Posted by cmkdreams on November 2, 2009, 8:42 am, in reply to "hard to believe this one"
63.203.168.229
When to euthanize & call it quits is such a personal decision. I think we need to be realistic about costs & outcome, but who's to say what's realistic. The pics in the article don't look as bad as the article sounds. I would have to say I would probably go with treating this horse & make decisions along the way.
I have a mare here who's had 3 injuries that the vets all said were euthanasia injuries. The first was as a 3 yr old & she's 18 today. She's done a few 50 milers & been the horse that would go anywhere for me. She's sound & you'd never know she's had a broken leg (did a 50 AFTER that injury); a bone infection in a knee (UCD was sure she'd be euthanized), & as a 3 yr old she denuded (is that a word?
) 3/4 of a front leg from fetlock to mid forearm. This injury & the break I treated her at home on my own because I wouldn't put her down when the vet said that was the only realistic option. She did spend 2 wks at UCD for the joint infection after treating her at home w/my local vet for a month. That was about $5000 but worth every penny because she's given me a couple of really nice babies to one day ride in her hoofprints.
I knew going into each injury that I might lose her, but I had to give her a chance. Yes they were emotional decisions, but I said I'd take it one day at a time & make a new decision each day depending on whether there was improvement or not. I've actually gone this same route with more horses than I care to admit & they all live here w/me today, happy, healthy & sound.
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