Help with donkey, please

[valsey]

Hi
I was wondering if anyone could help me with a few donkey questions.

I am a new owner of a 10 month old jenny who I got to protect my goats. I've had her 4 months. I am slowly training her to lift her feet so that I can keep them clean and so that I can safely have a farrier work with her.

Yesterday I noticed that she was resting her front foot. After everyone had their breakfast they all layed doen in the barn - this is common with the goats - they chew their cud and relax, but I have NEVER seen the donkey do this.

She is also favoring that foot. I gave it a look and it seems like the 'frog' is unattached. Like I said, I don't know much about this - I only know the term 'frog' becasue I had horses as a kid. I really don't even know if I'm cleaning out her hooves properly. Maybe I was overzealous when I cleaned that hoof out? I hate for her to associate pain with me futzing with her feet.

This morning I lifted the foot, squirted some water on it (rather than using a pick so as not to annoy it) applied hyrogen peroxide, and attemped to tape a hyrogen peroxide soaked cotton ball to the bottom of her hoof. (I'm sure that lasted a good 10 minutes.)

She's definately sore. And annoyed. She kicked me in the face this morning.

I need to get a farrier out here and have been meaning to - her hooves have been overgrown since I got her. She also seemed to 'rest' both her back feet when I first got her, but that passed.

She gets about 3/4 cup of 10% protein horse feed 2 times a day, free choice hay, free choice pasture (mostly fescue) and free choice goat minerals.

Any ideas on what I should do until I get someone out here? Will a farrier know how to help or is this a vet visit? Do you know where I can get detailed info on cleaning her hooves?

Sorry for the looooooooooong post and numerous questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[pookshollow]

Unless you have some Bute on hand, there isn't much you can do for her until the farrier gets there. She is definitely in need of a trim, her toes are very long, so she's standing on her heels - and that stresses the tendons on the back of her legs.

It's entirely possible that she has an abscess brewing in her hoof too - although I don't know if donkeys are prone to them. The farrier will be able to tell you more.

[valsey]

not familiar with Bute.

thanks - I'll call a farrier - hope I can find a good one...

[Maura]

Stop cleaning out her hooves. It is natural for dirt to be lodged in them (of course, you don't want a stone in there) If she will pick up each hoof for you and let you hold the hoof and file it a little, she is doing fine.

My donkey's hooves were trimmed on Friday and I was surprised to see pink when the farrier clipped. He said they were bruises from the ice. I didn't realize hooves could bruise.

[valsey]

Originally Posted by pookshollow

It's entirely possible that she has an abscess brewing in her hoof too - although I don't know if donkeys are prone to them. The farrier will be able to tell you more.

if it is an abscess, I would imagine she may have a temperature. Do you know what her temp should be?

It was suggested that I STOP cleaning her hooves - STOP? Do you think that makes sense? I would think clean, dry and some betadine would make better sense...

[Wolf mom]

Poor girl! First, stop putting things on her foor that will hurt/sting. That's why she kicked you.

If you feel the need to do anything and she'll stand for you, put her foot in a bucket of warm water with some epsom salts in it. She should like that as it's
soothing. Giving treats will lengthen the time and reinforce her standing in the bucket.

That'll do a couple of things:
1) loosen dirt/muck so you can see what's going on without hurting her.
2) epsom salts will draw, so if there is an abscess, it'll come to the surface until your farrier can get to you.

BUTE: can be found in most feed stores. It's like powdered asprin for equine. Taste's terrible unless you can find the flavored kind. Mix the amount needed per weight with some sweet feed and/or bran & feed it to her. I can feed mine by hand, you may want to use a bucket. It also comes in an injectable paste that you use like a wormer. I don't use that, as I don't do much to my equine on the ground that will force a fight.

Donkeys exist on feed that other equine wouldn't survive on. If she starts to get the runs, her feed is too rich.

Her feet definately need trimming. Could just be a stone bruise.

P.S. If Donkeyman doesn't see this thread, you may want to PM him also.

Good luck.

[valsey]

Originally Posted by Wolf mom

Poor girl! First, stop putting things on her foor that will hurt/sting. That's why she kicked you.

