Any Equine Vets/ horse owners

[Whyiseveryonesoangry]

Willing to answer a wwyd about cushings/ laminitis and euthanasia?

I'm sure if you ask the question someone will answer it.

12 months ago, my 15 year old pony came down with severe laminitis for ‘no reason’. Because of that my vet tested for ppid and she came back borderline, so we started with prascend. 6 weeks box rest, re tested as normal and continue with the tablets.
Since then she has had two mild bout of lami, where she has been put on Bute and box rested for 4 days, then back to normal.
She was re tested in May and her levels were 3 times higher than normal. She has now come down with severe laminitis again. Box rest for a week and no improvement. She is lying down a lot, and constantly shifting her weight when stood. I am no longer covered by insurance so can’t afford x rays.
I can’t stand to see her in so much pain and I absolutely hate the thought of this happening very few months for the rest of her life.
I hate horses being kept as it is.
I know a vet will tell me that it takes time and we can get her right again, but if I decide to euthanise now, would an equine vet try to talk me out of it, because otherwise she is bright, alert, fit and healthy?
Wwyd if this was your horse?

if my horse was in pain then then I would PTS, no hesitation.

I would probably euthanise once I'd explored every avenue to manage the lami and cushings. My mum's old gelding went through this and it was hell. Years of careful, constant management. Cost her a fortune. He was elderly so she no longer had him insured for vets bills.

I take it you have exhausted every option for treating the lami? Got your farrier on board to try egg bar shoes? Have you spoken to your vet - what do they recommend? 16 is relatively young (same age as my mare and she's not old!) and if he's bright in himself I don't think I could bring myself to put to sleep without trying every thing.

Having said all that, ultimately the choice is yours so no judgement here.

A good vet would not talk you out of it they would only advise. It is your decision and you will know in your heart what to do. A lot of vets I know will allow a payment plan for you to get x rays done. Do what is best for the pony. X

Vets usually won't talk you out of it. We had our gelding PTS with cushings and lami but only because the medication stoped working this was after a few years.

I wouldn't feel guilty about it: she is in pain & there is no quick fix.

I think equine vets are often very pragmatic re: PTS. Cushings/laminitis is often a road downhill and it's just when you decide enough is enough. The other thing is her quality of life even if she improves - would she have to live on a bare paddock and very restricted diet.
I knew a horse with these problems and the poor thing was in a lot of pain for a long time. The owners adored him and did everything they could but it would have been better for him if they'd let him go sooner.

We’ve had 2 with laminitis , one had Cushing as well and frankly we let both of them drag on for far too long , I would pts .

Been in an almost identical situation OP.

I decided to PTS just over a year ago.

Dpony (and she was a darling) was never going to get better. The gap between the attacks were getting shorter and lasting for longer. The amount of time she was being a normal pony out grazing with her friends was getting shorter. And even her herd were starting to shun her and she had gone a bit socially odd. Probably due to the amount of time she was either on box rest or in the fat paddock even though she wasnt fat.

I didn't even ask my vet. Just organised the local slaughterman to come and euthanise her. It was very, very quick. Absolutely painless and she went with a mouthful of apple trying her best to cram the other half in. She was 17 and we had owned her for 11 years and my friend had had her from being 6 months old. Very much loved and cherished and had been a pet for 8 years.

I regret nothing about my choice. She went on a warm day in June. Pain free and living with the herd since the april. She had the sun on her back and her feet didn't hurt. I loved the bones of her and it broke my heart to do it. But it was better than waiting for the october/November lami attack. Box rest. Bute. Increased meds. The depression that came with the meds.

She went happy and loved and scoffing illicit apples.

Thank you all for your replies.
It’s breaking my heart just thinking about it. She looks so well, shiney coat, lovely and slim, but to see her walk is horrible.
She has basically spent the last year in a starvation paddock, usually on her own, so I can monitor her food and water intake. I was hoping to bring her back into work this Summer, but this latest attack means that it is never going to happen. It is such a hard decision to make.

It's a really hard decision but I do think most horse owners would understand, and equine vets do get it. In pain and constantly living in a starvation paddock isn't fun for a horse.

In general, I have found/seen equine vets to be very understanding about PTS even though there are theoretically other options. I think they will tell you the treatment options until you bring up PTS, but I've never seen or known of a vet try to talk someone out of PTS in these sorts of circumstances.

Also OP, it's a horrible situation to be in.

To reinforce what op said. You do not have to consult the vet depending on your method of PTS.