Thanks for the great advice about giving bute to
my mini donkey for 6 months. He is getting 1/4 ounce per day as he is about 250
lbs. He is expected to make a good recovery and may have a slight limp or none
at all. Time will tell. If he had been a horse, the vet said he would not have
survived the injury. Donkeys are incredible strong which is apparent if you've
ever worked with mules. It was a brutal loose dog attack that broke his hip in
several places and tore flesh off both stifles early in September. A horse could
not have survived this and recovered ok. He is making great progress! His flesh
looks fine and normal and he is pretty bright-eyed. He still gets around fine
and has a limp. Has started bending his hock which was stiff for a long time. He
can still trot but just holds his leg up and runs! Donkeys are smart and take
great care of themselves so I have had no need to keep him locked up. He lays
low and only moves when he needs to or feels good. I have 3 little donkeys
besides my endurance horses and I just love these little guys. The other 2
donkeys are actually "massaging" this donkey in the hip area quite often. I'm
sure its helping his progress. He has a whole area on his right side where his
hip is that is always softly chewed off or wet from a tongue massage. His donkey
"family" are helping to give him comfort.
I'll take the advice and put him on ulcer meds.
Is there one I can get without a vet?? Any good recommendations there? Is
Gastroguard available thru mail order? I have no problem getting meds into the
donkey. He will eat anything inside a small PB&J sandwich! ;-)
I don't feed my donks alfalfa so no worries about
mixing alfalfa & bute. Donkeys should not be fed alfalfa as its too rich.
-----------Karla Watson/who also does donkey
rescue in the NW
