Older mare, pondering choices. Longish

[2tempe]

So I have a 23 yr old mare, has been retired for maybe 7 years due to hind suspensory branch issues. Fetlocks have some drop; more recently one is more than the other.

At a barn where T/O is 1/2 day, just switched from night to day. She has developed other issues, specifically: Cushings about 2 yrs ago, a belly sore of some size that took forever (18 months) to mostly heal, still gets raw in spots both on belly, chest, etc. she has rubbed out or lost much of her mane and tail. Lastly she has a lump on her neck which has been there since before I got her as a 9 yr old. This lump started as the size/shape of a smallish sized peanut in shell. Biopsy a few years ago showed nothing. But the lump is now significantly larger in all directions, still covered with hair, not weeping or draining. She is pasture sound so far as I can tell, but its hard to get more than a walk out of her.
Additional background - though its been quite a few years, she did have TWO colic surgeries for displaced colon about a year apart. Nothing since…

The care at current facility is less than I hoped for, though I know she gets her daily prascend.
i am not in a position to get to her on much of a regular basis, but there are few, if any retirement farms left around my area. (I’ve moved her twice already as places closed. )
My options are: #1 bring her to my boarding barn and see if I can get her skin issues under better control. But that would result in T/O of only about 4-5 hours, and stalled the rest. Get the lump removed, but that brings a risk of infection.
#2 make the ultimate decison of euthanizing.
Planning on a conversation with my vet in the next few days, but:
What would you do?

[cayuse]

I’d bring her to your boarding barn and see what happens. Sometimes little changes can make a great difference. Sending Jingles for her.

[luvmyhackney]

Depends on how well older mare would handle limited turnout and lack of movement. Try the new barn and see…but it’s better a day early than a day late. I wouldn’t take euthanasia off the table or fault you in any way if that’s the decision you make.

[reefy]

I would start with option #1 and go from there. It leaves option #2 on the table, assuming she can handle the move. It’s awfully hard with the oldies to know what to do, so I feel for you.

[S1969]

I’m living your life. Downsizing and selling my farm. Moved one 20 year old, euthanized another 20 year old and a 30 year old. They are tough choices but retirement barns are few and far between here as well, and no references on the ones that exist. The 20 year old that I chose to euthanize was barely pasture sound - ok if in my own backyard with 24/7 turnout so she could decide if/how much to walk. But stalling would be bad for her, as would excessive walking or having to keep up with a herd who was moving more than she was capable of managing safely.

My biggest fear is that my horse would get worse, injured, or live in pain and no one recognizing it. I chose to euth because I think the outcome would be the same in the end, but in this case I could control it so her last days were good ones. (Same for the 30 year old with dementia, but that was an easier decision.)

[trubandloki]

Is it possible for the boarding barn in choice #1 to accommodate more turn out? I know the answer is likely no, but it never hurts to ask (explaining the situation).

The answer really depends on your horse. I know that my old horse, with similar soundness issues as you are describing, did better when he was able to walk around as much as he liked, when he liked. Containing him for any amount of time lead to him being really stiff and uncomfortable when he got let out, but left out he actually looked pretty good for an old man.

If you think your horse can handle the shorter turn out, I would do like others have suggested, try moving your horse to the boarding situation and if that does not work you can then move forward with the euthanasia.

Nothing wrong with just doing option 2 either. Like everyone says, better a day early than a day late.

[2tempe]

Thanks to all for your input! The only way more turnout can be had is for me to go personally in the afternoon and let her out, bring her in. That is not a workable option for me.
The other change, maybe not major is that at current retirement place her stall is in the foaling barn, so extra large compared to the ‘regular’ size at boarding place.
Interesting item - my vet raised the euthanasia topic as a possibility when she first was diagnosed with Cushings. It was done gently not pushing but opening that door.

[Simkie]

Can you have the vet out for a once over and level set? A basic trot up and back to assess how sound she really is, maybe a quick needle biopsy of the growing lump, and a recheck of the wound could all really help inform how to move forward.

[2tempe]

That is on my list, planning to schedule in the next few days, maybe early next week depending on her schedule and mine.

[SmlHpy1]

I’d probably bring her to the current boarding barn so you get to see her more. Maybe more interaction will allow you to see how she’s really doing. That might help make your decision easier.

[MorganMaresVT]

@2tempe

The only way more turnout can be had is for me to go personally in the afternoon and let her out, bring her in. That is not a workable option for me.

