Euthanasia of arthritic horse?- I need some opinions

[TornadoWarning]

Hey everyone, I’m a longtime lurker, first time poster. I always come here for horse questions because I don’t have many horsie friends.

First off, I know this question can’t be answered in a forum. But I’m posting to see people’s opinions anyway. I have two horses. One is fine. The other is a 29(?) year old quarter horse I’ve owned for 9 years. In his younger days he was a thrill to ride, and awful to catch… He’d always run away from me in the pasture. 4 years ago he became slightly lame, and I had the vet out and he was diagnosed with ringbone in both front legs. I put him on a senior joint supplement and I was able to get 2 more riding years out of him, and then he became much too sore to have any weight on his back so I retired him.

He was pasture sound for another year, and then last summer he went dead lame for about 3 weeks. I almost put him down, but of course, the day the vet came was the day he started feeling better. She took some x rays and told me he had a collapsed pastern joint on his previously "good"leg (from relying on it too much over the years). Last winter was harder than his previous winters, but he made it through and looks alright this summer. He’s on daily bute and his joint supplement now, but he’s not really pasture sound. He has a slow, limpy walk, is in a lot of pain when he gets his feet trimmed (it’s a 2 person job) or even cleaned, and sometimes I’ll see him in his paddock just standing there shifting his weight from one front leg to another.

In spite of this, he loves his grain, loves treats, and also enjoys grazing -although he only grazes for an hour before he will just stand in the grass. Not sure why, his teeth are fine. He doesn’t always eat his hay and sometimes doesn’t finish his grain- but he’s a good weight, hasn’t colicked or anything, and my barn owner sometimes tells me he looks just fine out in the pasture- I know he can’t really keep up, but he sometimes does try.

He’s a not a lovey, run to you from the pasture type horse to begin with, so the fact that he doesn’t want anything to do with me most days doesn’t mean anything, I will bet he’d run from me in the pasture if he could! My dilemma is he’s not miserable. My barn owner thinks he’s fine, but she’s the kind to try to save a horse at all costs, and maybe I’m not. My vet doesn’t think he’s on death’s door, so shes not telling me to put him down either. I just wouldn’t want to prolong his suffering. I won’t go to great lengths to “save” him. Surgery is out of the question and its hard for me to justify throwing a bunch of money at a 29 year old horse with a degenerative disease.

I love him, I just want to do right by him. What would you do?

[fatappy]

I don’t have any sage words of wisdom. But I am going through the same mental battle with my 21yo appy mare with arthritis in both knees and one stifle. My vet is saying the same thing as yours, but watching her gimp around is hard. The only differences are that mine is still 100% interested in her hay and feed all the time and she does still respond to injections (but less so with each set)…

Based on what I know from your post, and this is an extremely personal decision, maybe give him a wonderful summer and pick a nice fall day to say goodbye?

Best wishes to you both.

[Against_All_Odds1]

[QUOTE=fatappy;7656229]

Based on what I know from your post, and this is an extremely personal decision, maybe give him a wonderful summer and pick a nice fall day to say goodbye?

Best wishes to you both.[/QUOTE]

This. I don’t think it’s fair to make him go through another horrible winter but you might as well let him just be a happy horse for the summer into the fall.

PS: Hugs to you both

[Pocket_Pony]

I had an old appy in a similar situation. When we got him he had been abandoned and we took him on for the last years of his life. He had ringbone and was lame at the walk (noticeable limp). He also was going blind and missing some teeth so couldn’t eat hay and had to have a mash. Despite all of that he was a happy guy. What did it for us, though, was when he went down and couldn’t get up. We didn’t even try and called the vet out to put him down.

It sounds like another winter would be hard on him. I’d definitely have him euthanized before then. I really think animals live in the here and now. He’s not looking forward to tomorrow, he’s just doing what he’s doing today. Having put down my share of animals, I realized that people tend to prolong their lives for the people’s sake, not the animal’s. Letting him go and easing his suffering isn’t a cruel thing to do, but it is a tough thing to do for your own heart.

[ChocoMare]

I was there with an 11 y/o appaloosa mare with a horridly arthritic knee, fused at a 20 degree bend. Yes, she still ate, moved with the herd, etc. etc. etc. BUT… her tomorrow would have been worse than her today. The outcome would have eventually been the same, but with more added pain. I let her go.

No, it’s not easy. No, the decision was not made lightly. But I knew my mare and loved her enough to give her the gift of Permanent Healing.

((( Many understanding, empathetic hugs ))) :sadsmile:

[Desert_Topaz]

[QUOTE=ChocoMare;7656274]
BUT… her tomorrow would have been worse than her today. [/QUOTE]

I am going to remember this for future use because it’s really good. Will your horse’s tomorrow be worse than his today? If so, it’s time.

