that isn’t pain-free or who is sound. His pain is being managed (and it is possible that you are at a juncture in the progression of his aging where he requires more intensive pain management, or more intrusive diagnostics). There is a difference. I won’t ever take a crack at people who keep horses around and keep them comfortable on pain management plans, but I also wouldn’t take shots at people who look at horses who are only comfortable with some strict medications and decide that they would prefer to euthanize a horse at that point rather than continue diagnostics, ramping up pain management, etc.

Unfortunately there is no right answer for your circumstance, but I think many horse people would understand and respect whatever decision you make so long as you do it with regard to his comfort and minimizing his suffering.

I am very sorry. Big hugs to you… it is a hard situation to be in.

[Sad_Sack]

Thanks all. I’ll get a vet out as soon as I can to discuss the situation.

[Sad_Sack]

I guess my other thought is that end-stage DSLD looks horrific. If I euthanize before he gets to that, I’m likely saving him from serious pain - I don’t think previcox helps when the horse is like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkYxaKHysc4 That poor horses’ back legs can’t feel good. The video description says they did euthanize that horse.

Anyway, I appreciate all feedback and will call the vet office when they open.

[merrygoround]

A veterinarian familiar with your horse will help clarify your choices

[high_hat]

@Sad_Sack

I guess my other thought is that end-stage DSLD looks horrific. If I euthanize before he gets to that, I’m likely saving him from serious pain - I don’t think previcox helps when the horse is like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkYxaKHysc4 That poor horses’ back legs can’t feel good. The video description says they did euthanize that horse.

Anyway, I appreciate all feedback and will call the vet office when they open.

It is horrific. I helped a friend trailer one in that condition.

Better a day too early than a day too late.

They know nothing of tomorrow. What makes it hard is we do.

[Renn_aissance]

Your horse doesn’t sound like he’s comfortable being a retired horse anymore. It is a kindness to let them be free of pain.

Talk to your vet- and think about what makes your horse happy. Maybe his favorite thing in the world is to sun himself in a field. Maybe he likes putzing around with his buddies. Then think about what he can do now. Can he comfortably walk out to his sunny spot and stand there for hours? If somebody picks on him, can he move fast enough to get out of their way? Considering what quantifies “quality of life” for your horse will help you have a discussion with your vet on alternate strategies you haven’t tried yet, or affirm your decision to let him go if you find there’s nothing more you can do to make his life better.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

I have nothing to add - good advice above. Its always heart wrenching to be at a point where a beloved four legged family member is sick, beyond repair. Just sending you a virtual {{{hug}}} and best wishes whatever your decision is.

[Highflyer]

@Sad_Sack

I guess my other thought is that end-stage DSLD looks horrific. If I euthanize before he gets to that, I’m likely saving him from serious pain - I don’t think previcox helps when the horse is like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkYxaKHysc4 That poor horses’ back legs can’t feel good. The video description says they did euthanize that horse.

Anyway, I appreciate all feedback and will call the vet office when they open.

You absolutely should euthanize before it reaches end-stage. It sounds like right now, you’re not quite to end-stage so it isn’t an emergency in the 911 sense, but even if you decide not to do it immediately you need to have a plan in place and your vet and maybe the barn owner/ manager are the best people to talk that over with-- not just for euthanizing but for disposal/ burial etc. as well.

[IronwoodFarm]

It is easier when it is planned, if that is any consolation. It is much harder when it is unexpected. When it is planned, you have time to make arrangements for the carcass disposal. No hurried calls trying to find a backhoe or a vendor who can pick-up the body… If you can bury on your farm, then it is as simple as having the hole dug, the vet come out and euthanize and the animal buried. You have time to say goodbye. it sounds like you gave your horse a good life and now can give him a good death. Don’t feel bad about it; feel good that you are doing the right thing by your horse.

[mjhco]

I had to make this decision with my wonderful old guy. He got the best treatment we could imagine. In the end pain management was very tricky. My farrier, bless his heart, got down on the floor to trim his hind feet because he could not pick them up for the last 2 months. My old guy and I had an agreement that he would let me know when he was done. He did. He left this world after lots of hugs, and carrots and surrounded by those who loved him the most.

I had planned that he would leave us before winter. Having them go down and not be able to get up is a terrible place to be. He just chose the date for me.

It is hard, but I am glad he is no longer that uncomfortable.

[alibi_18]

As for the training, I’d like to say that there is nothing a trainer could do/fix if the behavior is pain related.

At this point, « training » would rather be cruel… you cannot lunge, you cannot back up, you cannot make it trot, moving faster or sideways could be painful…
Some yanking with a lead chain? ok… but the horse is in pain.

You either fix the pain or euthanized.

I would euthanized.

[Wanderosa]

My feeling has always been once the animal is unable to do the things that define its very essence, it’s time.

[SharonA]

I say this with the greatest of love for you, OP – What are you waiting for? For him to be in worse pain? For you to, frankly, throw more money down the black of hole of a horse who getting worse? For him to hurt you, however accidently, because his pain or his anxiety about not being able to do what he thinks you’re going to ask him to do makes him make behavior mistakes? We all know it’s scary for a horse to feel like it can’t move well enough to get away from predators.

What if, instead of prolonging this, you gave him a peaceful, relaxed, “this, it be right” death, with the same warm feelings that you felt when you released his younger, healthier self into lovely grass pasture? Dying is one of the most normal things in the world. The important thing is quality of life. Death is just a punctuation mark at the end of a sentence.

I would euthanize, with love.

I say this as someone who has an adorable, friendly, curious, absolutely game little fella whose right hind suspensory likely will ask me to make the same decision for him, next month or next year or in the next few years. (And I will be a mess about it.)

[chai]

sad sack, I am so sorry you have such a difficult decision to make. Four weeks ago today, I had to make the same decision for my horse, who was everything to me. I’ve had many horses because Mr. chai and I did equine rescue for many years, so I’ve made this decision many times after taking in dear old horses who lived out their golden years in our care. But this one was devastating for me. I echo what the others have suggested - have an honest talk with your veterinarian. I am so grateful for my vet’s sound advice and incredible compassion, for both my horse and me.

My horse sustained an injury that led to a bone infection for which there was no hope. Hearing my vet say those words was excruciating, but it made the decision to euthanize my beloved horse clear because he was suffering with no hope of recovery.

If your elderly horse has a degenerative condition that is painful, and he is acting out because of it, it is time to have an honest talk with your vet about the options. I wish you all the best as you travel this sad road. I just about lost it today in the grocery store when I passed the sugar cubes. It’s brutal, but I am also grateful that I was able to make a decision to put an end to my horse’s suffering rather than let it go on because it hurt so much to part with him.

[shiloh]

All I’m going to say is that I’m so sorry that you are going thru this. I am sorry your horse is suffering. These are the decisions that are the hardest to make - the hardest part of owning an animal. (((hugs))) to you.