I am waiting on a call from my vet to schedule the euthanasia of a beloved horse.  I know this is part of responsible animal husbandry, I know it is the right thing to do and I know to soon is better than too late. But that said, I still am struggling with taking his life.  Heart > Head in this case. 

He is 30.  Yes that sounds ancient but we all know horses are living longer than ever with excellent care - which he has had. 

He is in advanced stages of cushings 

He has struggled with Severe Heave episodes for 15 years or better. I was always able to keep it in check but flare ups are very hard on his body condition and takes 5-10 days of Dex injections to remedy it.  He has NO muscle left to inject and frankly I am sick of poking him.  He is flared up a little today. 

His weight is dropping off to the point I panic when I look at him.  His Body Condition is well beyond what I am comfortable with and to me he looks skeletal. 

His attitude is unchanged. By all accounts he is happy, bossy and not "suffering" 

Words of wisdom would be much appreciated

No advice or words of wisdom from me, but you will get a huge HUG from me...

Such a hard thing we have too do and choose at times like this.

Hugs. Only you and your vet can make that decision.

I think I'm torn between not waiting too long and justifying that there is "enough" wrong.  Does that make any sense? 

I'm so sorry that you are faced with that decision.  It's just so hard.  I do however feel that making the final call is an act of love.  It doesn't make it any easier, but on a spiritual level I believe they understand.

I had to make this decision for one of mine in December 2016.  I still worry if it was the right time even though I knew it would have to be done soon.  My guy looked in great shape and his attitude was good but the cancer was growing and I didn't want him to suffer.  My vet said I made the right call, but I have always wondered if it was the right time.  I just tell myself that he went out feeling good and not in any pain.  If I had waited longer that might not have been the case and I would have prolonged the inevitable by being selfish.  Hugs to you - it's never easy.  

I agree with the above, I let them Tell Me to a point. There will come a time when they almost ask you to do it, if that makes sense. But doesn't make it any easier. 

I have put down 2 horses. The first mare KOko, we got her when she was 7 yrs old. She was good horse and we raised a couple of foals out her.  She got arthritis she  couldn't hardly back out of our slant load trailer and the winters we're getting rough on her with the arthritis and she had lost few back teeth.  She wasn't a happy horse. She got through her last winter and wasn't doing well come late spring loosing weight.   So we put her down, it was hard but it was time she was 23 yrs old. The second mare Jackie had stifle problems and the was getting laminitis.  We didn't have enough pasture to keep her and I didn't want her to take a long ride on a killers truck and end up slaughter.  I didn't want to sell her to someone and take the chance of neglect or being sold for slaughter.  So we put her down. She was 17 yrs old.  I did what I felt was right for the horse.  It is hard but it was the right decision for both horses.  

it makes sense, it's the head vs the heart... 

I had to make this call on 2 horses and 2 dogs... I can say this...  none of it is easy, it's hard to walk out and they are gone, and it's hard to make the call to give them rest... it all sucks... but if you know this is right ( and I do think we know)  you will just do it.  I gave tons and tons of extra treats, baths.. and love... save some hair..  and so many ((((HUGS)))) it's so hard  even when it's the right thing... I pray for peace for your heart, mind and soul...  

We have all had this struggle and it sucks---I think you know the right decision.

I have made that decision twice. I asked the vet "when" I should put my old barrel horse down and the vet told me ...... "he" will let you know. And he did. It got to the time where he had lost wieght and lost the luster in his eyes. He was 33 years old. My team pennig horse developed severe abcesses and founder and could barely move. THAT decision was a little easier. He was 28. It certainly is not easy to make "the" decision but it sounds like you are at the right time .... HUGS !!!!!

My thoughts and prayers are with you.Its better to let them go easier then to wait for a moment that is tragic,a I NEED A VET NOW MOMENT,IS NEVER GOOD.Thanks for loving him,and doing right by him.

I think when you start asking yourself the question, you already know the answer deep down.  JMO 

Prayers for you, it's not easy no matter the circumstance.

Knowing you Gail I know that you made the right decision, even if your heart was not really I know that you did the right thing for your guy. Its never easy, been there myself a few times and as I get older its just keeps getting harder for my soul..

Never ever an easy decision but inside you know it's time and the right thing to do. When we made the call to put chuy down when he got laminitis... his eyes told me he was through and in just so much pain, I could see that he gave up. We put our beloved Doberman down too not too long ago and she was amazing... been with me thru everything. I said I didn't want to be in the room when they put her to sleep and then I remembered I had read somewhere that they needed you there for comfort.. not surrounded by strangers in a strange place. Me and the kids loved on her and you could tell she knew it was time she looked so sad but thankful we were there with her to the very last breath. It was so sad even the vet shed a few tears with us. But I just think it's incredibly kind of you to do the right thing by your horse... a lot of people just send them off to the sale because they don't want to deal with the costs or the pain of putting one down. Poor horses go thru pure hell when put thru sales to end up on a trailer to Mexico... I think it's a Nobel thing to do, to do right by the animal and let them rest easy and comfortable even when it about kills us emotionally . 

I had to let my soul-mate dog go 2 years ago and it was by far the worst day of my life so far. Not ashamed to say that. I stayed in the room until he was sedated and then stepped outside to wait. I regret that choice every single day. I was so scared and so devestated.  I will stay with my horse.

I appreciate the kind words.  Whether I am a little late or not, I will do right by him and he will rest in my pasture. 

Boy its kinda hard to decide which like emoji to use on this thread. 

Right! We need the giving a hug emoji here 

YES!!! We need a huggy emoji added to the like. Or a huggy Bear 

<<<<< Best one I could find!