Donkey health update

The first and best piece of news from the farmette this week is that Molly's injury has finally healed. No more bandages, no more scarlet oil, no more visits from the vet. There is still a tiny scab, but we're confident it will come off in due time. Molly lets me handle her leg and touch the scab without any protest at all, which further supports our opinion that we don't need to continue to worry about her wound management.

Now that Molly is doing well again, Ambrose has picked up a mystery ailment. It was something we noticed when brushing him with a curry comb: a flat lump in the middle of his back, on his spine. It was a pretty scary discovery at first, then we inspected further and determined that it was one mean, matted clump of hair. The comb couldn't get it out, and it wasn't something we could easily cut off. Every so often, I'd give it a swipe of the curry comb, but not enough to hurt Ambrose. Last weekend, when Ambrose was getting a combing, the clump of hair where the mat had been came right off leaving him with a hairless patch on his back about the size of a half dollar coin. Worse, it was filled with some disgusting crusty crud - either the remnants of an infestation of some sort (ring worm?) or the worst case of donkey dandruff you could ever imagine. The skin didn't seem broken, and nothing was moving around in the detritus (if you know what I mean). I cleaned the crud out, sprayed scarlet oil on the nude spot, and brushed the hair so that light and air could get to the skin. We've been keeping an eye on it, continuing to clean and medicate it (we're using a lanolin-based ointment now).

I'll add a few new photos to the mini donks photo album later today. And, no, there won't be photos of donkey dandruff/crud - unless someone really wants to see that kind of stuff!

Comments

[Andrew Spark]

It is a moral duty to provide good health facility for everyone.

[Jess]

Do you no anything about donkey health? If so could you help me please. Whats the first aid treatment for a donkey that appears to be showing slight signs of lameness??

[Marie Jensen]

I purchased 2 miniature donkeys 2 weeks ago. The 6 month old jack has developed a "rash" on his nose (upper lip to nostril). We've had cattle and goats on the pasture and none of them are displaying this malady? Any clue about what could be causing it? How concerned should I be?