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Should I consider euthanasia? UPDATE post 25

Horse Care
#1

I posted about this horse a few months ago, but things just keep getting worse. My apologies for the long post.

I feel like I need some opinions from outside people who are not emotionally attached to the situation as I don’t know if what I’m considering is right for my horse, or if I am being selfish and not thinking straight.

My horse is a hunter jumper, 10yrs old, and an adult amateur’s dream as he is safe and honest to the fences. Big, beautiful, and sweet. This year, he has had some huge medical setbacks which he may or may not recover from and I’m having a difficult time figuring out if I should take a gamble on him (financially, it has been a strain with more potential vet bills on the horizon) or have pity on him and just let him go.

What we’ve dealt with so far in 2023:

May 2023 – diagnosed through x-ray, ultrasound, and bone scan at a university hospital

  1. One spot of mild kissing spine between the T16-T17
  2. Large amount of SI pain/small amount of hock pain
  3. Bleeding ulcers

Treatment included steroid injections in the back/SI/hocks, 3 shockwave treatments on his SI/back, Robaxin for 30 days, Gastroguard for 30 days. We were a few weeks into under saddle rehab and somewhat improving when the next medical setback happened…

July 2023 – diagnosed with a severely sprained/slight tear of his check ligament. He was placed on stall rest/quiet turnout with trazodone for the past 5 months.

Recent Ultrasound shows that his check ligament has now finally healed and he is sound on it. HOWEVER, the horse has became completely lame on his right hind leg about 14 weeks ago. Lameness came and went in severity but he would go from sort of okay to completely three legged within 20 minutes of standing still. Originally, all of us thought it was an abscess (me, vet, and farrier). We treated it like an abscess, soaking and wrapping, but nothing showed up. We did an x-ray of the foot 5 weeks ago to try to pinpoint an abscess location but nothing was unusual. Vet suggested to just turn him out for a couple of months and wait and see.

Fast forward 5 weeks and the horse is still dead lame on the back leg. Vet is coming to do additional diagnostics on Thursday but is preparing me that another visit to a university vet hospital is highly likely. This will be the third vet hospital visit in the past 8 months and financially, I’m tapped out. If this is NOT an abscess and something more problematic in the hock or stifle, am I a jerk for thinking I might just need to put the horse down? Even if he recovers from the leg and check ligament problems, I still don’t know if his KS and SI issues will be able to be rehabbed. He just has so many problems.

Am I wrong for thinking about euthanasia? Does it sound like I’m considering what is best for him? Selfishly, I want to ride and it isn’t fair for him to stay three legged in my field. Plus, I don’t want to spend $$$ on a bunch more diagnostics for a horse that may not have a future anyway. I’ve already spent upwards of $12k on vet bills this year on him.

Please call me out if I need my priorities rebalanced. I’m so emotionally drained that I can’t think straight.

#2

I would also be strongly considering euthanasia if he was my horse. You can not allow yourself to be dragged into a financial hole by continually “trying one more thing.” Sounds like you have done your best, need to put a halt on diagnosing, treatments of various kinds. If you can, perhaps just doing pasture turnout for a few months could show him improving on his own, or no improvement. Paying board on an unusable horse can be expensive, but out in your own pasture is not a money drain.

I would be in the “let him go” group, because of his underlying issues, KS, joints. They MAY improve, but will always cause problems as he compensates for pain, over-using his other body parts.

Vets seem to want to lure you into bankruptcy with each new idea to try! At times you just have to quit trying, let them go. Ignore the bleeding hearts who seem to think everything can be fixed if you throw enough money at it! Always have the armchair quarterbacks second guessing your choices, saying mean things. Accept no guilt for your decisions!

If he was mine, with the details you have given us, I would let him go. Life is not a fiction story, work harder, get magical recovery. You have to deal with reality. You cannot save them all, you have done your best. My sympathies to you.

21 Likes
#3

This! Reality sucks, but it’s real… there is only a certain amount that we can do, and financially that’s different for all of us, but there’s a limit.

