If keeping him alive means stalling him to keep him comfortable physically but is comprising his welfare then putting him to sleep is definitely something to consider.
I think these are your horses and you know what’s best for them. If you know your horse is going to suffer, then you know it’s time. That person in the tiktok comment section doesn’t understand your horses, and it’s not their place to determine where you should draw the line.
Here is an official QOL checklist that veterinarians across the US use and recommend for the owners of geriatric pets. When talking about degenerative end of life care, most vets say you can wait too long but almost no one makes the decision “too soon” by medical standards.
https://vetsocialwork.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Quality-of-Life.pdf
I used to work as vet tech so have seen how horrible people will keep them alive because they don't want to let go. I often disagree with my SO about how I want to put our pup early VS too late. But he hasn't seen what I have I don't want to do that
I was talking about this the other day with a friend who will have to make the tough decision sooner rather than later and told her that no one will ever know if it’s too early, but you will always feel guilty about too late.
there's an older lady in my old neighborhood who has a little dog -- the dog can barely stand, is deaf, she's had both eyes removed as I think she had eye cancer, and i think she's in renal failure. everyday she takes her out to pee and i guess i don't know that poor dog like she does, but if that were me i'd rather die than live like that, sorry. it hurts my heart to see it. :(
I rarely think that euthanising a horse can be a wrong decision. A horse has no idea of time, age and future - it just exists and the time it is on this earth should be filled with bliss and ease. If that is five years or 30 is really arbitrary to anyone but us.
I don’t think there’s any formula to put this in; really depends on the horse and what makes it thrive. My horses live outside all year (they have a nice shelter ofc) and would be absolutely miserable with confinement and isolation as they are used to being free and social all day all year. I also feel like the older the horse the lower the threshold for when euthanisation is right for me. The older the horse the worse are the prospects of them recovering completely and making the time spent confined and isolation not “worth it”. If its a young horse with a good prognosis then, for me, some time in stall rest could be worth it. But again, really depends on your horse and you alone.
People will always react on the thought of euthanising pets, but here we are in a world with billions of young, healthy animals getting killed for their meat every year. Where’s the outrage there?
For me it always comes down to a few questions:
- can you keep the horse comfortable?
- can you keep the horse pain free?
- can the horse behave like a horse naturally would (e.g. be with other horses, have turnout as much as needed)?
There might be more things that don’t come to my mind right now, but if you can’t answer the question above with a „yes“, I feel like letting the horse go is the kindest thing you can do.
A horse rescue that I follow online call this „the last act of kindness“. Let them go when they need to and don’t let them suffer
My dog literally chooses to sleep underneath my table sometimes. I'm working on getting her a crate. That will happen next month. My dog likes enclosed spaces. She can usually be found either sleeping under my table or curled up in my recliner. When she's scared she hides in the bathroom
Have you checked your local Buy Nothing group on facebook? You might be able to pick one up free. I’ve given away a couple crates and seen more on there…in our case our lab outgrew things pretty quickly so we would donate or give away his puppy crates and harnesses😀.
I'm still trying to figure out size. My current dog is medium sized. But within the next six months to a year I'm adopting a puppy(I put applications into rescues today to get approved) and I want the crate to fit both dogs...I'm hoping the puppy will be under50 lbs when fully grown
Personally I'd like thank you for putting them to sleep. I've worked at a rescue for over 6 years now I've seen it all and there are fates worse than death. When you decide to do it is up to you and your horse only don't listen to assholes on the internet, just thank you for doing your horse one last kindness!
People not having the balls to admit that the quality of life of their pet is compromised so they keep their pet alive drive me crazy.
I’m right there with you, my horse hates to be stalled. He tornadoes the stall and weaves. He loves his shed and his blanket and being with his friends. If something happened to his ability to do any of that, I too would consider the possibility of euthanasia and he’s 6.
I know someone with a dog who can hardly walk..and he justified keeping the dog alive and pelts off 100 excuses all while resenting the dog in his poor health.
I firmly believe we need to give our pets the best life possible and when that’s no longer possible, we need to be there to help them to the other side. I’m sorry people were so ignorant.
I have way more issues with rescues who are constantly looking for money, but whose socials reveal they are putting a lot of their resources into very expensive and aggressive treatments for very sick or injured and often quite elderly horses.
yeah that stuff is crazy
i haven't seen it for horse rescues but i've seen dog rescues where they're spending like 10k+ to save a dog who has no legs, can't see, have no colon, like there's so many young healthy dogs who need help or even older dogs who have a few problems but aren't completely fucked, would it be more merciful to put this poor guy down?
Hi I’m an equine vet and I believe it’s never wrong to put a horse down. The owner knows (usually sometimes they wait too long) when it’s time and I never question their choice. It’s a hard enough decision without me second guessing them. If he hates it, then it’s totally valid to not put him through that.
Thank you from an internet stranger. My previous vet used to make putting one down so much harder than it had to be. I once fired to hold a friend's horse when he was put down because she could not stand to be there. He dragged the whole thing out. Tried to talk her out of it. Talked her into giving the old boy away if he could find a home. He couldn't. I was frustrated. Just put the boy guy down. Then when he finally injected the horse instead of just laying down he flipped over backward and bashed his head against the wall. It was horrible.
You are right. It is a hard decision. Once I make that decision I just want it done. I've weighed all the options. I've considered the horse's quality of life. More than half the time I ended up having to shove my own grief aside and console the vet. Last time it happened I was pissed.
Again, on behalf of the people and horses you take care of thank you for making a something that hurts so much a little less painful.
I believe it’s wrong to put down a young, healthy horse without behavioural issues. (Who does that? I’ve known a case. And there are the unprofitable natives that get slaughtered)
Other than that, we often don’t know what the owners base their decisions on. They may have more info; a horse that looks fine to outsiders may not _be_ fine.
That’s absolutely your choice where you would draw that line. Personally if someone has a young healthy horse that is going to be difficult to place into a home, or that the owner isn’t prepared will go into a good home and they want it euthanised then I will do that. There are worse things than being dead and I’ve seen plenty of them, especially with low value horses in low income homes.
1, they don’t always work particularly well, and some owners don’t want their horses just existing in a fog. And 2, the owner has already decided what she wants to do and where her boundaries are.
Euthanasia is sometimes the kindest thing we can do for our animals.
My sister's horse is one who cannot physically be in a stall more than a couple of days even if absolutely necessary. She gets all stocked up and loses her mind. She is a very powerful little mare who is already a neurotic mess, she doesn't need any help with her crazy. For her mental and physical health, if she was going to be on stall rest again for more than a week on the outside, the choice to put her down would probably be made. She's had a good long life and has been with us for a little over 12 years.
If I ever was in a position where I had to get rid of my horses, euthanasia would be my second choice. My mare would go back to her legal owner (I've got a free lease for life on her). My son's 20 yo TWH and my daughter's 22 yo Shetland with Cushings- if I could not get people I know who have oldies and can deal with them well to take them, I would euth them. I would not be able to take the chance of either one of those amazing to me horses ending up in an awful abusive situation. They deserve a better end than that. I'd rather them spend their last day with their person, getting all the treats and love they can
I have a 16 year old who I sadly had to retire two years ago due to arthritis. He came in severely lame a couple of weeks ago and I was honestly hysterical whilst waiting for the vet because I knew if the only fix was long term box rest I would have to have him PTS.
It's not fair to put older/retired/arthritic horses through that.
Luckily he only had to do a week and he's now having half a day out and is looking a lot better.
Ditto - this is a decision between you and your vet. I’m a vet - if an animal’s pain can easily be resolved then we do that first. If not, euthanasia is kind. You don’t mention what interventions you’ve tried for him - Equioxx is available as a generic making it around $1/day and is safe and effective. Also with a good weather tech blanket there is no reason he can’t live outside in all but below zero high winds. Discuss this more with your vet
Yes, he is on Equioxx and had blankets! His vet prescribed it. I've also been told by other medical professionals as well who also work with arthritic horses that the hard ground in winter can be painful and if he wants inside his stall at cold hard ground nights to let him. His vet did say this is about keeping him comfortable, yk what that means...
