Monday, June 11, 2012

JENNY HAS AN "AROUND THE CLOCK" BOYFRIEND......!!



Simmons is Jenny's slave, he goes where she goes & does what she does.  If she wants to move he moves, if she wants to stand all afternoon under a tree, he'll stand out in the sun if necessary, as long as he is close to her.  Doesn't seem to matter what the other donkeys are doing including his "bud" for the last couple of years, Pancho.    Pancho is still trying to find a new buddy I guess.  He was following BlackJack this afternoon, which probably isn't going to work.  BlackJack's opinion of most other donkeys isn't very favorable.  He tolerates them, but he seems to think he's on a higher plain than they are, & doesn't appreciate them trying to ingratiate themselves.

We are still keeping Jenny's hoof bandage & will be for the foreseeable future.  It seems to be doing good.  I called the vet clinic & they said to keep doing whatever we are doing.  Putting on about 8 or 9 different layers of things like diapers, Elasticon, duct tape & of course the fashionable brown gauze, gets old in a hurry.  I had ordered a hoof wrap awhile back with the idea of using it on her foot.   When it arrived, I was so disappointed.  It looked flimsy & had all these velcro straps that had to go in order.  So I put it aside & continued on with the wrapping.  As it has gotten warmer, all the material is making her foot sweat.  So I decided to "try" the boot if I could figure out how to put it on.

It's really not that bad once you figure it out, although because of the bandage on her foot I can't get it to fit nicely.  But by some miracle it does stay on & we are getting by with just one layer of duct tape, actually Gorilla Tape with a layer of Elasticon.  Of course there is still the brown gauze & diaper, but they help with the sweating I'm sure.

She kept it on for 5 days straight last week, which is great.  It has a pad in it that stands up to the rocks & sand very well.  We tried going 7 days last bandage change & her foot looked just fine, so we are now on a weekly schedule.

It only weighs something like 4.3 ounces, so it's lightweight.  She has lost it twice, but I think the problem is with the bandaging her foot is larger than a "normal" foot would be.  Also I have to rough up the vel-cro with a brush, to make sure it is as sticky as possible.

I've also ordered 2 more boots.  They advertise them to be good for a few days.  She's been wearing this one over 10 days & it still looks pretty good, no tears or wear spots.  But I really don't want to be without one, if I can help it.

John & I cored the new hay today & I'll send the sample off to Equi-Analytical tomorrow when we go into town to vote.  If it's low in sugar & starch maybe we won't have to soak Gus & Buddy's hay anymore. It's not that much of a problem, but it does add a few extra steps to the feeding routine.


4 comments:

Witcheylady said...

Tish...I hope you know that I so enjoy reading your blog & hearing about the donkeys... I think of Gus & Quilla all the time. And if I thought I could get away with it I'd kidnap Cheyenne too. Let me know if you want me to balance your hay for you.

Tish said...

Cheyenne is a little brat, at sometime in her life she obviously decided she was as big as anyone else & has the moxie to try to prove it. She sure has everyone here buffaloed...!!! LOL

I would LOVE for you to balance my hay, thanks. I can do it, but I'm never sure I've done it right. Only doing it once a year or so, is NOT a confidence builder.....!!! I'll let you know when I get the results.

DesertHorses said...

Tish - do ask them to check nitrates. It's another $6.

Tish said...

Too late already sent off & got the results. Claire told me I need to do a "happy dance" about my hay, which is great news, don't have to soak anymore.....!!!