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#4

Lots of sympathy because have one like yours except she’s not even that nice. She’s impossible to rehome because she’s a pretty dominant mare and a very sensitive ride. I’ll probably be her last owner. In her 3 years with me I’ve dealt with horrible feet (multiple abscesses, pulled shoes), multiple ugly pasture cuts that took months to heal, close spinous processes (not exactly kissing spine but close), TWO splints that needed rehabbing and she topped it off with a torn suspensory currently rehabbing. Now turns out she’s also getting cataracts at the age of 10 :skull:

Almost all of the above happened in one boarding barn. I regret I didn’t pull her out of there sooner because every other horse including another of ours loved it there. Her issues pretty much resolved the moment I turned her out in a retirement farm and she’s just living with a donkey until her leg heals (it’s been a year so we are at time). Aside from some mild eye stuff which wasn’t expensive and doesn’t really affect her she hasn’t had a vet bill for a year.

Lots of people recommended to euth her after the suspensory but I just couldn’t so I did the cowardly thing and just turned her out for a year. She seems really happy, but admittedly I don’t want to keep her on my tab without a job for too long. She simply hasn’t earned the privilege in my books. If yours has that would be my first line of action. Turn out for half a year and reasses - probably cheaper than doing all the DX you were about to do anyways. Afterwards - depends - you might bring back into work, might rehome to an easier job. Catch ride in the meantime. Sounds like your guy at least has options if he can be kept reasonably sound.

My plan for mine right now is to find a good moment when I can bring her home for a few months, restart and hopefully rehome her for a nominal fee. But honestly, I’m just aw mentally prepared that she might just kill herself or basically out me in front of a predicament of euthanisation or retirement.

I guess I just came here to say that the decision does not need to be made right now and you can see how his recovery progresses.

3 Likes
#5

I’m biased because I do rehab for a living. BUT, I would turn him out if you can absolutely afford it. He should be pasture sound, so you may have to figure out the hind leg problem, but putting him in a field to heal is your best chance.

I also went through a similar situation when my mare was 17 - multiple mild soft tissue things then 4/5 lame on the RH just as we started back under saddle. It was super frustrating and we walked for 9(!) months, but now she’s back and fitter than ever. I get not wanting to dump more money into him, but if you could possibly swing a year of pasture board I would try that.

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#6

I also would vote for turnout at a retirement/rehab facility.

How long did the check ligament take to heal? Have you given the RH the same amount of time? Or more?

Of course, I have a hard time letting anyone go, and luckily I am financially able to swing having a horse whose only job is to be a pasture pet, so take it for what it’s worth.

3 Likes
#7

Sorry for what you and your horse are going through.

Is there a chance of a joint infection from one of the injections? I had a horse board with me, long, long history. But his three legged lameness ended up being from a joint injection 8 months earlier. He would be OK. He would be on three legs. He had top vets on his case before coming to me. And it was missed.

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#8

I’d vote for turnout too and what @bingbingbing said make sense to me. He’s only ten yo and a sweetheart, from what you say it doesn’t sound he is in unbereable pain. I would give him some turnout time and see what happens

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#9

I’m surprised at the number of people saying to kick out a dead lame horse and see what happens. I don’t think euthanasia is an untimely discussion although a difficult one. I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting a horse limp around without a diagnosis or plan for an extended period of time.

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#10

The horse belongs to you and you are the one who pays the bills. I would never say that euthanasia is the wrong choice for any horse. It is easy for others to say you need to do more or that you must keep him and retire him etc…

Many of us have horses because we love them but we also want to ride. There is nothing selfish about that. You have spent the last year + trying to get the horse sound and he isn’t, you are financially tapped and emotionally drained. I think you can put him to rest with a ( hopefully) guilt free conscience and find a horse you can ride and enjoy again.

I have very limited funds. I want to ride.

