Great, just great! Advice please needed until the vet gets here!

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

I didn't know whether to put this under vent or long ear chat. I am so upset. Poor Paco... He belongs to the nieghbors but if you are familar with the story we do the work with the donkeys. We have sectioned our property off into paddocks to seperate jacks, a maternity pen, breeding pen, ect, ect. Well, we are about simply out of shelter and space for anymore! So that left Paco on the nieghbors property out with ANOTHER jack, a horse and Buffalo.

I hoped he would be alright until we got Syrup gelded so he could have his spot next to the barn. I got a call today. Apparently Paco has been limping around for a month! They couldn't catch him and needed us to check it out.

It doesn't look good!! I had my farrier out a month ago to trim everyone's feet, Paco's are taking alot of work to fix b/c he went a long time with no work.

Anyway, he can hardly put wieght on it, it's swollen, it's hot and very painful. yes, the vet is coming at the first spot open tomorrow around 3pm. In the meantime I'm hosing the hoof with cold water. Paco is in our backyard now.

I'm thinking 1. Absess 2. founder? lamitis? (sp) 3. actual injury?

Send good thoughts and hope Paco can recover. The nieghbors spent 2 grand on this stud donkey and he's worth every penny. He's gentle as a puppy and is beautiful. Not so much right now, he looks like s****.

I don't blame the nieghbors, the man has health problems I just wish I would have known sooner.

Here are the pics? Any advice to what it may be and what to do until the vet gets here?

I'm worried because that crack looks bad. He has been walking on his heal and it looks horrible.

[IMG][/IMG]

As you can see he is all toe. It makes me sick to look at this. What are we gonna do????

[IMG][/IMG]

[SEsporthorse]

Yikes. So sorry!

Looks like he fractured or broke his coffin bone. IMO once you clean that toe up his foot might be trying to go clubbed.

See if your farrier thinks you can attempt to correct it, if it is clubbed, if not he can probably live just fine with the foot clubbed.

[ray]

I am not trying to sound like a meanie here and I totally understand that life happens and some things just are not under our control. These people need to get rid of these donkeys if they can't look after them, there is just no excuse for feet to be looking like that.

I know when people are dealing with illness it is not easy and life becomes about getting well, and so it should. Thank goodness they have you to count on however if this little guy was at their place, you can;t tell me nobody could pick up a phone in over a month to notify you, sorry don't buy it.


Keep up the good work!!!!!

[lady dumpling]

That crack looks like it could of been an absess.Not at all sure but wanted to offer wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Range]

Did you call the farrier? I would have the farrier and the vet work together on that.

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

Yeah, I strongly doubt that I could get the farrier out at the same time the vet is. They do need to work together. In fact, I think I'm gonna need a referral to a farrier that can deal with some major correction. I can't convince his owners to understand that just because he got his feet trimmed it doesn't fix the problem. Going a long period of time without trims totally messed his feet up.



See, he had a lot more donkeys than this. It was IMPOSSIBLE for us to 'front' money until he paid us for trims, vet, vacs. Not that he wouldn't pay, just sometimes we weren't able to contact him in time and had to have the $ up front. You know how that is. I was able to get alot of them sold off. The herd is half the size it was. I wish they were mine, I really do, I would sell off even more and keep a handful. There is a market for them and I love being around them. Training the babies is so fulfilling. Just watching them grow, it's easy to want to keep every single one. They do require the same maintence as a horse though-- although they are hardier they aren't cows or goats, they need to be worked with everyday, rain or shine. I just hope I'm not too late for Paco. I want him to live a normal life.

He's so sweet, he even let me take his temp. today without a fuss.

[nickie]

I hate to be mean, but I talked to my husband about it and he and I feel like a large part of the responsibility is on you. You choose to board him at the neighbors when you knew he was already overrun with animals and you also knew his health was questionable. I am assuming that your neighbor is close by and already being aware of the situation you were putting your guy into. I would have thought it would have crossed your mind to at least occasionally check on your animal. His foot looks extremely overgrown. I doubt that crack has anything to do with what is going on because it looks like that abcess blew out long ago. I am glad that you called the vet and hopefully the vet and farrier can help you out. Keep us posted.

[jen21]

Originally Posted by nickie

I hate to be mean, but I talked to my husband about it and he and I feel like a large part of the responsibility is on you. You choose to board him at the neighbors when you knew he was already overrun with animals and you also knew his health was questionable. I am assuming that your neighbor is close by and already being aware of the situation you were putting your guy into. I would have thought it would have crossed your mind to at least occasionally check on your animal. His foot looks extremely overgrown. I doubt that crack has anything to do with what is going on because it looks like that abcess blew out long ago. I am glad that you called the vet and hopefully the vet and farrier can help you out. Keep us posted.