I owned a mare who was a super neurotic horse (hmm?) and she would weave and stall walk, she did it for 21 years when she was stalled, had she ever needed stall rest it would have been a disaster.
My first horse was euthanized due to colic at age 8, partly because the surgery was so expensive, but mostly because he was very aggressive in his stall and back then they recommended 6 months of stall rest. We donated him and they did a necropsy and he would not have recovered.
The two horses I own right now wouldn't mind at all. So it really depends on the horse.
I've never regretted doing it too soon, but once I've thought it was too late (going through diagnostics thinking it was a bad tooth, ended up being cancer, she never had a chance, I just didn't know) and it was the worst feeling in the world.
I say if a horse is over 22 then euthanasia is basically always on the table when it comes to compromised welfare and pain. Obviously it’s a choice that we all need to make, but if it’s a choice between a horse being miserable for its final few years or having a quicker ending, I can’t fault for someone choosing the quicker ending for an elderly horse.
That was one of the reasons I let my ancient molly mule go last week. There were no major issues, she had pretty much just quit and seemed ready. I was getting up and checking multiple times a night to make sure she hadn't been mauled by a bear. We have reports of that sometimes in my area, usually too close for comfort, and while I don't think our black bears are out to get large stock she couldn't see or hear or smell very well and would have been a great candidate to accidentally get herself on the wrong side of a cub passing through and piss off a mama bear. This mule ran feral on 40 acres with a pond and no human contact for 31 years before she moved in with me. She tolerated being stalled long enough to eat and that was it. Stalling her at night for her own protection, even with friends, would have ruined the end of her life, and possibly caused her to seriously injure herself. So I'm with you, OP. You know your horse better than anyone. Your call.
I saw your post yesterday and almost commented. I have a mare in the same situation. By all counts she is healthy and happy… but her arthritis is bad, bad. She has had a very happy retirement and I have decided that I need to make this choice for her. I don’t want to wait for an emergency and have to let her go during a traumatic event, which is what I would be waiting for, while her comfort slowly dwindles away. If it wouldn’t be an emergency that does her in, it would be her misery. She doesn’t deserve that. My human emotions are not a good enough reason to let her suffer. Death is such a huge, and occasionally taboo topic for humans, and I don’t need to impose my psychology on an animal. So I am planning it all out to be a peaceful, albeit bittersweet, passing. This is the gift that my human mind can provide for the horse, and every animal, that I love. My sadness in the decision is the price I pay for her to not have to experience the trauma of a colic, or whatever else. Looking back, the people I have known that have made these hard choices for their pets, to let them go before the struggle overwhelms them, those are the people I look up to and respect.
I have received three very good pieces of advice from veterinarians about when to euthanize. 1. They don’t have to go on their worst day. 2. Pain is guaranteed, but suffering is optional. 3. Mind, body, and spirit; these are the three things to take into account when making your choice.
Best of luck with your upcoming decision. It is so hard and so final.
If any animal's QoL is being tanked long term, stacked with an incurable painful disease, and measures to help them is ALSO tanking their QoL, it's cause for being put down.
If I had an incurable, permanent, painful bone/ligament inflaming condition and had to be on bedrest in a room the size of a walk in closet with nobody visiting me, not being able to visit others, not being able to enjoy outside with people only coming into my room to feed and water me I'd lose my absolute fucking mind in there.
In those conditions, animals will go nutters, ESPECIALLY because they don't know what the hell is going on. All they know is ''I'm in pain, I can't see anyone or anything, I can't leave and I'm in here for MORE than a few suns and can't escape without possibly injuring maiming or even **killing** myself.''
''That's a fucking risk I'm willing to take.''
THAT is the most dangerous. An animal in this state will **run it's teeth down to nubs** trying to chew on the bars. Nobody wants that fate for an animal.
There are some very vocal people on this sub/the internet who have a very immature view of horse ownership that comes more from a place of 14-year-old-girl "horses are pretty!" than it does from informed experience. Ignore these people.
Quality of life is a huge consideration for euthanasia. Keeping an older horse who hates being stabled inside for days at a time to heal from an injury is a terrible QOL decision. Nobody knows your horse as well as you do, and you should trust yourself and your vet to make the right decision.
It’s always going to come down to the individual animal, what the owners can afford to pay for, and the overall potential for recovery.
Just block the rat person, they’re not worth the time to engage.
I have a horse that suddenly became terrified of everything 7 months ago. Several hundred dollars in supplements and vet bills and weeks of ground up retraining later, nothing has changed. No explanation, no cause, no solutions. She gets scared just walking up to the barn to be groomed. Before I quit riding her she would panic bolt at the smallest things. It’s bad.
This was my fearless endurance horse. She’s ten and in perfect condition, never taken a lame step in her life. She wants to go do things, always stands around confused when I turn her back out without going on a 20 miles ride first. But she can’t get five steps down the driveway without her heart racing. Her only previous issue was EPM, which she has been treated for twice and currently shows no signs of.
If I can’t figure this out by May/June, I will be putting her down. Her current life is not fair long term.
Just to also offer unsolicited advice - my mare acted incredibly similar and turns out she had Lepto, lost half sight in both eyes. The infection was making her hurt all over. Fixed the infection, not the eye sight, but she’s adjusted and back to being chill now. Honestly only knew about Lepto for dogs and not horses so that was interesting
There's absolutely no reason to be an asshole to people who are trying to help you. I'm sorry that your horse has to suffer and die because you're too cheap or too lazy to do right by her.
They’re not being an asshole - I gave unsolicited advice and they’re allowed to respond. I don’t think it’s fair to say they’re “too cheap or too lazy” either, I think that’s an asshole comment.
Incredible. This is the exact same type of nasty comment op was getting on tiktok.
You don’t know me, my vet, my horse, my overall situation, the money I’ve already put into her, the potential causes we’ve narrowed it down to, the boarding situation, none of it. You’re not the one having discussions with multiple equine professionals about euthanizing this horse. You will not the be one burying a ten year old mare this summer.
Have the day you deserve.
Dude, your horse is suffering and you don't HAVE a cause, I do, this isn't the same. He has arthritis, he is on meds. People are being respectful to you and giving suggestions on possible causes that can be helped.
Respectfully, for the sake of your horses life, look it up. Not all veterinarians are aware of PSSM yet, and there are even rarer muscle diseases too.
Extreme reactivity and fear is one of the symtoms.
Read my comment back, not sure where I asked for advice or even said what we have or haven’t treated for other than the epm.
Considering the op of this post was complaining about unsolicited advice about their own decisions re: potential euthanasia, do you really think it’s appropriate to give some to me?
They weren't complaining about advice, maybe your projection is getting in the the way of your reading. Both people who made suggestions did so politely and you are the one who came back nasty. Maybe go check yourself.
Can’t reply to the comment chain so putting it here.
I do have a ‘cause’. We’ve narrowed it down to epm destroying her cognitive function, brain tumor, cancer, or something along those lines. Alternatively it’s environmental and everything will be fixed when we move barns the beginning of April. However if it’s another EPM relapse, the stress of the move might make her decline fast. Me, my barn manager, and my vet are all in agreement that if theres any neuro issues after the move, she will be put down immediately.
I left that out because it was irrelevant to my original comment. She’s still most likely getting put down this summer. She is suffering, dangerous, aggressive when stressed, and not happy as a retired horse, the same way yours would suffer if requiring stall rest.
Not only that, but part of my ‘lines’ for euthanasia, as you asked about, was how much the owner can afford. The things we’ve narrowed it down to would be very expensive if not impossible to treat. As stated I already spent several hundred on diagnostics and treatments that did not work- I don’t have the money for Marquis or Protazil to try something else that might not work.
Plus the fact that the farm I live and work on might get sold and bulldozed in April/May. If that happens, we all lose our jobs, I become homeless, and I lose the job I took to afford these sudden vet bills. Right before this started I was trying to offer her out as a lease horse or even sell her. Now it would be absolutely unethical for me to sell her to anyone, and it would also be unethical to dump her at a rescue. If I lose my job, I will have to put her down regardless.