I have 3 horses. 2 are sound and 1 has been lame basically the last 2 years( vet seen & diagnosed) . Suddenly she has been drastically better and I am slowly getting her ready to ride a little if she holds up but I have land so I have the luxury of letting her be and it not costing me anything but shoeing and RB.

If boarding I would not have that luxury.

2 Likes
#11

Thanks, everyone, for responding. It really helps to hear others’ experiences and thoughts. Just for some added detail, the horse lives on my property with three others so board isn’t an issue. However, we can only have four based on our hobby farm insurance designation and my other three are either retired or won’t hold up to the rigors of jumping so I don’t really have anything to ride or enjoy. I can’t bring another one in until one goes away. I have been catch riding at my trainer’s farm but it is over an hour away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so thankful for any time in the saddle and am trying to take advantage of all offers, but it isn’t quite the same. Plus, I’m 51 years old and feel like I have somewhat limited time to enjoy jumping before my joints tell me to “cut it out”. lol!

For those who mentioned turnout: He has been turned out 24/7 ever since his check ligament could handle it which has been about 5-6 weeks now. The pain gets worse with rest, so movement seems to be the thing he needs at the moment. But I also haven’t seen any marked improvement over the past 5-14 weeks (regardless of rest OR movement) so it makes me wonder if turnout would even do anything. I am planning to give him a few months, regardless though, unless my vet finds something awful on Thursday.

That is an interesting thought about a possible infection in the joint. That is something that I will definitely bring up with my vet when she gets here. Wouldn’t there be heat and swelling, though? I haven’t noticed any of that when running my hands down his leg. And no fever, either.

Just to clarify, I’m not intending to do anything until I have some further diagnostics. I just refuse to go down the MRI/bone scan/etc. route with him again at this point. I am, however, willing to do some x-rays and blocking to try to at least figure out which part of the leg is hurting. Anyway, thank you all for your insight on the situation. It is so difficult to make a decision like this when there aren’t clear answers.

Let’s all just cross our fingers that an ugly abscess pops out on Thursday.

10 Likes
#12

I 1000% agree with this. If he stays three legged after my vet looks at him again, he will NOT be staying on turnout. It just isn’t fair to him. He needs pain relief from the vet on Thursday or I need to make the hard decision to pts. If we can get him comfortable, then my plan is to give him at least a little more time. But I absolutely refuse to let him suffer… He is way too good of a boy for that.

7 Likes
#13

I had a Paint gelding I put down on 7/20/2022 at age 28. He had a lump on his left knee that had no effect on soundness from the day I bought him in 2001 through 3/31/2020. It developed arthritis and was gradually losing flexion but he was ridden 5-6 days a week. When the pandemic started the BO locked everyone out of the farm for a month even though the state permitted horse owners daily access to provide care. Standing around for 30 days on pasture board provoked recurrent bouts of lameness and I had to retire him from riding. Our vet since day one retired after 50 years in practice. The BO was not providing the care she said he needed: more to eat and a quiet envionment. I moved him to another barn where he was pampered back to perfect condtion in nice stall open 100% to an oversize runout plus all-day turnout…

We had an excellent vet for the final 18 months. After evaluation by a lameness specialist she asked me to make a deal with her: when she said it was time I would put him down. I agreed. I probably could have spent a bundle on joint injections, various drugs, and body management. But I had promised him years ago I would never allow him to turn into an old man. He was still a bundle of energy, his amazing personality continued to shine, he was as handsome as ever, and he contiued to garner plenty of attention in the barn.

She told me on 7/12/22 that it was time. I was sure she was jumping the gun but set the date. He had no problems getting up from his nap. 3-4 days later I saw the minute changes when soemone else walked him. The flexion was gone. His knee couldn’t control his hoof when he took a step. Sometimes he dragged the toe. Both knees were dirty. Then he refused to walk out to his favorite hand grazing area. But that bundle of energy was better than ever. He was well known in the area in part because I loaned him to our barn’s therapy and lesson programs. A few dozen people came to help me say goodbye. He headed for the bridge without his mane and tail.