If you feel the need to do anything and she'll stand for you, put her foot in a bucket of warm water with some epsom salts in it. She should like that as it's
soothing. Giving treats will lengthen the time and reinforce her standing in the bucket.

That'll do a couple of things:
1) loosen dirt/muck so you can see what's going on without hurting her.
2) epsom salts will draw, so if there is an abscess, it'll come to the surface until your farrier can get to you.

BUTE: can be found in most feed stores. It's like powdered asprin for equine.
Donkeys exist on feed that other equine wouldn't survive on. If she starts to get the runs, her feed is too rich.

Her feet definately need trimming. Could just be a stone bruise.

P.S. If Donkeyman doesn't see this thread, you may want to PM him also.

Good luck.

Thank you. I did the epsom salts thing last night and I have emailed Donkeyman.

Took her temp last night too - 100.6. Is that normal for a 10 mo. old?

I hope it is just a bruise. The vet is coming today. I think I should wait until this has past before getting a farrier in.

One more thing - I hate to admit it, but she has never been wormed. A second thing I hate to admit is that she had her rabies, a booster and a SECOND booster because I messed up. Neither of these things could be related to the hoof problem could they be?


here's a pic:

[valsey]

Well - the vet just left and he saw NOTHING.-Took her temp - said it was 101 - said that is not a fever.-I'm left with a limping donkey, a goat who wasn't tied off completely and is bleeding (i had the goats castrated while he was here), a $140 vet bill and a recommendation to soak her foot and keep an eye on her.

How frustrating.

[pookshollow]

She wouldn't have a temp. with an abscess, although you can sometimes feel heat in the foot - not always though!

Any luck finding a farrier? They won't all do donkeys. If it's a problem in the foot, a farrier is your best bet. Keep up with the warm water and epsom salts - it certainly won't hurt!

[ponyexpress]

She may just be shedding her frog, or she may have thrush. Do her feet STINK? Is there black stuff oozing out?
If her feet are that overgrown, she may have sore legs. Try spraying her legs with a cold water hose if she will let you.
Donkeys really don't need grain --- at all. They are very prone to founder. You could give her some whole or crimped oats if pasture is not sufficient this time of year.
If you have "RFD TV" Meredith Hodges show is great. Lots of good donkey/mule info.
hope Donkeyman can be of more help.

[Maura]

I told you not to be cleaning the hooves all the time. You notice-- you can't keep up. And, without someone there to watch you, you may hurt her unintentionally. Although, on the equine board it was mentioned that her hooves were full of manure. You don't want that.

It is possible that the pain is not in the hoof, but in the leg or shoulder. Could a pasture mate have kicked her? If your hands are very sensitive, you can gradually run a hand from her shoulder and down her leg to feel for heat. To find a farrier, look in the yellow pages; go to the feed stores and look for advertising on their bulletin boards, and ask the staff; go to the hardware store and ask the staff; ask around at your church; look for a farm with horses and knock on their door.

[valsey]

First off - thanks to everyone who has posted suggestions. I'm a little frustrated. When I bought this farm 10 months ago, I had no idea what I was getting into. NOT as easy as I thought it would be.

So this hoof has me stumped. For all I know, she could have whacked against something or just sprained it.

All of these animals are just as green as I am and very young and 'needy'. If they even suspect that I may be in the barn they come running from the pasture at a million miles an hour to get to me. She may have been running and tripped in a hole in the field, maybe? Yes, Maura - it is possible that the pain is not in the hoof. The vet didn't notiice any areas in her hoof that were particularly sensitive. I'll try to feel for heat.

The vet said that if it doesn't improve in a couple of days that xrays will be the next step.

I called 3 farriers today. Nothin' against youngsters, but I swear, 2 of the 3 they were'nt old enough to get a driver's license - what kind of experience could they possibly have? But - it seems they are the only ones that are willing to come out.

So - I have one of these youngsters tentatively scheduled to come out Sunday. I must say I did like his attitude and he sounded like he knew what he was talking about. So.....?

I think she is shedding her frog - would that cause soreness and a limp?

"Donkeys really don't need grain --- at all. They are very prone to founder."
Never? Not even while growing the first year? She's a bit thin.