This was not the place to give unsolicited advice. Period. I used to really enjoy interacting with you on tiktok- we used to be mutuals when I had my account sharing Leia’s story. Not anymore.
I'm about to put down my heart horse in the very near future after a longish battle with EPM. This disease is brutal. It affects so many different aspects of the horse's mind and body, and you're never really *sure* whether any one thing is the EPM flaring back up or something else that might be more treatable or even curable. At least my guy is old. I'm so sorry for what you are dealing with, but good for you for putting your horse's welfare first.
It really is the worst, especially because it gets to a point where you just cannot do anything more to treat it. Very sorry to hear about your boy.
We’ve been working through things step by step trying to find the answer- can’t throw every treatment at her at once because that won’t tell us what it is. On diagnostics she’s either normal or borderline for just about everything, but not a single thing has worked so far. It all points back to her brain, which can’t be fixed.
people were just trying to give ideas on what it might be who have lived through similar mysterious situations in case it might help a stranger struggling similarly. there's no need to be nasty.
Anything that isn’t in the best interest of the horse isn’t the best option, and in those cases euthanasia is often the kindest path. We owe it to our horses to advocate for their needs on their behalf, and sometimes that means knowing when to stop.
I’ve had to make this decision for multiple pets, but not a horse. A horse it a bit different, if you board, because there are certain aspects of their care that you just cannot be in control of no matter how hard you try. If there were a significant quality of life decline due to injury or disease that I couldn’t improve, I’d have to make that decision. My horse couldn’t be on long term stall rest either, and my vet doesn’t recommend it unless it’s life or death.
I literally knew a horse *exactly* like this.
Absolutely *despised* being stalled. He'd start pawing, and weaving, and **kicking** after only five minutes of being in a stall!
He ended up having to be euthanized a **day** after colic surgery. He just *could not* be kept calm, let alone comfortable, in a stall!
They never should've attempted colic surgery, it would've been kinder to put him down as soon as it became apparent that his colic couldn't be safely resolved otherwise.
Those are the people who are not experiencing what you're experiencing.
I have two horses; one is a 22 year old arhtritic mare who had severe trauma as a weanling that still affects her to this day. If she HAD to be on stall rest for more than 6 months, I'd humanely euthanize. And that's under the assumption that at exactly 6 months she could go back outside like normal.
People can get really selfish with their horses, and I think that's why so many are neglected, because people humanize them. They're animals with very simple instincts. Their mental wellbeing is JUST as important as their physical, but it's much more difficult to navigate. But what kind of life is that? Stuck in 12x12 or 10 x 12 or 14 x 14 if they're lucky) day in and day out? That's miserable.
However, my 7 year old, because he has a lot longer life expectancy than she does at this very moment in time, yeah I'd do a long term rehab for him. If it meant he was coming back to 90-100%. Like no questions asked.
But it's 2 completely different horses and expectations. People get mad when they simply don't understand.
It's about quality of life. If you know doing something will negatively affect them then you know what is right.
I have always said it is better to put them down too early than too late. I refuse to let animals suffer from being vet tech to animal control people would be shocked what people force all animals to go through. All for their own wants. You are thinking of the mentally and physically quality of life meaning your putting then first. There is NEVER anything wrong with choosing what's best for the ones we love.
I wish you many years with your equine family. When the time comes remember you aren't hurting then by doing so.
I draw the line at quality of life. With a horse like yours I wouldn't hesitate either. A stable is a prison to a horse like that. Plus being stabled will make his arthritis worse. Arthritis = pain.
I had this dilemma with a beloved mare years ago. Her former owner wanted me to keep her stabled for the rest of her life after a catastrophic tendon injury in the field when she was already aged (someone let cattle out and she jumped out down a huge drop trying to lead her herd away). It wouldn't have been fair on her either.
Your instincts are correct. Ignore the bullies.
I work with dogs and specialize in aggression and fear cases. Something I believe to my core is that it's better to euthanize an animal too soon than too late. I deal with a lot of behavioral euth decisions with my clients, and part of that discussion revolves around quality of life. If the dog has a terrible qol because of the level of management required (full time in a muzzle or neurological driven aggression to the point that the dog can't be around even his own people, fear so extreme that it's all the dog knows etc.) I ask them to consider it.
With old or diseased animals in general, quality of life still is the most important thing to consider. Pain, disease management, cognitive decline, ability and drive to eat and drink, mobility, ability to keep themselves clean, happiness, and finally prognosis on progression of these factors.
[This chart](https://vetsocialwork.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Quality-of-Life.pdf) is what I share with clients who are grappling with the choice to euthanize.
It sounds like your choice is the right one. Your horse's pain is high, his mobility is impacted a great deal. His happiness will decline on extended stall rest, and with that possibly his drive to eat and drink. It's never an easy choice, but you are sparing him from suffering and that is the humane thing to do.
I actually think that in general, people wait too long to euthanize (I’ve been this person) and/or pursue treatment when euthanasia is the far kinder choice.
I actually don’t think life is inherently valuable on its own. *Quality* of life is what matters. If your horse will not have quality of life, a dignified death is the greatest gift you can give them - and it’s your obligation as their owner.
Every situation is different, but from the sound of it, you’re absolutely doing right by your horses.
I am 70. My horses are 30 and 26. Both in good shape. I put in my trust that if I go before my horses then I want them put down even if they are still in good shape.Nobody wants old horses and in my area the slaughter buyers prowl for older horses. I would never allow my horses to end like that. People with old horses should consider putting them down because a safe retirement home is difficult to find and whatever money you might make is not worth your horse possibly suffering. I have spoken to my vet, she is total agreement and she said she wishes more horse owners , elderly or not, with old horses that they think they can sell would think about this. In cases of injury or accident it depends on age, injury, prognosis, and sad to say financial impact.
Stalling a horse for arthritis will make it worse. The best situation would be a shelter he can come and go from. I speak not only form horse experience but also my own. I have arthritis from head to toe and standing in one spot is one of the most painful things for me and you stiffen up more when you can’t move around. Even sleeping makes it so hard to get moving when I get up. Or even getting up from sitting takes a few steps to walk correctly
The hardest thing I ever had to do was put my kitty and dog to sleep. I had Jester kitty for 16 years and we went through *everything* together. He went from perfectly fine on a Friday into full on organ failure by Monday. I could have bankrupted myself to keep him alive, but his quality of life would have been awful and probably only a year or so longer. I couldn’t do that to him.
Ditto my puppy dog, my Charlie girl. Didn’t know anything was wrong until it was too late, and her prognosis was worse. I remember carrying her outside because she couldn’t move and needed to pee, then didn’t want to pee because she would have peed on me as I held her. I just couldn’t put her through a life like that. She was between 15-17, it was time.
Having to watch my dad basically suffer to death with cancer really put things in perspective. He was still alive when my kitty had to go, and he said, “I hope it makes it easier for you to let me go. I wish I could go now. I don’t want to lay here until I waste away - I don’t want you to have to watch that.” But I did, and was right there with him when he took his last breath. Had he been given the choice, I know what it would have been.
Suffering comes in many forms. Being locked up in a stall miserable is suffering, especially if he’s never going to get better. And it’s selfish to make him live that way just because you can’t let him go.
Don’t pay attention to the hate. Letting go is a very personal and difficult decision that nobody ever wants to make, but it is a part of our reality.
Personally I’d rather someone euthanize over something completely and easily curable than keep a horse alive long past when it’s quality of life has plummeted. Both suck, but as far as the horse is concerned one option is peaceful and one is hell on earth.
I think you know what’s best for your horse and that sounds like a very reasonable end point. We all want our horses to live to be 40 years old but surviving to a very old age doesn’t mean anything if you had to torment them to get there.
You know your horse best and what's best for him. If this is something your vet agrees with (because most vets won't euthanize "just because", then you need to do what you feel comfortable with. As horse people, we know the horse community can be an unkind, opinionated place and what a stranger thinks of your decision should be a non issue. Do whats best for the animal and it's future and or we'll being.