Just since you’re considering all the options, will throw this out there…since you can’t personally go and facilitate more turnout, could someone else be hired to do this for you? I totally understand finding a unicorn like this is difficult, but maybe you’re luckier than me and live in an area where there are high school/college students with cars and flexible schedules looking for some extra money

Good luck with this tough decision. The horses I’ve euthanized have all been situations where it was truly the only choice. Still incredibly sad and painful, but in some ways a little easier because there wasn’t an alternative option to weigh.

[GoodTimes]

Is she only on prascend? Could you also add previcox? It may help her from getting too creaky with limited turnout.

We have an older gelding, 21yo who was retired at 18 due to hind suspensory issues. His fetlocks drop a bit more each year, the hocks get a little straighter. When he was coming in at night he was stocking up behind sometimes. When I was out riding the other horses I would wrap or use the back on track quick wraps which seemed to help. But we’re a fairly no frills barn, so I didn’t want to leave anything for morning barn staff to take off. So we decided to try him on 24/7 turnout and he’s been happier and the swelling went away. The other option was to increase his previcox from 1/2 to one pill per day. He doesn’t have any comorbidities so barring an emergency we’ll just keep evaluating his comfort.

[Catherine616]

When you say hind suspensory issues, does your mare have dsld? If so, it will be difficult at some point to keep her comfortable and the stress of moving and less turnout may be hard on her as well. #2 may be a kinder option. But easier said than done, I know.

[2tempe]

Not officially diagnosed as dlsd. I do have her in hind support shoes, she is pretty post legged but not significant changes for a while. I did notice that the right hind has dropped a bit more.

[RedHorses]

If she were my horse, here in my area, with my boarding options I would choose option two.

However this answer is probably not applicable to your situation as realistically I’d have executed option two before now. Because of the climate where I live.

[Warmblood1]

Personally - I would biopsy the mass to see if removal is necessary. With all of the skin issues and issues with healing, I would try to avoid a mass removal if possible. It could be benign and harmless.

Motion is lotion generally for these types, especially with DSLD, and I would be hesitant to go to such limited turn out.

I just euthanized my heart horse a few months ago. Like yours, she had several lameness issues. I worried about her going down and not being able to get back up, or some type of catastrophic event that would lead to emergency euthanasia. It was absolutely gutting to do, but she was my queen bee, truly the sweetest and kindest horse I’ve ever known. Because of that, I had to give her a dignified and peaceful ending on a beautiful and sunny day. She got a huge meal before hand and she was laid to rest with her boyfriend and son close by. There is a hole in my heart with her absence, but I don’t regret for a second giving her such a peaceful and painless ending. Wishing you the best.

[2tempe]

yes good idea to biopsy lump (again). When it was smaller, vet had a difficult time getting sample; said it was hard inside. I’m definitely against removal, its smack in the middle of her neck, probably hard to keep covered, EASY spot to rub away. I have visions of infection, sepsis, necrotic skin and anything else you can add… Its pushing 3" long, sticks out about an inch and 1/2 and now is shaped more like a peanut. Pic attached was from about a year ago, and for a while it was one sort of oval lump.

Also agree about the motion thing and it will be costing me a bunch more $ at my barn resulting in easier for me but maybe harder on her.
Scheduling vet appt monday.

[Mango20]

If she’s lived with that lump for at least 15 years, I would do nothing about it now. It sounds like her other problems are more likely to end her life than whatever that lump is.

I’m not sure what the best option for boarding between the two places might be. I think the XL stall and 12 hour turnout is probably much better for her than 4-5 hours, but I also think it sounds like you need to have her closer to keep an eye on her. Is there a third option for boarding closer to your house or other farm?

I have a 30 year old. She’s at home, so totally under my control, but I still find myself evaluating her almost every day, watching the way she walks, the way she eats, her muscles shrinking, and wondering when the right time is.

[2tempe]

regarding boarding: for her movement , current facility is definitely better. And it is much cheaper. It is midway between my house and full service boarding where my very rideable Lusi is kept, so location is also decent. The other issue with uncertain dates is that the property where the mare is has been sold to developer. Plans are in front of zoning board of the county. The best guestimate is that we might have a year before work starts. Boarding, for all the central Florida horse activity, is difficult to find. My full service place, which I love, also has a cloud over it: Owners are in their 80’s; she was just moved to memory care due to dementia of some type. He has been undergoing cancer treatments. Their grandson keeps a horse there and there are so I dont think a for sale sign would go up any time soon and I doubt they would sell to developer because they do not need the $. But still some brewing questions.

[cattywampus]

Speaking as a veterinarian, if a client approached me to discuss euthanasia for a patient with multiple chronic health conditions and concerns about the feasibility of maintaining quality of life going forward, I would absolutely support the euthanasia decision.