Yesterday morning Jenny was 3 legged lame on her bad foot, & would not eat her hay.  Not eating the hay was easy, she's been on SMZ antibiotics for weeks, & I guess they finally got to her stomach.  Need to get the good bugs back in her digestive system.  Patti had me use Florastor a few months ago when Jenny didn't like the antibiotics I was giving her, & she was eating within 24 hours, so I tried it again.

Dr. Megan called Dr. Voss in Gilbert to see if he had any brilliant ideas on her foot.  His best guess was perhaps another abscess trying to pop.  Dr. Megan had been hesitant about soaking because Jenny's hoof is not that sturdy because of the open area.  But Dr. Voss said to soak in epsom salts & betadine for 1/2 hour every other day.  After soaking he wants the open area packed with a Sugardine poultice. 

I planned on soaking her foot when she came in last night for supper.........BUT......when John went out to do round-up, she was below the house & not interested in moving or even taking a treat.  We went ahead & fed everyone else, of course by then it was dark.  So I loaded up my soaking "toys", & thrashed thru the brush to where she thought she was hid.  Mixed up some sugar & betadine to a dry paste, plastered it on & wrapped with brown gauze.  She still wasn't interested in moving or eating when we came in to go to bed. 

This morning John set the alarm (YUCK) because we were taking Gus & Quilla up to Claire's for the winter.  I dreaded John going out to do round-up, because I figured Jenny was still where we left her last night.  When I went out, she was already in her pen, & John said he looked over towards Burroland & here she came with Ruthie, & Pepper leading the parade.  She was walking pretty normal for her, slow & steady.  She was also ready for her breakfast.

It tried to rain last night, didn't do a very good job, just barely dampened the ground.  I figured it had probably ruined my gauze bandage, but it was still on.  I decided to not mess with it, Dr. Voss said to leave it on between soakings, which will be tomorrow.  I'm anxious to see what it looks like in the morning. 

We hurried with chores, the 2 boys almost hopped in the trailer, guess they figured we were going to do something fun & away we went. 

Claire & David were happy to see them, & the boys were more than happy to get out of the trailer after over a 3 hour ride.  I think they knew where they were, they sure acted like it. 

 David, Gus & John

 Quilla, Gus, Doc, & Thunder's head

The boys coming to say good-bye

Got home after 7pm to a bunch of grumpy donkeys.  They really expect to be fed on schedule & don't seem to understand being fed late at all......!!!!  Couldn't find Pepper at first & John was afraid he was down someplace & we wouldn't be able to find him in the dark.  But finally, he came waltzing in, at his own speed, thank goodness.  If my hair wasn't already grey, this old buzzard would make it so.  Between him & Jenny, I am becoming quite a worry wart.  LOL

I hate to have to give Jenny anything by mouth.  I called the vet clinic at Gilbert today to see if she might need some antibiotics.  She popped an abscess awhile back, & it is still oozing & occasionally bleeding a little bit.  So they said to give her SMZ for 10 days.  I always taste anything I give them, don't have to taste this stuff, I remember what it tastes like.............very VERY bitter......!!!!  I know their taste buds are different than ours, otherwise they wouldn't think lemon rinds are a treat, but even making allowances for different taste, this stuff can't taste good. 

I mixed it up with some molasses, stuck it in her mouth, plunged it in & she has a gift of being able to reject most of it.  She doesn't make a big deal about it, the stuff just dribbles out of her mouth, doesn't matter if you hold her head up, or what you do, it doesn't go down her throat.........GRRRRRR..........!!!!    We have 10 days twice a day to make this work, & I have a feeling we won't be feeling the "love" before it's over............!!!!!   LOL 

Heard from the other clinic about Gus' test for infection.  He has staph & a couple of other bacterial infections I can't pronounce.  So now besides getting Naxcel, he's going to also be getting Gentamicin for a few days.  He is such a sweet boy about getting shots, of course he knows there is a animal cracker when it's over.

Tomorrow morning Missy is going to her Forever Home.  We had just about finalized the hand over of her to a Great Dane Rescue up in the Phoenix area.  But Mocha & Tucker's Mom decided she would like to give her a home, & has had Danes before.  We won't even have to deliver her, Claude is coming thru here tomorrow morning on his way home to Las Cruces from Phoenix.  I think she will be a great addition to their family.  

TUCKER & MOCHA, THANKS JANUARY

This is a picture taken by Tucker & Mocha's mom.  She said the hat originally was on Mocha, but if you'll notice there is a piece missing from the brim.  Tucker took a bite out of it when it was on Mocha, & I guess when Mocha got hold of it again, she tore it up until it wasn't wearable anymore.