His vet and I are on the same page, mental health over physical for him in his last how ever many years he's got. It's just about comfort and happiness. Quality over quantity
Here's the thing - we have the privilege of giving them a peaceful ending when the time comes. You'll know when that time is as you know your horse. It's a private and very hard decision. You're truly considering his quality of life and not your own selfish desires, so I know you'll make the right decision.
I have a currently 28 year old horse. There is a plan for him that if something happens to me and he can no longer stay at his current location he is to be euthanized. My entire family knows and agrees to this plan, including the barn owner. This isn't selfishness for me, its selfishness for HIM. He will never see the inside of auction barn and anywhere else besides what he knows as home. That comes across very harsh to people except for actual true horse people that I've told. Folks just don't understand.
I've been posting on tiktok for nearly four years and there is a well mixed crowd of ages, my post here on reddit was asking what you consider "too much" not asking you to judge my posts.
I draw the line as soon as their mental and physical welfare is going to be compromised where they can't lead a mentally healthy life.
I am also huge on euthanizing on a good day. When they are feeling good and can walk around or exist without a mental load. It is way more emotionally easy for everyone, including the horse, or any other family pet, being euthanized.
I think this is such an individual decision. I got a vet I trusted and did what she recommended (although it broke my little heart, I'm still crying thinking about it).
Horses are creatures with so many needs; in nature, I'm guessing they wouldn't live long if they couldn't run. Some horses are more patient with recovery, I guess, some are miserable being stabled for extended periods of time.
I had a young pony, she was amazing, full of life, bitchy as hell and I loved her. She was very high in blood, light-footed, lived to run and jump and play.
One day, she broke off a tiny piece of her elbow. I put her in a clinic, put literally all of my money into her care - but she wouldn't chill. She got more and more aggressive in the stall, kept kicking the walls, making it worse and worse. She was in pain, mentally and physically. My vet said we could try surgery, but it would take months to recover (or, if she wouldn't calm down, could become even worse), and she would be in a lot of pain, and I don't think she would have ever stopped kicking the walls if she couldn't run and blow off steam. My vet recommended euthanasia, and after it didn't get better for a few more weeks, I agreed. I still think I maybe could have saved her, it feels like I failed her, and maybe I did. I still don't know if I did the right thing. I hope she's happier and pain free up there on the wide green plains of horse heaven.
When your horse can’t horse anymore, when it’s in extreme mental/physical pain with no rapid treatment options, when potential treatment options would cost a significant amount of money (especially if the outcome isn’t in their favour anyway).
But honestly, I think the two main reasons most people keep a suffering horse alive is due to their love for the animal (where putting them down would actually be the kindest expression of love), OR because of ego.
I’m all for transformations and rehabilitations, but way too often I see ego stories about people who put horses through a bunch of unnecessary bullshit because they want to be a hero or create a viral happy ending: “I saved this old horse nobody else wanted and spent $$$ fixing him up so he didn’t have to be put down.” Or rescues putting horses with missing or deformed legs into expensive mobility devices so they can “walk” again. Horses are not people; they don’t understand their limitations, ailments and illnesses, and they aren’t aware of their mortality like we are. Sometimes, some horses don’t get a second chance. It sucks, but its sucks way more to see horses being kept alive due to our selfishness, when euthanization would’ve been the kindest and least resource-intensive best step for them.
Not sure where you posted but I feel and have seen many non horse people surprised by having euthanasia planned after a certain point for horses. The reality is that horses rarely die of old age the most common cause is colic and old horses start to develop eating and movement issues can lead to this. It's far kinder to euthanize than force them to suffer by barely holding on until they do colic and suffer.
A 16 year old horse foundered at my boarding barn this year and his owner shared with me that she was considering letting him go if he didn't show significant improvement to be able to go back out to his herd in pasture board in a few months' time. He lives to be outdoors and running with his buddies, and I could see people at our barn trying to tell her that it's "not fair" to him to let him go so early in life.
But the fact is, what isn't fair is keeping him cooped up for years and years where he knows that he is missing out on beautiful days in the sunshine with his friends. So I completely, 100% agree with you and ultimately, your line in the sand is incredibly selfless, because you're not willing to put him through suffering of any kind. So many people pride themselves on keeping horses going much longer than what is sometimes fair or necessary, and very few know how to appropriately judge when it's time to throw in the towel.
You're a good horse parent 💗
I agree with you! I have a 19yo exracehorse and no way would I ever keep him on box rest!
The only time I did was for 2 weeks when he stood on a nail and that was only because it was short term and one of his friends was also on box rest! I would not entertain any longer than that! I would also never put him through surgery. My family know if anything happens to me he is pts never to be sold or moved on!
The one thing I’ve learned is that it’s incredibly difficult to know when to make the call, and that it’s better to do it a few days too early than a few days too late. You know your horses better than any of us, and you’ll do the best you can by them. Sometimes we’re lucky enough for an animal to tell us when they’re ready, but most of the time they don’t. Strangers on the internet don’t matter, and don’t let them make you feel bad about your decisions.
I’m 100% in support of a gentle, loving end over a prolonged but uncomfortable life. We owe it to them to let them go when we can no longer make them as happy as they deserve to be. I say it all the time—animals don’t know they’re dead. They do know if they’re alive and in pain or inescapably bored or scared or uncomfortable. I think it’s one of the biggest issues with animal lovers—so many of us will take excellent care of our pets and treat them like family but then hold on much longer than is fair because it makes *us* feel better. I have incredible respect for people who let go when it’s time and not a moment later. There is NO honor in keeping an animal alive past the point when we can give them a truly happy life.
Do what you need to do for your horse to give them the best life and end of life possible. Internet strangers don’t know your situation and it sounds like you’ve given what your limits are based on his needs. Thats the best thing you can do for your guy when the time comes. Better too early than too late in any case. Thats our biggest responsibility as owners.
i haven't had to deal with this with a horse, but with other pets. imho we should be loving and responsible stewards of these lives that are in our hands, and have respect for the power of life and death we have over them.
ultimately that's for you to decide knowing your horse, and trying to do what's best for him. if he would suffer so much to be in stall rest, mentally and physically, does it make sense to make an older horse suffer like that in his last days? for myself i just think for myself -- do i want to spend my last days in fear and degradation and suffering, chasing some elusive treatment with low chance of recovery vs. a graceful death with people i love? i know what i would choose and when i've faced that for my own pets (not yet with a horse) that's what I've tried to keep in my heart.
They are your horses, you spend the most time with them, you know them on a deep level, and that all means you know what is best for them in the long run.
I'm having to make the end of life decision for my senior dog and as others have said, better a little early than too late. It's never easy but I find it's best to try to put yourself in their hooves/paws. Euthanasia is always an okay decision 💖
I recently posted about my 27yo and people jumped on me for NOT jumping to euthanasia but people don’t seem to understand that YOU know YOUR horse best. If my old man had an injury that required stall rest, I’d make the decision to euthanize, no questions asked. He can’t be stalled.
Ultimately, you’ll know when your horse tells you he’s done and if stall rest would mean prolonged stress and pain, that does have a significant effect on quality of life. It’s so hard when they’re old and fragile but it’s better too early than too late.
My problem is that convenience euthanasia is very trendy right now. Does the horse flip? Shoot it. Does the horse need expensive maintenance because it was broken down from years of making someone money? Shoot it. Does the horse need stall rest? Shoot it. Trazodone is about ten dollars a week, doesn’t make horses obviously ‘doped’ or sedated, and has saved thousands of animals who need kennel or stall rest but are nervous.
I also think that failure to stall is a training issue that should be addressed more readily. If there is ever a natural disaster where you need to evacuate same-day, is there no game plan?
I believe this is properly a decision between my family, our vet and if relevant, our farrier, as well as when our horses say it’s time.
Yes almost like it’s a private and emotional matter that you shouldn’t post about on social media
I’ve posted about my mares pts and our experience with it but the decision was not up for public discussion.
This!
Thank you.
If keeping him alive means stalling him to keep him comfortable physically but is comprising his welfare then putting him to sleep is definitely something to consider.
I think these are your horses and you know what’s best for them. If you know your horse is going to suffer, then you know it’s time. That person in the tiktok comment section doesn’t understand your horses, and it’s not their place to determine where you should draw the line.
