Not much to update.  Quilla is still doing well, the vet called this morning & would like for us to get a CBC & bile acid test.  Not sure what that is, but assume it has something to do with his liver.  So we will have to decide whether to haul him or have a vet come out.  We have Daisy & her rattlesnake bite that could use an expert opinion, although I think we're doing OK, & now we have little Pepsi limping around on his right front.  So we might just have a farm call so everyone that needs it can be checked.  

I didn't take a picture of Daisy this morning, it looked about like yesterday.  Which with proud flesh is a good thing.  It could have grown by leaps & bounds in 24 hours.  I'm trying to keep equ-aide on it as much as possible.  It's still oozy, once I get it dried up a little bit, it will be easier to manage.

Pepsi came in lame Tuesday morning.  I checked him, no swelling but he acts like his knee might be ouchy.  Since there was no swelling we let him out, but no improvement by yesterday morning.  So he's in his pen for awhile.  He really isn't happy about this turn of events, everyone else is out, & he knows it.  And lets us know how mistreated he is, every chance he gets. 

We'll leave right after chores in the morning to take Katie to her, hopefully, new home.  We will miss her, she is like a wind up toy on steroids, always moving & always interested in whatever people are doing.

KATIE HAS A NEW HOME.........!!!

Unfortunately although the rattlesnake bite looks pretty good, what we are looking at is proud flesh, which is not so good.  There are a couple of different treatments for proud flesh, one being using caustic powders such as Wonder Dust.  Unfortunately it doesn't differentiate between proud flesh & good tissue & really can make things worse.  

Another treatment is to have the vet cut away the proud flesh.  It actually has no feeling although it will bleed buckets of blood, really messy.

For a day or so I will try using Equ-aide.  It is advertised to be used for proud flesh, so we'll give it a try.  I've used it before on a small area on one of Jenny's hooves, after the vet had cut most of it away.  It didn't come back so I don't know which one or both worked.  

Friday we are going to do a home study & taking Katie with us, as it sounds like it will be a good home.  The woman that called yesterday came out later in the day to visit with Katie.  Katie likes people better than donkeys anyway, so we're going to do a trial & see how it goes since there are only horses & no donkeys.   As long as she gets attention I don't think she will care.  She hasn't really warmed up to any of the donkeys here.  She is usually in the general area of the others, but no interaction. 

Remington & Hanna's trip to California is in the planning stages.  They will get their Coggins test & health certificate the 12 of October & then we'll have 30 days to use the health certificate.  I thought it was 10, but it's 30 days, so that should give us plenty of time to get them delivered. 

I think today is the 3rd day since we figured out we were dealing with a snakebite on Daisy's jaw.  I took this picture this morning AFTER cleaning it up.  You really don't want to see it before it's rinsed off & cleaned up with betadine.  It seems to be getting better although it's deep enough, I'm sure it will be weeks before it heals.  She has quit rubbing it on her legs & chest, so it must not be bothering her much.  

I talked to the vet yesterday about Quilla, & she said he could go out & return to normal activities, so he's going out & running around with the others.  I also "mentioned" Daisy's "problem", & told her how I was treating it, with penicillin flush & betadine.  The only thing she added was some bute to help with the inflammation.  It doesn't smell rotten now, to I assume most of the tissue left is good tissue. 

It looks like Remington & Hanna will be going to their new home as soon as we can figure out the logistics.  John is going to haul them, & a friend gave me the name of a nice little equine travel  stop  about half way for them to get out & rest for the night, so the trip won't be so long for them or John.  

The timing isn't so good right now.  Another friend is moving to Arizona from cold country in the northern midwest.  They are bringing their donkeys, cats, & chickens.  They are coming down here probably Friday to pick up our stock trailer to take back & pick up the donkeys.  Not sure what their schedule is, but we'll wait until they are through with the trailer before we make plans to haul the "honeymooners" to California.  We'll need to get the Coggins test & a health certificate before they travel.  The Coggins is good for 6 months, but I think the health certificate is only good for 10 days.  Georgette's vet is coming out in October for shots & check-ups, we'll probably have him do the Coggins then.  Hopefully by then we'll know when the trailer will be available.  

