My old boy not doing to well

[Alisha514]

Well remember a couple of month ago I posted pics of my old gelding. He is around 30. Just started admiting he was that old to be honest. He was doing so well. I had retired him from showing about 3 yrs ago but this yr a 4-Her needed a horse to take so I let her take Baask. He was loving it and did awesome. That was in Aug. By mid sept. he started to go lame and then got so bad he couldnt walk at all. Had the vet out and he told me he was foundering. Took blood test and found out he has cushings and is insulin resistant. It has happened so fast. In just 3 months he doesnt even look like the same horse. I am trying everything I can. He is a stubborn horse and has been refusing his supplement for his insulin resistance. I have finally found a way for him to eat it but hes still in sooo much pain. I have him on the max amount of bute daily and I can tell hes still in pain. His eyes are always watering and hes sweating. Even thinking of putting him down makes me cry. Im just not sure how much more he can take. I want to at least see if the meds work. If I can keep him eating it that is. But when do I say its time. I have had this boy since I was 9, im now 25. Ive always said he was inmortal but now Ive realized thats not true. He has lost a lot of weight even though Ive been giving him more food. Hes lost all muscle in his butt and his back bone is sticking out so bad. It has happened so fast I just dont get it.

This is what he looked like at fair first week in Aug.

Pics I took in July

Pics taken Nov. 11, 2009

Alisha

 

[Leeana]

Gosh Alisha ... I am so sorry

Will / Is he eating beet pulp? Maybe you could feed warm soaked beet pulp shreds with a ration balancer that way he is getting what he needs and the beet pulp will make top dressing his meds easier?

 

[Alisha514]

Yeah he gets beet pulp and senior feed. When I tried putting his suppliment in his food for the insulin resisitance has wouldnt eat it. So tried everything and now what I do and hes eating it for now is ive started putting apple juice in his feed. Instead of water to soak the beet pulp in the apple juice hides the smell of the suppliment so hes been eating it. I dont think he lost weight cause of not getting enough food i really think its because hes in pain. I just keep hoping that the meds will kick in and the pain will stop but I dont know how much longer I can wait and let him be in pain to see if the meds will work for him.

Alisha

 

[~Dan]

I am terribly sorry for his health problems. He looks great for his age, and it shows in his face and expression that hes been well loved and cared for. Its always tricky when to say to put them down and let them go peacefully, its something any animal owner will come in contact with. Your vet should oh most definatley help you through this hard time and help you make the best choice. I hope he feels better and for you continue to be able to care for him through this.

Dan

 

[Miniv]

Alisha,

He's been in discomfort for a long time but continued to TRY and CONTINUE just for YOU. (The words I put in caps are from him.) He didn't want to give up because of you.

Please......when assessing him, don't just study his body but look at his face : His eyes, around his eyes, and how his mouth is..... His face speaks.

He is awesome. It's always amazing to see so much love and hope in an animal, even when they feel like cr*p.....

You have a major judgment call for your dear fur friend. There is obviously a lot of love involved between you.

Bless you both.....

Ma---

 

[Katiean]

Oh My Gosh!!! I can't help but see sadness in his eyes in the summer pictures. He does look like you need to give him permission to go. Have a good long talk with him and YOU tell him it is OK if he goes. Tell him you will miss him and you will be OK when he goes. You would be surprised at what this kind of conversation with him in words he can hear will do.

 

[Alisha514]

I have talked to him and asked him what I needed to do. What he wants me to do. I wish he would give me a big sign that says its time. I'm not sure I can make that call. Its hard to decide with out tying to see if the meds work or not. I think this will be one of the hardest choices I will ever have to make

Alisha

 

[wildoak]

Alisha, he's just lovely and it's obvious how much he is cared for. I've had to make this decision twice for 29/30 yr olds, both dear mares I'd had forever, and the only thing that got me through it was remembering how many wonderful years I'd had with them. The most recent was my daughter's show mare - her age & the mares were just the same as yours, she grew up with her and can really understand your feelings. Keep talking - and listening - to your boy. He is a jewel.

Jan

 

[muffntuf]

Some possible questions and suggestions, and then some straight talk:

What is the supplement he is on for IR? Does bute interfere with it? If he is on the max bute, have you thought about an ulcer? He could be in pain from that.

Do you have feed in front of him 24/7? Or do you just give it to him on a schedule? If on a schedule, switch and leave it in front of him all day.

How are his teeth?

Finally - you finally put it into words. That's the hardest part. (Trust me I know, I had to put two of my ponies down this summer and they were young) Knowing whether it is time to let him go is up to you. You can talk with him, they do understand what we are saying.

This is truly hard, but think about this, have you done everything you can think of? If the answer is yes, then there is no more trying.