It’s hard, oh so hard. Last summer, in about a 30 day span, I let go a 29 year old with arthritis in his neck when it got so bad he couldn’t graze and my 8 year old melanoma factory pony. Lots of cookies and lots of tears and then relief that I had done the right thing for them. As others have said, definitely before winter, but I’m a big believer in sooner as opposed to later when it comes to this.

[stanza]

At some point in our horse owning life many of us will have to come to this decision point. It is never easy. The only suggestion I would have for you is to try Pentosan and Previcox. My arthritic boy is doing very well on both, however, he is only 17 yrs. old, and not as bad as you say your old guy is. But, if you want to try something, I would suggest this.

[JackieBlue]

Well, I disagree that winter is worse than summer for a horse with 2 painful front legs. It’s fly season. No matter how much fly spray you apply, it will never be enough to avoid the desire to stomp/move. A “collapsed” pastern joint? Subluxated maybe? Ouch. You need to do what you’re comfortable with, but if the horse is uncomfortable now, he’s uncomfortable now. Standing in pain is no easier in the heat than in the cold. I’ve been in your shoes and it sucks. But you know what he’s telling you better than we do. You said it yourself when you said he’d run from you if he could.

[goodhors]

My choice is always to let them go when they are in constant pain, despite medications. I don’t want to wait until horse is just existing, but rather let them go while they STILL have some joy in their life with being able to graze, enjoy treats, have a bright eye.

For me, you waited too long when horse is dull eyed, hurts to do anything.

I always ask for the two-step method, painkiller before the final shot. Prevents some horses having spasms they can’t control, which can make it a TERRIBLE fight to give them a second final shot to end it. The two-step method keeps things quiet, pretty respectful to the horse as they lay down. A much better ending for EVERYONE that way.

So sorry for you making the decision. But choosing sooner is easier on the horse than waiting until you just “can’t avoid it anymore”. No one wants to die by inches, all the fun of living lost to them. This includes your good old horse. Hope everything goes smoothly for you and your horse.

[joiedevie99]

See what it takes to make him comfortable. Once you know, it’s a lot easier to think through the situation. Would doubling the bute do it? At this age, I stop worrying about the consequences (ulcers, etc.) and just try to make them happy for the time they’ve got. If some fly boots and some extra bute give him a really nice two months, I’d do that. If you can’t find a way to make him comfortable, let him go.

[amastrike]

I had to put down my 10 year old OTTB gelding due to severe arthritis in his knee… 3 years, 1 month, 4 days, and 20 hours ago. It sucks. My boy was kind enough to make it an easy decision by making it very clear how much he was hurting (he’d rather stand on the foot with an abscess than on the leg with the bad knee). I had planned to put him down in the fall anyway, so it just got moved up a few months.

Where do you live? If you’re in an area with a real winter, I’d seriously think about doing it before winter hits… You don’t want him laying down or falling in the cold weather and being unable to get up, and then having him get cold and really unable to get up.

These ones are terrible because there’s no clear cut “this is it”. I firmly believe that it’s better to do it a week too early than a minute too late. I don’t want my beloved horse’s last bit of time alive to be in pain and suffering… but only you can decide how close your horse is to crossing that line.

Hugs and jingles on making the tough call!

[SAcres]

There are still things you can try if you want to. Injections (systematic like legend, adequan, pentosan, or joint injections), increasing bute, trying a different NSAID like Previcox, a topical like surpass, shoeing changes sometimes make a difference, as can 24/7 turnout if he’s not on that already.
I’m concerned about his lack of appetite, knowing bute’s side effects, I would be concerned about ulcers bothering him or something worse like organ damage just causing him to feel crappy.

If he were my horse I would have a good vet out to look him over an examine what options (if any) are left, knowing that my horse might be pts that day. I would be inclined to pick up some ulcergard and see if a few days of that increases his appetite in the meantime, and possibly up his bute dosage, depending on what he is currently at. If he is on a gram a day, then you definitely could double the dosage and see if it makes a difference. Pentosan can also be surprisingly effective, although at this stage it might not be a difference. Joint injections are great if you can target what needs to be done and are willing to pay the price, knowing it might not help.

What I’m saying is that there are a lot of “maybes” that could improve his comfort level, but might not do anything.

You also have to consider that the horse is 29, he’s had a good long life, and it might be kinder to not put him through the maybes and just let him go while he is still fairly happy and mobile. You don’t want to wake up one morning to a horse that is down and unable to get up.

[Zuri]

You will know when it’s time. Give yourself permission to let him go. When a horse can’t be a horse anymore, the kindest, most humane thing you can do, is to let them go.

He is very lucky to have such a kind and thoughtful owner. Hugs to you both.

[rcloisonne]

[QUOTE=JackieBlue;7656322]
Well, I disagree that winter is worse than summer for a horse with 2 painful front legs.[/QUOTE]
Agreed! Your horse is already telling you he’s hurting and miserable. Why wait?

If you’re looking for permission, you most certainly have mine. Bring a supportive friend with you when the time comes. It’s never easy but it is the right thing to do.