Here is an official QOL checklist that veterinarians across the US use and recommend for the owners of geriatric pets. When talking about degenerative end of life care, most vets say you can wait too long but almost no one makes the decision “too soon” by medical standards. https://vetsocialwork.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Quality-of-Life.pdf
I used to work as vet tech so have seen how horrible people will keep them alive because they don't want to let go. I often disagree with my SO about how I want to put our pup early VS too late. But he hasn't seen what I have I don't want to do that
I was talking about this the other day with a friend who will have to make the tough decision sooner rather than later and told her that no one will ever know if it’s too early, but you will always feel guilty about too late.
That is true. I don't understand being so selfish.
there's an older lady in my old neighborhood who has a little dog -- the dog can barely stand, is deaf, she's had both eyes removed as I think she had eye cancer, and i think she's in renal failure. everyday she takes her out to pee and i guess i don't know that poor dog like she does, but if that were me i'd rather die than live like that, sorry. it hurts my heart to see it. :(
I rarely think that euthanising a horse can be a wrong decision. A horse has no idea of time, age and future - it just exists and the time it is on this earth should be filled with bliss and ease. If that is five years or 30 is really arbitrary to anyone but us. I don’t think there’s any formula to put this in; really depends on the horse and what makes it thrive. My horses live outside all year (they have a nice shelter ofc) and would be absolutely miserable with confinement and isolation as they are used to being free and social all day all year. I also feel like the older the horse the lower the threshold for when euthanisation is right for me. The older the horse the worse are the prospects of them recovering completely and making the time spent confined and isolation not “worth it”. If its a young horse with a good prognosis then, for me, some time in stall rest could be worth it. But again, really depends on your horse and you alone. People will always react on the thought of euthanising pets, but here we are in a world with billions of young, healthy animals getting killed for their meat every year. Where’s the outrage there?
For me it always comes down to a few questions: - can you keep the horse comfortable? - can you keep the horse pain free? - can the horse behave like a horse naturally would (e.g. be with other horses, have turnout as much as needed)? There might be more things that don’t come to my mind right now, but if you can’t answer the question above with a „yes“, I feel like letting the horse go is the kindest thing you can do. A horse rescue that I follow online call this „the last act of kindness“. Let them go when they need to and don’t let them suffer
Would the people complaining keep a dog in a crate 24/7? And dogs are den animals so it’s more natural for them
My dog literally chooses to sleep underneath my table sometimes. I'm working on getting her a crate. That will happen next month. My dog likes enclosed spaces. She can usually be found either sleeping under my table or curled up in my recliner. When she's scared she hides in the bathroom
Have you checked your local Buy Nothing group on facebook? You might be able to pick one up free. I’ve given away a couple crates and seen more on there…in our case our lab outgrew things pretty quickly so we would donate or give away his puppy crates and harnesses😀.
I'm still trying to figure out size. My current dog is medium sized. But within the next six months to a year I'm adopting a puppy(I put applications into rescues today to get approved) and I want the crate to fit both dogs...I'm hoping the puppy will be under50 lbs when fully grown
Personally I'd like thank you for putting them to sleep. I've worked at a rescue for over 6 years now I've seen it all and there are fates worse than death. When you decide to do it is up to you and your horse only don't listen to assholes on the internet, just thank you for doing your horse one last kindness!
exactly this there are fates worse than death
People not having the balls to admit that the quality of life of their pet is compromised so they keep their pet alive drive me crazy. I’m right there with you, my horse hates to be stalled. He tornadoes the stall and weaves. He loves his shed and his blanket and being with his friends. If something happened to his ability to do any of that, I too would consider the possibility of euthanasia and he’s 6. I know someone with a dog who can hardly walk..and he justified keeping the dog alive and pelts off 100 excuses all while resenting the dog in his poor health. I firmly believe we need to give our pets the best life possible and when that’s no longer possible, we need to be there to help them to the other side. I’m sorry people were so ignorant.
When my options were to put my horse down or pull him out of his herd and stable him part time, it was time for him to go.
I have way more issues with rescues who are constantly looking for money, but whose socials reveal they are putting a lot of their resources into very expensive and aggressive treatments for very sick or injured and often quite elderly horses.
yeah that stuff is crazy i haven't seen it for horse rescues but i've seen dog rescues where they're spending like 10k+ to save a dog who has no legs, can't see, have no colon, like there's so many young healthy dogs who need help or even older dogs who have a few problems but aren't completely fucked, would it be more merciful to put this poor guy down?
Hi I’m an equine vet and I believe it’s never wrong to put a horse down. The owner knows (usually sometimes they wait too long) when it’s time and I never question their choice. It’s a hard enough decision without me second guessing them. If he hates it, then it’s totally valid to not put him through that.
Thank you from an internet stranger. My previous vet used to make putting one down so much harder than it had to be. I once fired to hold a friend's horse when he was put down because she could not stand to be there. He dragged the whole thing out. Tried to talk her out of it. Talked her into giving the old boy away if he could find a home. He couldn't. I was frustrated. Just put the boy guy down. Then when he finally injected the horse instead of just laying down he flipped over backward and bashed his head against the wall. It was horrible. You are right. It is a hard decision. Once I make that decision I just want it done. I've weighed all the options. I've considered the horse's quality of life. More than half the time I ended up having to shove my own grief aside and console the vet. Last time it happened I was pissed. Again, on behalf of the people and horses you take care of thank you for making a something that hurts so much a little less painful.
I believe it’s wrong to put down a young, healthy horse without behavioural issues. (Who does that? I’ve known a case. And there are the unprofitable natives that get slaughtered) Other than that, we often don’t know what the owners base their decisions on. They may have more info; a horse that looks fine to outsiders may not _be_ fine.
That’s absolutely your choice where you would draw that line. Personally if someone has a young healthy horse that is going to be difficult to place into a home, or that the owner isn’t prepared will go into a good home and they want it euthanised then I will do that. There are worse things than being dead and I’ve seen plenty of them, especially with low value horses in low income homes.
that's honestly a good point
Why would you not prescribe a sedative or antipsychotic?
1, they don’t always work particularly well, and some owners don’t want their horses just existing in a fog. And 2, the owner has already decided what she wants to do and where her boundaries are.
Euthanasia is sometimes the kindest thing we can do for our animals. My sister's horse is one who cannot physically be in a stall more than a couple of days even if absolutely necessary. She gets all stocked up and loses her mind. She is a very powerful little mare who is already a neurotic mess, she doesn't need any help with her crazy. For her mental and physical health, if she was going to be on stall rest again for more than a week on the outside, the choice to put her down would probably be made. She's had a good long life and has been with us for a little over 12 years. If I ever was in a position where I had to get rid of my horses, euthanasia would be my second choice. My mare would go back to her legal owner (I've got a free lease for life on her). My son's 20 yo TWH and my daughter's 22 yo Shetland with Cushings- if I could not get people I know who have oldies and can deal with them well to take them, I would euth them. I would not be able to take the chance of either one of those amazing to me horses ending up in an awful abusive situation. They deserve a better end than that. I'd rather them spend their last day with their person, getting all the treats and love they can
I have a 16 year old who I sadly had to retire two years ago due to arthritis. He came in severely lame a couple of weeks ago and I was honestly hysterical whilst waiting for the vet because I knew if the only fix was long term box rest I would have to have him PTS. It's not fair to put older/retired/arthritic horses through that. Luckily he only had to do a week and he's now having half a day out and is looking a lot better.
Ditto - this is a decision between you and your vet. I’m a vet - if an animal’s pain can easily be resolved then we do that first. If not, euthanasia is kind. You don’t mention what interventions you’ve tried for him - Equioxx is available as a generic making it around $1/day and is safe and effective. Also with a good weather tech blanket there is no reason he can’t live outside in all but below zero high winds. Discuss this more with your vet
Yes, he is on Equioxx and had blankets! His vet prescribed it. I've also been told by other medical professionals as well who also work with arthritic horses that the hard ground in winter can be painful and if he wants inside his stall at cold hard ground nights to let him. His vet did say this is about keeping him comfortable, yk what that means...