We did our Century Ride in 2021, and at age 75 I have no desire to get another horse. The best thing I did was to have him composted. I got a couple of buckets last spring and planted a huge dogwood tree. It is like I buried him in the back yard. I’m still having a rough time, but I look out the bay window every morning and say “Hi Sweetie.”

28 Likes
#14

If you are asking on the internet if euthanasia is appropriate, you already know the answer.

14 Likes
#15

You know the horse best, and if you’re done pouring money and effort and worry into him, and he’s not comfortable, then euthanasia is definitely an option.

My first thought was that the kissing spine could get bad enough without the correct work, that he could never recover. Then I saw you had the same concerns.

I had a horse diagnosed as neurological last fall. He was doing well with some body awareness exercises until he fell in turnout in February. I was able to ride once between the fall and spring vaccinations. I was considering giving up trying to ride and asked for neck x-rays just to see if there was anything that could help me decide. The result was a diagnosis of Wobblers, which allowed me to give up riding and set a date for euthanasia in the fall. I didn’t expect that, but the smaller expense of the x-rays and consult was something I was willing to pay, and it was enough.

I hope you find enough answers to be comfortable making your decision.

#16

There was no fever, no swelling. Possibly slight heat. An odd case. His hock did light up on initial and only bone scan. All vets involved thought a small fracture in the hock that did not show up on x-ray. Ultimately, his hock was flushed and fused. He was on heavy duty antibiotics for a month. His hock had been smoldering for 8 months.

He was a very good 1.5 m horse. And had top vets on his team. I think because of the lack of outward symptoms (for months) aside from the inconsistent lameness, no one thought about a joint infection.

1 Like
#17

I think I’d go with an exam with blocks and see if you can narrow anything down. I’ve seen a few horses that were 4/5 to occasionally 5/5 (hopping) lame on a mystery stifle injury (I owned one of these horses but have seen it since in others!) that resolved with a course of IRAP. Nothing notable found on imaging, other than obvious inflammation. Total mystery.

I don’t think I’d just turn out a 3 legged lame horse. But perhaps you could get more, useful information on this particular problem without a whole university workup. Might be good news. Might be bad news.

Of course, even if this lameness isn’t the end, I 100% feel your pain on the compounding problems and inability to have a more going horse at the same time. At some point, I think it’s too much for them to keep them going (life or pain or never ending confinement and rehab) as it is for us (financially, emotionally). At the end of the day, you know this horse best and where you are in relation to that line.

#18

I’d have a hard time tossing a 3-legged lame horse out in a field. That would be miserable, I would think, for the horse.

I think any time you begin to wonder if euthanasia would be an acceptable decision, it probably already is.

Best wishes for you to find peace in whatever decision you make.

5 Likes
#19

I’m thinking abscess… Usually when I see horses go very lame like that it’s an abscess. So turnout for some time seems reasonable to see if an abscess pops. It’s also possible he may have more than one abscess brewing. Has the farrier looked at him yet? That would be my next call before reaching out to the vet. I would not want to jump to euthanasia just yet. It seems premature to consider that when you don’t have a diagnosis.

Abscesses can come out by the coronary band so even if nothing shows up … it could still be an abscess.

As for ulcers you can always treat with nexium rather than gastroguard.

I really hope this is just a slow to resolve abscess and not something serious. I don’t blame you for being worried. I would be too in this situation.

Hopefully nerve blocks can at least localize where he is hurting and help you narrow down the possibilities. But 14 weeks is a long time for an abscess to not show up… The rest all sounded manageable.

2 Likes
#20

Personally, I might do some less expensive diagnostics (none are cheap :frowning: ) and if practicable , rehab him with a long turnout after some stall rest etc .
I also might consider one of the other retirees as an alternative for euthanasia (sorry if this is an awful suggestion)?
It’s a horrible thought any way you turn it, but maybe the other retirees have had their turn/are old/less likely to be rideable again and this youngish lovely horse COULD come right with time and you could find something to ride until then?
There is no wrong answer ,you do what you feel is best.

4 Likes

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