One of the most difficult decisions a horse owner may have to make is whether or not to go ahead with an emergency surgery. Surgery is hard on a horse, can have complications and the outcomes aren’t always certain. It can be hard on our savings account too, even though we’d like to think that when it comes to our companion animals our funds are as bottomless as our hearts. I’ve often wondered what I would do if faced with a decision about whether or not to go ahead with surgery for my own horse. Under what circumstances would I go ahead, and under which would I perhaps, go in another direction, whether that would involve euthanasia, or more non-invasive, but perhaps less effective treatments or treatments that will not work at all?
By far, the most common type of emergency surgery, the most expensive and most invasive is colic surgery. I think in my own case right now, my horse’s age would be a major factor. At nineteen years old, even though she is in otherwise good health, her age may be a strike against her. The survival rate of senior horses is felt to be lower than of other horses. More senior horses end up being euthanized during surgery. But if the horse makes it through the surgery, the survival rate one year post surgery is about the same as younger horses.1
But is colic surgery worth it for a younger horse? Colics aren’t always caused by ‘simple’ to fix problems. A severe impaction or twist may be repairable. Enteroliths or foreign objects can be removed. The outcomes of most colic surgeries on a healthy horse are good. And, often the horse can return to the same level of function it had before the surgery. And there is a long recovery process after surgery. Some horses don’t react well to the anesthesia, or don’t recover well. It will depend on the horse’s acceptance of stall rest, repeated procedures and the possibility of postoperative problems like laminitis, infection, and its response to pain. Colic surgery isn’t a one time fix either, because a horse could need surgery again. The show jumper Big Ben had two colic surgeries eleven months apart, and was euthanized after a third bout of colic when it was decided that it was best not to put the 23 year old horse through another surgery.
Other emergency surgeries such as eye problems to correct perforations, punctures, ulcers or even fractures of the bone around the eye are slightly less invasive and will probably have better outcomes for even senior horses. Other surgeries are also less of a worry, although even something like a gelding procedure for an older horse is slightly riskier, and may take longer to recover from.
But the horse itself isn’t the only thing we have to consider. Surgery is costly and can require special stabling and after care. Not all of us have a equine hospital within easy access. Transportation, the procedure itself, medications and post surgery care can cost a lot of money. I think a lot of horse owners among us know someone who has spent thousands of dollars for a surgery, only to lose the horse in the end.
When you’re deciding whether or not to go ahead with a major surgery there is a lot to balance. And usually, you only have a very short time to make your decisions. It’s worth spending a bit of time before anything ever happens, so you can, without emotion, decide what might be right for your situation, and what might be fair to your horse. And then, hope it never happens.
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