[Roxyllsk]

I’d look into increasing or changing pain meds and give that a try first. Maybe you can get him more comfortable and less gimpy that way. There are a lot of new meds on the market that may work better for you than bute. That should be pretty easy to change up.

JackieBlue has a good point, fly season can be really rough on horses that have issues.

It is really hard seeing an old friend struggling with things that were so easy for them before - even if it was running away from you to avoid being caught !

For my animals, when I know they have something that is not treatable and is never going to improve, I let them go when they start having a rough time doing what they normally do. I don’t wait until they are having more bad days than good.

[sdlbredfan]

IMO, it already ‘is time’. What you describe ‘He has a slow, limpy walk, is in a lot of pain when he gets his feet trimmed (it’s a 2 person job) or even cleaned, and sometimes I’ll see him in his paddock just standing there shifting his weight from one front leg to another.’ is a very poor quality of life.

[Nisi]

This is such an incredibly personal decision. I know people who’d rather do it early than too late (too late being they are in very much pain). Since I have no way of knowing how early too early will be (a week, month, couple of years??) I have trouble with that personally. I did wait on my very arthritic mare because she seemed to be enjoying life and could still get up from a roll within seconds. When she went down and couldn’t get up on her own that was the end. But that was my personal decision.

You have taken wonderful care of your gelding. If you decide now is the time (or this fall… to spare him another winter), you should not feel any guilt. We do the best we can for our horses and this ultra personal decision is a tough one to make, but you’re being very thoughtful and thorough in coming to whatever decision you try.

I have a 31 year old that I’m thinking it’ll be her time soon. She’s gimpy and still enjoys some things but she’s getting so that she panics if my 21 year old is out of sight. This morning she looked like she was in a trance when I brought her food. My only thing is for her - summer is much harder than winter. She was perky and feeling pretty good during all the ice and snow and now she just wants to be still most of the time - in the shade of course.

Best to you, you sound like a good horse-mom, whatever you decide, IMO, will be the right decision for your situation. You are the only one that’s there and knows all that’s going on.

[Guilherme]

When the horse lays down can he stand up again without undue effort or discomfort? This, to me, is a key indicator of when it’s “time.”

If the horse is standing around in unmitigated pain and you can do no more to alleviate the pain then you owe it to the horse to end the pain once and for all. This will be painful for you but ends the suffering of the horse.

Do what you know is right.

G.

[FindersKeepers]

I was in your shoes exactly 2 years ago. My 25 year old had been suffering from Ringbone for about 5 years. We started her on daily bute and glucosamine and she was sound for light work for 2 years, then she was limping again. I moved from PA to SC and the climate change/footing change did wonders for her and she was sound for nearly a year, then regressed again.

We re-took x-rays, put her on Previcox and put her in a wedge roller shoe and she was comfortable for another year, then she crashed fast. She was very lame all the time, took sedation and 2 hours to re-set her front shoes each visit, and I decided it was time.

I made the appointment 3 weeks in advance and promised myself that once I made the appointment, it could not be cancelled or changed, or I never would have gone through with it.

I spent 3 weeks spoiling her to no ends with bran mashes and peppermints and long hours hand grazing on the good grass in the yard, and then on a lovely fall morning, we met the vet and helped her pass. It was quiet and peaceful and easy.

I promise you this from my experience, making the decision is far harder than the actual act. I agonized for at least 2 years wondering “is it time” and waiting for a call that she couldn’t get up. There are at least 5 posts of my own on here looking for the same advice you are now. Calling my vet and putting it on the books lifted a HUGE weight off my shoulders. The relief was unbelievable, because as sad as it is to say goodbye, it is not even close to what watching them in pain each day does to your soul.

Long post short, I have been in your shoes and its awful. I wish you the clarity to make your decision and the peace of being a wonderful horse mom. Few people would have given him the opportunity to enjoy retirement for several years.

[TornadoWarning]

Thank you everyone for your kind replies. I actually cried while reading some of the and couldn’t respond right away.

Somebody asked where I live. We are in central Oklahoma, usa. Hot summers and mild winters but we do get snow and ice and below freezing temps. My old man has lived in Michigan (far north) and Nevada (hot hot desert) with me.

I had a friend who put her guy down on a day when he really struggled to get up. My old man isn’t there yet, but I assume it’s inevitable, eventually. I suppose there are more things I could do, like up his bute or try injections. But he hates the bute and since he’s been on it constantly for about a year, I worry about giving him ulcers and putting him in even more pain. We did try pentosan 2 years ago. I didn’t see much of a difference using it. The bute is what helps his comfort level more than anything.

He’s just in a gray area, and kinda has been just ever so slowly deteriorating for the past 4 years. and I’m probably going to have to make a decision before this next winter, even though it breaks my heart.

Thank you for the overwhelming support. Even though I don’t know any of you, it helps so much.