What is "RFD TV" ?

Thanks again

[Wolf mom]

vasley;

First, we were all there once. That's what learning is all about - this is a learning experience. And you have good people here to learn from.

We all get frustrated. (OK, OK, I'll speak for myself) I think, around animals, patience is really a virtue.

Remember, donkeys are tough little critters. Google on-line about them.

Grain? I'd agree, no grain. Remember where they came from - dry, desert like climate. Especially if she's hurt or... grain will give her more energy & you may want to keep her quiet/stalled for a while.

When you're looking for heat, or any other problem in a leg, if you can, slowly run a hand down each leg and see if you can notice any difference: heat, a bump, etc. Press gently, firmly & see if she flinches.

I'd have the farrier look at her hoof before I get x-rays. $$$ Plus I've had some pretty poor x-rays taken on a portable machine. Why didn't he look at her leg, shoulder? I try not to be too specific when I call a vet. I've had them become pretty myopic. Like I said, it may be a stone bruise.

When I walk my pasture, my head is always down looking for a piece of wire, etc, that's worked it's way up from under the ground.

Sometimes youth is good. They're more willing to do a good job to get business. If they've recently come from farrier school they are also up on the latest stuff.

[valsey]

Originally Posted by Wolf mom

vasley;

First, we were all there once. That's what learning is all about - this is a learning experience. And you have good people here to learn from.

We all get frustrated. (OK, OK, I'll speak for myself) I think, around animals, patience is really a virtue.

Remember, donkeys are tough little critters. Google on-line about them.

Grain? I'd agree, no grain. Remember where they came from - dry, desert like climate. Especially if she's hurt or... grain will give her more energy & you may want to keep her quiet/stalled for a while.

When you're looking for heat, or any other problem in a leg, if you can, slowly run a hand down each leg and see if you can notice any difference: heat, a bump, etc. Press gently, firmly & see if she flinches.

I'd have the farrier look at her hoof before I get x-rays. $$$ Plus I've had some pretty poor x-rays taken on a portable machine. Why didn't he look at her leg, shoulder? I try not to be too specific when I call a vet. I've had them become pretty myopic. Like I said, it may be a stone bruise.

When I walk my pasture, my head is always down looking for a piece of wire, etc, that's worked it's way up from under the ground.

Sometimes youth is good. They're more willing to do a good job to get business. If they've recently come from farrier school they are also up on the latest stuff.

The vet looked at her leg, but not at her shoulder. Also, after all that blood from the goat and the cavilier attitude, I really question his abilities and think I may look for a new vet.

How in the WORLD will I get her off grain? She loves it so...

Thanks for your imput

[comfortablynumb]

if she is thin, a 1/2 cup of grain 2x a day isnt going to make her fat or foundered. Lush pasture might.

the feet are in need of a trim, badly. the soreness is most likelyfrom the bad angle of the overgrown hoof, and it wil clear up in a week after shes trimmed right.

the hoof guy shuld be looking carefully for nails... or a rock in the folds of her foot.

I really think it will clear up once you trim her.

xrays wont help, its obviously not a break or someone woulda got their brains kicked out when you touched or bent the broken bone/joint.

if she is young she might be getting big knees... I dunno what you really call it, its in a horse, when a young horse grows to fast, the knee joint gets sore from the bone not growing together right or something... we just called it big knees, it passes in time, mostly.

feel all up and down the leg and sholder and press in with your fingers like a masuese... take note when she fliches, youll find the pain spot....

start simple, get her trimmed up, put her in a place where the ground isnt hard to walk over for a while and watch what she eats... limit the lush grass,a donkey will gain weight fast on high grass.
a handfull of grain at feeding time isnt a problem unless she is foundered, then youll have to monitor every mouthful she takes....

as soon as he starts to trim he will know if shes foundered, look at the trimmings for blood stains.

the photo I see, the hooves have a rippled founder look, sort of. does she stand funny? with her hind feet far under her belly? front ones out more than they should be?

if she is foundered or has a bruise abcess, if the farrier doesnt tap it trimming, it will work its way out on its own. my old horse founders now and then and he gets the occasional abcess. one poped out on the backside of his hind foot, it looked like you shot him with a .44 it was a yucky mess.... but he wasnt sore after it popped thats the good part.. they dont hurt even if there is a hole in their foot. keep it clean, pack it with betadine mixed with sugar, to form a paste, pack it in the hole, it will heal very fast. the sugar and betadine will prevent infection like a miricle.