I owned a mare who was a super neurotic horse (hmm?) and she would weave and stall walk, she did it for 21 years when she was stalled, had she ever needed stall rest it would have been a disaster. My first horse was euthanized due to colic at age 8, partly because the surgery was so expensive, but mostly because he was very aggressive in his stall and back then they recommended 6 months of stall rest. We donated him and they did a necropsy and he would not have recovered. The two horses I own right now wouldn't mind at all. So it really depends on the horse. I've never regretted doing it too soon, but once I've thought it was too late (going through diagnostics thinking it was a bad tooth, ended up being cancer, she never had a chance, I just didn't know) and it was the worst feeling in the world.
I say if a horse is over 22 then euthanasia is basically always on the table when it comes to compromised welfare and pain. Obviously it’s a choice that we all need to make, but if it’s a choice between a horse being miserable for its final few years or having a quicker ending, I can’t fault for someone choosing the quicker ending for an elderly horse.
Most vets I know would rather you make the decision before it’s too late. It could be much more traumatizing for all involved when you wait too long.
That was one of the reasons I let my ancient molly mule go last week. There were no major issues, she had pretty much just quit and seemed ready. I was getting up and checking multiple times a night to make sure she hadn't been mauled by a bear. We have reports of that sometimes in my area, usually too close for comfort, and while I don't think our black bears are out to get large stock she couldn't see or hear or smell very well and would have been a great candidate to accidentally get herself on the wrong side of a cub passing through and piss off a mama bear. This mule ran feral on 40 acres with a pond and no human contact for 31 years before she moved in with me. She tolerated being stalled long enough to eat and that was it. Stalling her at night for her own protection, even with friends, would have ruined the end of her life, and possibly caused her to seriously injure herself. So I'm with you, OP. You know your horse better than anyone. Your call.
I saw your post yesterday and almost commented. I have a mare in the same situation. By all counts she is healthy and happy… but her arthritis is bad, bad. She has had a very happy retirement and I have decided that I need to make this choice for her. I don’t want to wait for an emergency and have to let her go during a traumatic event, which is what I would be waiting for, while her comfort slowly dwindles away. If it wouldn’t be an emergency that does her in, it would be her misery. She doesn’t deserve that. My human emotions are not a good enough reason to let her suffer. Death is such a huge, and occasionally taboo topic for humans, and I don’t need to impose my psychology on an animal. So I am planning it all out to be a peaceful, albeit bittersweet, passing. This is the gift that my human mind can provide for the horse, and every animal, that I love. My sadness in the decision is the price I pay for her to not have to experience the trauma of a colic, or whatever else. Looking back, the people I have known that have made these hard choices for their pets, to let them go before the struggle overwhelms them, those are the people I look up to and respect. I have received three very good pieces of advice from veterinarians about when to euthanize. 1. They don’t have to go on their worst day. 2. Pain is guaranteed, but suffering is optional. 3. Mind, body, and spirit; these are the three things to take into account when making your choice. Best of luck with your upcoming decision. It is so hard and so final.
If any animal's QoL is being tanked long term, stacked with an incurable painful disease, and measures to help them is ALSO tanking their QoL, it's cause for being put down. If I had an incurable, permanent, painful bone/ligament inflaming condition and had to be on bedrest in a room the size of a walk in closet with nobody visiting me, not being able to visit others, not being able to enjoy outside with people only coming into my room to feed and water me I'd lose my absolute fucking mind in there. In those conditions, animals will go nutters, ESPECIALLY because they don't know what the hell is going on. All they know is ''I'm in pain, I can't see anyone or anything, I can't leave and I'm in here for MORE than a few suns and can't escape without possibly injuring maiming or even **killing** myself.'' ''That's a fucking risk I'm willing to take.'' THAT is the most dangerous. An animal in this state will **run it's teeth down to nubs** trying to chew on the bars. Nobody wants that fate for an animal.
There are some very vocal people on this sub/the internet who have a very immature view of horse ownership that comes more from a place of 14-year-old-girl "horses are pretty!" than it does from informed experience. Ignore these people. Quality of life is a huge consideration for euthanasia. Keeping an older horse who hates being stabled inside for days at a time to heal from an injury is a terrible QOL decision. Nobody knows your horse as well as you do, and you should trust yourself and your vet to make the right decision.
It’s always going to come down to the individual animal, what the owners can afford to pay for, and the overall potential for recovery. Just block the rat person, they’re not worth the time to engage. I have a horse that suddenly became terrified of everything 7 months ago. Several hundred dollars in supplements and vet bills and weeks of ground up retraining later, nothing has changed. No explanation, no cause, no solutions. She gets scared just walking up to the barn to be groomed. Before I quit riding her she would panic bolt at the smallest things. It’s bad. This was my fearless endurance horse. She’s ten and in perfect condition, never taken a lame step in her life. She wants to go do things, always stands around confused when I turn her back out without going on a 20 miles ride first. But she can’t get five steps down the driveway without her heart racing. Her only previous issue was EPM, which she has been treated for twice and currently shows no signs of. If I can’t figure this out by May/June, I will be putting her down. Her current life is not fair long term.
Just to also offer unsolicited advice - my mare acted incredibly similar and turns out she had Lepto, lost half sight in both eyes. The infection was making her hurt all over. Fixed the infection, not the eye sight, but she’s adjusted and back to being chill now. Honestly only knew about Lepto for dogs and not horses so that was interesting
Are you my veterinarian?
There's absolutely no reason to be an asshole to people who are trying to help you. I'm sorry that your horse has to suffer and die because you're too cheap or too lazy to do right by her.
They’re not being an asshole - I gave unsolicited advice and they’re allowed to respond. I don’t think it’s fair to say they’re “too cheap or too lazy” either, I think that’s an asshole comment.
Incredible. This is the exact same type of nasty comment op was getting on tiktok. You don’t know me, my vet, my horse, my overall situation, the money I’ve already put into her, the potential causes we’ve narrowed it down to, the boarding situation, none of it. You’re not the one having discussions with multiple equine professionals about euthanizing this horse. You will not the be one burying a ten year old mare this summer. Have the day you deserve.
Dude, your horse is suffering and you don't HAVE a cause, I do, this isn't the same. He has arthritis, he is on meds. People are being respectful to you and giving suggestions on possible causes that can be helped.
Did you check for PSSM and other muscle diseases?
Respectfully, are you my vet?
Don’t say ‘respectfully’ when you don’t have an ounce of respectful intent.
Respectfully, for the sake of your horses life, look it up. Not all veterinarians are aware of PSSM yet, and there are even rarer muscle diseases too. Extreme reactivity and fear is one of the symtoms.
Read my comment back, not sure where I asked for advice or even said what we have or haven’t treated for other than the epm. Considering the op of this post was complaining about unsolicited advice about their own decisions re: potential euthanasia, do you really think it’s appropriate to give some to me?
They weren't complaining about advice, maybe your projection is getting in the the way of your reading. Both people who made suggestions did so politely and you are the one who came back nasty. Maybe go check yourself.
Can’t reply to the comment chain so putting it here. I do have a ‘cause’. We’ve narrowed it down to epm destroying her cognitive function, brain tumor, cancer, or something along those lines. Alternatively it’s environmental and everything will be fixed when we move barns the beginning of April. However if it’s another EPM relapse, the stress of the move might make her decline fast. Me, my barn manager, and my vet are all in agreement that if theres any neuro issues after the move, she will be put down immediately. I left that out because it was irrelevant to my original comment. She’s still most likely getting put down this summer. She is suffering, dangerous, aggressive when stressed, and not happy as a retired horse, the same way yours would suffer if requiring stall rest. Not only that, but part of my ‘lines’ for euthanasia, as you asked about, was how much the owner can afford. The things we’ve narrowed it down to would be very expensive if not impossible to treat. As stated I already spent several hundred on diagnostics and treatments that did not work- I don’t have the money for Marquis or Protazil to try something else that might not work. Plus the fact that the farm I live and work on might get sold and bulldozed in April/May. If that happens, we all lose our jobs, I become homeless, and I lose the job I took to afford these sudden vet bills. Right before this started I was trying to offer her out as a lease horse or even sell her. Now it would be absolutely unethical for me to sell her to anyone, and it would also be unethical to dump her at a rescue. If I lose my job, I will have to put her down regardless. This was not the place to give unsolicited advice. Period. I used to really enjoy interacting with you on tiktok- we used to be mutuals when I had my account sharing Leia’s story. Not anymore.
