Passing away

Barry Godden · 11-10-2009, 12:53 PM

Gossip Girl

There is no escaping the truth of this:

"And finally Boss, if I am in pain
or when my useful strength has gone;
Do not turn me out to starve
or freeze or send me on to owners new;
They did not know me in my prime.
You did, my Master,
you should end my life when the day has come,
in a quick and painless way."
.
There is more on a thread entitled
"Joe's prayer" back in the Forum "Poems"

Sadly it is the price sometimes we must pay for knowing and loving horses.

Barry

mom2pride · 11-10-2009, 01:15 PM

It all comes down to whether you can understand that his current state is not a great quality of life. It won't be easy...it never is; you've poured your heart and soul into him, so no matter how much you try to convince yourself that 'maybe I'll feel better about this tomorrow, or the next day..." It won't...you've just got to decide whether you can watch him suffer and go further and further down hill.

Cheshire · 11-10-2009, 01:53 PM

Be strong. :) It's hard. It always is. I had to put my beloved cat down last year due to a heart valve malfunction they couldn't fix -- and she was only five. He is at a ripe old age, which could only be achieved through your love and kindness throughout the years. Just know that when the time comes for you to help him on the next leg of his journey, he will finally be free of his pain...and who knows what other sorts of lovely adventures his soul will then take. Animals of all sorts come into our lives as spirit companions, and though their time with us is often too short, they are our teachers and greatest confidants. Let him go...he will never be completely "gone", and his impression on your life will be everlasting.

kevinshorses · 11-10-2009, 01:58 PM

I commend your parents for leaving the decision up to you. Now you need to make the right decision. One of the hardest things we as horse owners have to do is let our horses go. Rather we sell them due to financial constraints or we have to put them down for health reasons it is not ever pleasant. I have had a dog for 11 years and every day I look at him and wonder if this will be the winter that he can't make it through. So far his joy in life outwieghs the arthritis and old age but I know that soon that will change and as soon as it does I will show him a last act of kindness and put him down. It sounds like you know that your horses pain outwieghs his joy of life and you need to give him relief from the pain. Soon the pain your feeling now will be overshadowed by the memories of your horse when he was young you believed he was the greatest horse in the world.

redneckprincess70 · 11-10-2009, 02:41 PM

Well put Kevin....

Gossip, you know what's best. You have a huge heart, full of love for your horse. That won't stop when he's gone. Sorry about your situation.

bubblegum · 11-10-2009, 02:58 PM

I don't know what to say to you that everyone hasnt already said, I truely feel for you and do not envy the situation you are in. All I can say is that it would be best for your horse to have him put down by the vet rather than let him go in a few weeks naturally, you do not know how that will go and at least with the vet you can be there for his last few moments and comfort him.

Thinking of you

Canopach01 · 11-10-2009, 03:52 PM

Thinking of you in your difficult times. Give yourself some time to say good bye and then try to understand the "quality" of life is so much more important than the "quantity" of life. I lost my first raised weanling March of last year. He was only 7. He was never diagnosed any further than Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia - for some odd reason his blood cells started attacking each other and in 4 days he went from top fit jumper level to me making the hardest decision of my life to let him go.
A word of advice - really talk to your vet about euthanasia and if you should really be present. I don't know if the last image you want of your horse is the one when he is being dropped to the ground. It is not "peaceful" looking and can leave you with a hard hard last impression.
Once again I am so so sorry.

QHChik · 11-10-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry Godden

"And finally Boss, if I am in pain
or when my useful strength has gone;
Do not turn me out to starve
or freeze or send me on to owners new;
They did not know me in my prime.
You did, my Master,
you should end my life when the day has come,
in a quick and painless way."
.

Wow... That definitely brought tears to my eyes.

Gossip Girl: Sometimes we have to take ourselves and our feelings out of the equation and think about what is best for our animals. They have given selflessly to us for the time that we have had them and now we must be selfless towards them.

I do not envy your situation but know that you will make the decision that is right for your and your pony.

arabchica · 11-10-2009, 05:47 PM

I feel that you have already made the hardest decision. As hard as saying goodbye is it is the right one. I had that same decision to make a few years back with my first horse ever. Yes, I still cry when I think of him. But, they are tears filled with the memories of all the things we did together, and the knowlege that I did what was best for my very best friend. I will think of you and keep you in my Prayers.

Lovehorsesandrunning · 11-10-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossipgirl101

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum, but since it does have to do with horse health overall, I guess it's okay.

Anyway, yesterday, my horse Jerry was diagnosed with liver failure. His arthritis is so bad these days, he can hardly stand up. He has been resting in a stall for the past week, and isn't eating well. The vet says that, at most, he has three weeks to live.

Jerry is 28 years old, and my family has unfortunately been expecting this to happen ever since he was diagnosed with arthritis 8 months ago, but we are still shocked. The vet also added that it might be the most humane thing to put him down because he is in a lot of pain and won't eat anyway.

I'm sorry if this sounds stupid to you, because I'm sure a lot of you have had to deal with a loved animal passing away, but please, please give me some words of support. I really don't know what to do, and at this point, my parents are sort of leaving the decision-making up to me since Jerry is my horse. I don't want him to suffer, but I really, really don't want him to die either.

Thank you for reading this!

You really don't want him to suffer. Trust me I know you love him but its meant to be. He needs to go to a better place. Im sorry

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