Ive been working on my donkys manners.. he's a nice kid, but he still is touchy about his feet.... ive started bribing him with hay cubes, he loves those... so he doesnt get a hay cookie till he lets me do something he doesnt like... pick a foot, or whatever his little peeve is that day.

let us know once you trom and post a pic of the trim job!

[valsey]

Donkey is doing a lot better today. Hardly a limp. No lying down. After watching what happened to the goats yesterday (castration) she figured she better straighten up.

Farrier scheduled for Sunday.

Founder stance? no.

Big Knees? She does have big knees. I'll post a pic, becasue honestly I don't know how a donkey's legs should look and I think she looks knock-kneed. Normal?

Will also post a pic post-trim.

Thank you!

[ponyexpress]

Are you really only feeding her a half cup (cooking measurement)? Does anyone else feed her? Have you got kids sneaking her food? Does she take the goats food?
She could still have an occasional handful of grain as a treat, just not every day. Donkeys just like to eat!
RFD TV is a cable channel that caters more to rural folks. Has horse training programs, tractor shows, and cattle auctions among other things. We were going to discontinue our cable service before they added this channel to our package.
normal shedding of her frog should not cause her to limp, but she may have caught the loose edges in something and torn it down into "the quick". Dh said she might have a sheared heel, but it is really hard to tell from a picture. Your farrier should be able to make her feel better.
Anne

[valsey]

Originally Posted by ponyexpress

Are you really only feeding her a half cup (cooking measurement)? Does anyone else feed her? Have you got kids sneaking her food? Does she take the goats food?
She could still have an occasional handful of grain as a treat, just not every day. Donkeys just like to eat!
RFD TV is a cable channel that caters more to rural folks. Has horse training programs, tractor shows, and cattle auctions among other things. We were going to discontinue our cable service before they added this channel to our package.
normal shedding of her frog should not cause her to limp, but she may have caught the loose edges in something and torn it down into "the quick". Dh said she might have a sheared heel, but it is really hard to tell from a picture. Your farrier should be able to make her feel better.
Anne

No - I'm really only feeding her 3/4 cup - cooking measurement (someone else mentioned 1/2 cup) And that's 2x a day. She gets no other grain. EVERYONE is on 'hook-up' at feeding time. All the feed is contained in closed cans. I am the only one here.

I really think she sprained it or knocked it or something like that. I was just out there and I felt all along her leg and she wasn't sensitive in the least. Crazy.

I'll feel a lot better when the farrier gives her a look.

And thanks - I'll look into RFD TV

[comfortablynumb]

she might just be a big wussy and you might be right she just bumped her ankle or knee. my big old horse will "limp" of he stumbles or the donkey nips his legs, I dont think its really dammage cuz he quits in a few min, I think its just him being a big wuss.
lol

I looked, my donkey has big knees too so maybe all donkeys have big knees....I dunno.
I have to go fee them both, and if I dont give him a cup of "triple crown senior feed" like the horse gets he will find a way to steal the big horses bucket, even though its on the ohther side of the shed wall where the horse sticks his head in and eats on the floor. I figured, the donky is too short to get to it there, but ive watched him and he tucks his front legs back [in a very unnatural pose] and flops his chest up on the wall beam to toss his head in as far as he can and nabs the bucket....
he used to untie the door rope on the other side...

but a cup in a large pan keeps him happy and he doesnt try to get the horses anymore.

Find SOMETHING to humor the donkey at feeding time or she might start getting into trouble...
if not grain, maybe some pony hay cubes to amuse her for a while.

[comfortablynumb]

oh and an abcess will move, and the limp may come and go for a while, depending on where it moved and how sore that spot is.... so you may still have an abcess. donkeys feet are pretty hard, I'm not sure they bruise so easy....