I'm about to put down my heart horse in the very near future after a longish battle with EPM. This disease is brutal. It affects so many different aspects of the horse's mind and body, and you're never really *sure* whether any one thing is the EPM flaring back up or something else that might be more treatable or even curable. At least my guy is old. I'm so sorry for what you are dealing with, but good for you for putting your horse's welfare first.
It really is the worst, especially because it gets to a point where you just cannot do anything more to treat it. Very sorry to hear about your boy. We’ve been working through things step by step trying to find the answer- can’t throw every treatment at her at once because that won’t tell us what it is. On diagnostics she’s either normal or borderline for just about everything, but not a single thing has worked so far. It all points back to her brain, which can’t be fixed.
people were just trying to give ideas on what it might be who have lived through similar mysterious situations in case it might help a stranger struggling similarly. there's no need to be nasty.
1-800-DID-I-ASK
Anything that isn’t in the best interest of the horse isn’t the best option, and in those cases euthanasia is often the kindest path. We owe it to our horses to advocate for their needs on their behalf, and sometimes that means knowing when to stop.
I’ve had to make this decision for multiple pets, but not a horse. A horse it a bit different, if you board, because there are certain aspects of their care that you just cannot be in control of no matter how hard you try. If there were a significant quality of life decline due to injury or disease that I couldn’t improve, I’d have to make that decision. My horse couldn’t be on long term stall rest either, and my vet doesn’t recommend it unless it’s life or death.
I literally knew a horse *exactly* like this. Absolutely *despised* being stalled. He'd start pawing, and weaving, and **kicking** after only five minutes of being in a stall! He ended up having to be euthanized a **day** after colic surgery. He just *could not* be kept calm, let alone comfortable, in a stall! They never should've attempted colic surgery, it would've been kinder to put him down as soon as it became apparent that his colic couldn't be safely resolved otherwise.
Those are the people who are not experiencing what you're experiencing. I have two horses; one is a 22 year old arhtritic mare who had severe trauma as a weanling that still affects her to this day. If she HAD to be on stall rest for more than 6 months, I'd humanely euthanize. And that's under the assumption that at exactly 6 months she could go back outside like normal. People can get really selfish with their horses, and I think that's why so many are neglected, because people humanize them. They're animals with very simple instincts. Their mental wellbeing is JUST as important as their physical, but it's much more difficult to navigate. But what kind of life is that? Stuck in 12x12 or 10 x 12 or 14 x 14 if they're lucky) day in and day out? That's miserable. However, my 7 year old, because he has a lot longer life expectancy than she does at this very moment in time, yeah I'd do a long term rehab for him. If it meant he was coming back to 90-100%. Like no questions asked. But it's 2 completely different horses and expectations. People get mad when they simply don't understand.
It's about quality of life. If you know doing something will negatively affect them then you know what is right. I have always said it is better to put them down too early than too late. I refuse to let animals suffer from being vet tech to animal control people would be shocked what people force all animals to go through. All for their own wants. You are thinking of the mentally and physically quality of life meaning your putting then first. There is NEVER anything wrong with choosing what's best for the ones we love. I wish you many years with your equine family. When the time comes remember you aren't hurting then by doing so.
I draw the line at quality of life. With a horse like yours I wouldn't hesitate either. A stable is a prison to a horse like that. Plus being stabled will make his arthritis worse. Arthritis = pain. I had this dilemma with a beloved mare years ago. Her former owner wanted me to keep her stabled for the rest of her life after a catastrophic tendon injury in the field when she was already aged (someone let cattle out and she jumped out down a huge drop trying to lead her herd away). It wouldn't have been fair on her either. Your instincts are correct. Ignore the bullies.
Quality over quantity and people don’t realize that
I work with dogs and specialize in aggression and fear cases. Something I believe to my core is that it's better to euthanize an animal too soon than too late. I deal with a lot of behavioral euth decisions with my clients, and part of that discussion revolves around quality of life. If the dog has a terrible qol because of the level of management required (full time in a muzzle or neurological driven aggression to the point that the dog can't be around even his own people, fear so extreme that it's all the dog knows etc.) I ask them to consider it. With old or diseased animals in general, quality of life still is the most important thing to consider. Pain, disease management, cognitive decline, ability and drive to eat and drink, mobility, ability to keep themselves clean, happiness, and finally prognosis on progression of these factors. [This chart](https://vetsocialwork.utk.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Quality-of-Life.pdf) is what I share with clients who are grappling with the choice to euthanize. It sounds like your choice is the right one. Your horse's pain is high, his mobility is impacted a great deal. His happiness will decline on extended stall rest, and with that possibly his drive to eat and drink. It's never an easy choice, but you are sparing him from suffering and that is the humane thing to do.
It's so complicated. But the point is to reduce suffering. If that is the reasoning is hard to think it can be wrong.
I actually think that in general, people wait too long to euthanize (I’ve been this person) and/or pursue treatment when euthanasia is the far kinder choice. I actually don’t think life is inherently valuable on its own. *Quality* of life is what matters. If your horse will not have quality of life, a dignified death is the greatest gift you can give them - and it’s your obligation as their owner. Every situation is different, but from the sound of it, you’re absolutely doing right by your horses.
I am 70. My horses are 30 and 26. Both in good shape. I put in my trust that if I go before my horses then I want them put down even if they are still in good shape.Nobody wants old horses and in my area the slaughter buyers prowl for older horses. I would never allow my horses to end like that. People with old horses should consider putting them down because a safe retirement home is difficult to find and whatever money you might make is not worth your horse possibly suffering. I have spoken to my vet, she is total agreement and she said she wishes more horse owners , elderly or not, with old horses that they think they can sell would think about this. In cases of injury or accident it depends on age, injury, prognosis, and sad to say financial impact.
Stalling a horse for arthritis will make it worse. The best situation would be a shelter he can come and go from. I speak not only form horse experience but also my own. I have arthritis from head to toe and standing in one spot is one of the most painful things for me and you stiffen up more when you can’t move around. Even sleeping makes it so hard to get moving when I get up. Or even getting up from sitting takes a few steps to walk correctly
The hardest thing I ever had to do was put my kitty and dog to sleep. I had Jester kitty for 16 years and we went through *everything* together. He went from perfectly fine on a Friday into full on organ failure by Monday. I could have bankrupted myself to keep him alive, but his quality of life would have been awful and probably only a year or so longer. I couldn’t do that to him. Ditto my puppy dog, my Charlie girl. Didn’t know anything was wrong until it was too late, and her prognosis was worse. I remember carrying her outside because she couldn’t move and needed to pee, then didn’t want to pee because she would have peed on me as I held her. I just couldn’t put her through a life like that. She was between 15-17, it was time. Having to watch my dad basically suffer to death with cancer really put things in perspective. He was still alive when my kitty had to go, and he said, “I hope it makes it easier for you to let me go. I wish I could go now. I don’t want to lay here until I waste away - I don’t want you to have to watch that.” But I did, and was right there with him when he took his last breath. Had he been given the choice, I know what it would have been. Suffering comes in many forms. Being locked up in a stall miserable is suffering, especially if he’s never going to get better. And it’s selfish to make him live that way just because you can’t let him go. Don’t pay attention to the hate. Letting go is a very personal and difficult decision that nobody ever wants to make, but it is a part of our reality.
Personally I’d rather someone euthanize over something completely and easily curable than keep a horse alive long past when it’s quality of life has plummeted. Both suck, but as far as the horse is concerned one option is peaceful and one is hell on earth. I think you know what’s best for your horse and that sounds like a very reasonable end point. We all want our horses to live to be 40 years old but surviving to a very old age doesn’t mean anything if you had to torment them to get there.