Paco doesn't belong to her. Not trying to be ugly or anything like that. Just pointing out she doesn't own these donkeys, just works with them.

ETA: Sending my thoughts for a fast and complete recovery.

[nickie]

Still if someone was paying for them to be in her care, you think she would check on them to prevent something like this happening.

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

Nickie- I DO NOT own these donkeys. I own one. She is UTD on everything, She is registered. We have spent so much money on the donkeys that aren't ours though.. We have built 7 paddocks on our property to make sure they are sheltered and cared for, jacks away from jennys. Wormer, feed, salt ect. The nieghbors buys hay though which I not only feed the donks with but also my horses and goats. He does not board here though. There is no contract and he does not pay rent. We do this out of love for these creatures. It is my therapy.

However I do blame myself for not getting Paco back on our property sooner. I had my farrier trim him a month ago and understood his feet needed a lot of work and yes, I should have made SURE he was ok. I take responsiblity there. I have called the vet, I have arranged for everything and I will pay the money to have him seen if the nieghbors did not want to, but they have agreed to do it provided I be there and do all the care for him afterward.

Please read the thread thouroghly before responding, I'm not trying to be rude but I am very stressed. I really like this donkey and I hate that he is hurting.

Vet will be here in a couple of hours so I will update with what he says.

[nickie]

Glad he is getting the care that he needs. Not trying to stress anyone out, if the person who owns him can't care for him properly, then maybe he should be re-homed with someone who can. I just feel bad for the poor creature who can't speak for himself. Good luck.

[Freedomnchrist]

I hope everything works out for the best! It is nice that you offered your time and space....to help take care of them. Do not beat your self up over it. The important thing is...you have found the problem...and are working on a solution. At least you did not ignore it when presented with it.

Just work on today...and tomorrow will take care of itself!

Keep your chin up!!

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

Still if someone was paying for them to be in her care, you think she would check on them to prevent something like this happening

No one is paying anything for them to "be in my care"

Paco wasn't even on my property when this happened. He has been in there field with the rest of thier animals.

ETA he is on my property now and probably will remain on my property unless the nieghbors request him back. At that point there isn't anything I can do.

[Rusty's Girl]

Originally Posted by nickie

Still if someone was paying for them to be in her care, you think she would check on them to prevent something like this happening.

I don't think she gets paid for it either. I think she just helps them out as a favour. At least, that was the impression that I got.

ETA: oops, posted at the same time.

[iris_surreal_euphoria]

I agree that he should re-home alot of them, at least to the point that I can keep them all over here and watch them. I can suggest but they aren't mine.

[horseloverinVA]

I'm sure these animals are lucky to have you helping them. Don't beat yourself up about not seeing him in a month, he's not yours and wasn't on your property...you can't always do everything, esp if these animals aren't even really your responsibility...the important thing is your seeking help for Paco now!

Best wishes for Paco!

[jen21]

I am sorry you are so stressed over the situation. Those little donks are really lucky to have you. Like others have stated, don't beat yourself up over this. Things happen. Good luck. Keep us updated.

[rm185western]

I'm not sure that it was even relevant to be looking to blame anyone. If someone comes on here and shares, and is waiting for a vets visit, or a farrier to come then they are a concerned person, who's trying to do the right thing. If it WAS her responsibility that Paco was like this, then she would be feeling bad enough that she didn't need anyone else to point it out.

The sort of person who would need that pointed out to them, isn't the sort of person who would be seeking help for Paco, or sharing with us.

[GAGIRL]

Originally Posted by rm185western

I'm not sure that it was even relevant to be looking to blame anyone. If someone comes on here and shares, and is waiting for a vets visit, or a farrier to come then they are a concerned person, who's trying to do the right thing. If it WAS her responsibility that Paco was like this, then she would be feeling bad enough that she didn't need anyone else to point it out.

The sort of person who would need that pointed out to them, isn't the sort of person who would be seeking help for Paco, or sharing with us.

Thank you. When responding to a thread deal with the question at hand. Really doesn't matter who is to blame, does it? Let's work on getting him better, life is too short to deal with who is to blame, let's just get the guy well.

She is just being an awesome neighbor who feels sorry for the critters. If you ever want to be my neighbor, come on down. I could use 10 of you!!!!!

[Freedomnchrist]

Originally Posted by GAGIRL

Thank you. When responding to a thread deal with the question at hand. Really doesn't matter who is to blame, does it? Let's work on getting him better, life is too short to deal with who is to blame, let's just get the guy well.

She is just being an awesome neighbor who feels sorry for the critters. If you ever want to be my neighbor, come on down. I could use 10 of you!!!!!

Ditto!!! I got plenty of room over my way! You would just have to get use to red clay covered horses!!!!