And this is from my experience putting a 4 year mare down after Congress this year - the hardest thing I have done yet, If I did everything I could do, but in the end the winter would be a horrible experience for her, then it is only the right thing to do to let her go.

I will be thinking and praying for you.

 

[chandab]

Took blood test and found out he has cushings and is insulin resistant. It has happened so fast. In just 3 months he doesnt even look like the same horse. I am trying everything I can.
Alisha

Have you joined the Yahoo Cushing group? Great people and a ton of information on IR and Cushings. [if you join, be prepared for information overload, they have tons of information on IR, Cushings and their treatment and care.]

 

[Marty]

I sent you a pm

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Alisha, I'm so sorry. I have a Bask grandson I got when I was 10 who is approaching 33 next month and he too is finally beginning to go downhill. I know exactly how much pain you're in and I wish I could hug you across the miles. Trying to wait and see if the meds are going to work is a legitimate concern but you must ask yourself what his life is going to be like even if they do work. Will he be comfortable? Will he have something he enjoys in each day to keep him happy? Will he have a job, even if that job is only to watch over the other horses and supervise the barn? If so, and if he isn't acting like he'd like for all this to end, then keep fighting to give him time. Tell him exactly what you're hoping for (that the meds will start working and his quality of life will improve again) so he understands the point of all this suffering. Spend time with him and love him. And if the answer to those questions is "no," then love him enough to give him the choice to be free. You don't have to make that choice for him, just let him know that he HAS the choice and all he has to do is tell you when it's too much. If he chooses to remain then that's great.

My boy did tell me last year and I let the vet talk me out of doing what the horse wanted because she felt that since he wasn't in pain I was acting hastily. He was angry with me for three days.

I was able to give him another good summer and he's made new friends and found a new purpose in watching over the yearling we've added to the family so it hasn't been all bad, but he's increasingly achy and itchy and ouchy and this winter is going to be tough on him. In many ways I wish I'd had the courage to let him go when he asked me to but it was incredibly difficult because he was not in any pain nor stressed and fighting. We are so programmed to expect the end to come that way that a simple, peaceful decision to go seemed like not enough reason! Now I don't know how the end will come and I worry that I've made it unnecessarily difficult.

Bah. This process is NEVER easy and it breaks your heart every time. Love him. That's all you can do. (((hugs)))

Leia

 

[BRANDY]

Hi This is Brandy from Rainbow Ridge Miniatures. I think I can help you..Can you call me at 941-322-9978..Too much to type but I have a Old man and I helped him and he is back to normal..DO NOT YOU USE PERGOLIDE BAD DRUG..CALL ME PLEASE

 

[Barbie]

Please do call Brandy - she did miracles with her Blue Boy son, completely turned him around. I think maybe she can help your old boy. She helped her 24 year old stallion when the vet didn't hold out much hope. He's back to normal now.

Good luck!!!

Barbie

 

[sfmini]

I know it is a hard decision, but who are you keeping him going for? Think hard on this, and don't make him wait until he is in crisis and in agony and it is an emergency.

I see you are in Ohio, if he is sweating like that, he has to be freezing cold as well, and we are about to have even more super cold nights ahead.

You have to do what is best for him, not you.

Also, this is going to sound cold, but if you want to bury him, the ground is freezing......

I am sorry, this is a tough call, I just hope at the end you have no regrets, and love him enough to let him go when it is time.

 

[Reijel's Mom]

Aww hon, I 't know you, but I gotta say I think it's time from your description and those pictures. I hope it's not, but I think it is. When I last had to euthanize, after it was done and I was crying, my vet said "you know Renee, this really is the kindest thing we can do for them".

 

[Ashley]

With cushings, they do lose all their weight and muscel. That said I do think he is ready, the photos say that, however you need to be ready to.

 

[Connie P]

I am saying an extra prayer for you and your old boy. I know how hard those decisions are. Hugs to you.

 

[Alisha514]

Just wanted to let everyone who has read this post know that I let him go yesterday. We may have been able to reliave his pain for a bit but There was nothing to stop it from coming back. I knew if I let him keep going it would be selfish of me. I knew he was trying to be strong for me and it just wasnt fair to him. I breaks my heart and it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. It is hard to go out to the barn and take care of the other horses and not see him there. He has been in my life for 16 yrs. I dont even remember what it was like to not have him there. Im hoping one day I will be able to talk about him without crying. RIP my old man. I love you Baask

 

[Hosscrazy]

I also had a Cushings/IR horse who foundered - it's a tough battle to say the least. As a result, I've become a moderator of the Yahoo Cushings group. Pergolide, bute and a balanced diet kept my mare alive for 2 more years but it was a tough 2 years for both of us. You reach a point in your caretaking when you realize it's time to let go. And bless your heart for making the tough decision...it's not an easy one...

Take care,

Liz R.