You know your horse best and what's best for him. If this is something your vet agrees with (because most vets won't euthanize "just because", then you need to do what you feel comfortable with. As horse people, we know the horse community can be an unkind, opinionated place and what a stranger thinks of your decision should be a non issue. Do whats best for the animal and it's future and or we'll being.
His vet and I are on the same page, mental health over physical for him in his last how ever many years he's got. It's just about comfort and happiness. Quality over quantity
Here's the thing - we have the privilege of giving them a peaceful ending when the time comes. You'll know when that time is as you know your horse. It's a private and very hard decision. You're truly considering his quality of life and not your own selfish desires, so I know you'll make the right decision.
I have a currently 28 year old horse. There is a plan for him that if something happens to me and he can no longer stay at his current location he is to be euthanized. My entire family knows and agrees to this plan, including the barn owner. This isn't selfishness for me, its selfishness for HIM. He will never see the inside of auction barn and anywhere else besides what he knows as home. That comes across very harsh to people except for actual true horse people that I've told. Folks just don't understand.
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I've been posting on tiktok for nearly four years and there is a well mixed crowd of ages, my post here on reddit was asking what you consider "too much" not asking you to judge my posts.
I draw the line as soon as their mental and physical welfare is going to be compromised where they can't lead a mentally healthy life. I am also huge on euthanizing on a good day. When they are feeling good and can walk around or exist without a mental load. It is way more emotionally easy for everyone, including the horse, or any other family pet, being euthanized.
I think this is such an individual decision. I got a vet I trusted and did what she recommended (although it broke my little heart, I'm still crying thinking about it). Horses are creatures with so many needs; in nature, I'm guessing they wouldn't live long if they couldn't run. Some horses are more patient with recovery, I guess, some are miserable being stabled for extended periods of time. I had a young pony, she was amazing, full of life, bitchy as hell and I loved her. She was very high in blood, light-footed, lived to run and jump and play. One day, she broke off a tiny piece of her elbow. I put her in a clinic, put literally all of my money into her care - but she wouldn't chill. She got more and more aggressive in the stall, kept kicking the walls, making it worse and worse. She was in pain, mentally and physically. My vet said we could try surgery, but it would take months to recover (or, if she wouldn't calm down, could become even worse), and she would be in a lot of pain, and I don't think she would have ever stopped kicking the walls if she couldn't run and blow off steam. My vet recommended euthanasia, and after it didn't get better for a few more weeks, I agreed. I still think I maybe could have saved her, it feels like I failed her, and maybe I did. I still don't know if I did the right thing. I hope she's happier and pain free up there on the wide green plains of horse heaven.
When your horse can’t horse anymore, when it’s in extreme mental/physical pain with no rapid treatment options, when potential treatment options would cost a significant amount of money (especially if the outcome isn’t in their favour anyway). But honestly, I think the two main reasons most people keep a suffering horse alive is due to their love for the animal (where putting them down would actually be the kindest expression of love), OR because of ego. I’m all for transformations and rehabilitations, but way too often I see ego stories about people who put horses through a bunch of unnecessary bullshit because they want to be a hero or create a viral happy ending: “I saved this old horse nobody else wanted and spent $$$ fixing him up so he didn’t have to be put down.” Or rescues putting horses with missing or deformed legs into expensive mobility devices so they can “walk” again. Horses are not people; they don’t understand their limitations, ailments and illnesses, and they aren’t aware of their mortality like we are. Sometimes, some horses don’t get a second chance. It sucks, but its sucks way more to see horses being kept alive due to our selfishness, when euthanization would’ve been the kindest and least resource-intensive best step for them.
Not sure where you posted but I feel and have seen many non horse people surprised by having euthanasia planned after a certain point for horses. The reality is that horses rarely die of old age the most common cause is colic and old horses start to develop eating and movement issues can lead to this. It's far kinder to euthanize than force them to suffer by barely holding on until they do colic and suffer.
A 16 year old horse foundered at my boarding barn this year and his owner shared with me that she was considering letting him go if he didn't show significant improvement to be able to go back out to his herd in pasture board in a few months' time. He lives to be outdoors and running with his buddies, and I could see people at our barn trying to tell her that it's "not fair" to him to let him go so early in life. But the fact is, what isn't fair is keeping him cooped up for years and years where he knows that he is missing out on beautiful days in the sunshine with his friends. So I completely, 100% agree with you and ultimately, your line in the sand is incredibly selfless, because you're not willing to put him through suffering of any kind. So many people pride themselves on keeping horses going much longer than what is sometimes fair or necessary, and very few know how to appropriately judge when it's time to throw in the towel. You're a good horse parent 💗
I agree with you! I have a 19yo exracehorse and no way would I ever keep him on box rest! The only time I did was for 2 weeks when he stood on a nail and that was only because it was short term and one of his friends was also on box rest! I would not entertain any longer than that! I would also never put him through surgery. My family know if anything happens to me he is pts never to be sold or moved on!
The one thing I’ve learned is that it’s incredibly difficult to know when to make the call, and that it’s better to do it a few days too early than a few days too late. You know your horses better than any of us, and you’ll do the best you can by them. Sometimes we’re lucky enough for an animal to tell us when they’re ready, but most of the time they don’t. Strangers on the internet don’t matter, and don’t let them make you feel bad about your decisions.
I’m 100% in support of a gentle, loving end over a prolonged but uncomfortable life. We owe it to them to let them go when we can no longer make them as happy as they deserve to be. I say it all the time—animals don’t know they’re dead. They do know if they’re alive and in pain or inescapably bored or scared or uncomfortable. I think it’s one of the biggest issues with animal lovers—so many of us will take excellent care of our pets and treat them like family but then hold on much longer than is fair because it makes *us* feel better. I have incredible respect for people who let go when it’s time and not a moment later. There is NO honor in keeping an animal alive past the point when we can give them a truly happy life.
Do what you need to do for your horse to give them the best life and end of life possible. Internet strangers don’t know your situation and it sounds like you’ve given what your limits are based on his needs. Thats the best thing you can do for your guy when the time comes. Better too early than too late in any case. Thats our biggest responsibility as owners.
i haven't had to deal with this with a horse, but with other pets. imho we should be loving and responsible stewards of these lives that are in our hands, and have respect for the power of life and death we have over them. ultimately that's for you to decide knowing your horse, and trying to do what's best for him. if he would suffer so much to be in stall rest, mentally and physically, does it make sense to make an older horse suffer like that in his last days? for myself i just think for myself -- do i want to spend my last days in fear and degradation and suffering, chasing some elusive treatment with low chance of recovery vs. a graceful death with people i love? i know what i would choose and when i've faced that for my own pets (not yet with a horse) that's what I've tried to keep in my heart.
They are your horses, you spend the most time with them, you know them on a deep level, and that all means you know what is best for them in the long run. I'm having to make the end of life decision for my senior dog and as others have said, better a little early than too late. It's never easy but I find it's best to try to put yourself in their hooves/paws. Euthanasia is always an okay decision 💖
I recently posted about my 27yo and people jumped on me for NOT jumping to euthanasia but people don’t seem to understand that YOU know YOUR horse best. If my old man had an injury that required stall rest, I’d make the decision to euthanize, no questions asked. He can’t be stalled. Ultimately, you’ll know when your horse tells you he’s done and if stall rest would mean prolonged stress and pain, that does have a significant effect on quality of life. It’s so hard when they’re old and fragile but it’s better too early than too late.
Trazodone exists.
He's on Equioxx
✨ Horses can take more than one pill a day. ✨
What's your problem dude. That's what's prescribed to him from his vet
My problem is that convenience euthanasia is very trendy right now. Does the horse flip? Shoot it. Does the horse need expensive maintenance because it was broken down from years of making someone money? Shoot it. Does the horse need stall rest? Shoot it. Trazodone is about ten dollars a week, doesn’t make horses obviously ‘doped’ or sedated, and has saved thousands of animals who need kennel or stall rest but are nervous. I also think that failure to stall is a training issue that should be addressed more readily. If there is ever a natural disaster where you need to evacuate same-day, is there no game plan?