Just got a call from a woman wanting a donkey as a companion for her mare.  We usually don't send out a donkey unless there is another donkey already there.  But the more I talked to her the more it sounded like it might be a home for Katie since she doesn't seem to care that much for donkeys anyway.  I asked her if she had been on the web-site & she said she had, & liked Katie.  Hmmmm................!!!  Sometimes things just fall into place don't they?  She's coming out for a visit tomorrow, so we'll see. 

IT'S GETTING YUCKIER.............!!!

 

What a difference a day makes........!!  This is how Daisy's jaw looked this morning "after" I cleaned it up.  I had also cut some of the rotting flesh off.  I haven't taken Quilla's glucose reading yet today, so I haven't called the vet.  So far I'm just winging it with Daisy, but we seem to be doing OK.  I would imagine all the flesh around the open area is probably going to slough off too.  It's still draining big time, which means, her chest & legs are coated with the stuff.  Today I decided to use a disposable diaper as a dressing & see if that would cut down on the mess.  Wrapped her head in vet wrap, hopefully it will stay over the opening.  I'll probably leave it off tonight, the flies are so bad during the day, that this should give her a little relief from the little monsters. 

She seems to feel just fine, although she's upset because we're keeping her in a pen today, rather than going out with the others.  I'm sure until all the draining & sloughing off is over, we'll just have to live with it.  

It looks like Georgette is going to lose her foster kids & Hanna & Remington will get a new  forever home.  A woman in California got in touch with me about adopting a couple of donkeys.  She also sent a picture of her barn & pasture.  Both Georgette & I want to know if she will adopt us too, she has a beautiful place.  We are trying to figure out the hauling logistics.  I'm not a big fan of haulers, very rarely do they go door to door, so a 14 hour trip might take days as they run  around picking up here & dropping off there.  So I have John talked into hauling them.  We'll ask our grandson or nephew to go with him.  If there is 2 of them they could drive straight thru, but John doesn't like that idea.  They have travel motels for horses all over the country, but I haven't checked yet to see if there is one on the route.  Still lots of planning to do, but I think it would be a great home for them. 

DAJA VU........!!!! (or however you spell it)

I will try to get a better picture tomorrow, but this is what we found under Daisy's jaw this morning.  Last night we found a slight bloody spot & figured she had stuck herself on a cactus or something.  This morning, underneath her jaw was a bloody, slimy mess that smelled like rotten meat.  I started cleaning her up with Betadine & found the hole in the middle.  Decided to take a picture before I did anything else.  Then I got a syringe of penicillin wash to flush out the hole.  Imagine my surprise when I flushed the hole in the middle, the wash came out a hole higher up.  Notice the area that's a little lighter at the top & a little to the left.  When I flushed, that opened up into a hole just like the one in the middle.  Just what we need another rattlesnake bite, at least this one is a dry bite.  There is no swelling at all, but the area will probably slough off.  Tonight when we rounded everyone up, she had spent the day, wiping & rubbing her jaw on her chest & front legs.  I don't know if it hurts or itches, but she was a mess.  I flushed it again & there wasn't as much infection as this morning, but it's going to take a lot of flushing to keep ahead of a buildup of YUCK...........!!!  Poor girl, she's still eating & drinking & doesn't mind us messing with it thank goodness.  

This morning before we cleaned her up we had to rescue a rattlesnake that was caught in the chicken pen.  They try to go thru the chicken wire, but their body is fatter than their head, they get stuck, & when they try to back out their scales get caught backwards & they can't move.  I used the snake catcher to hold the head end, & John used wire cutters to cut the wire.  He was pretty mellow, once he was loose he just headed for the nearest pile of limbs.  Everyone we've talked to today, seemed to think we should have killed it.  That's just not our style, besides it probably wasn't even one of the snakes that bit the donkeys.  And even if it was two wrongs wouldn't make a right. 

Quilla is doing great, his glucose numbers look good to me, hopefully the vet will agree tomorrow when I call her.  Wait until I tell her about Daisy, I'm sure she will be as thrilled as we are.  

HE KICKED IN MY DIRECTION.......!!

This is Quilla this morning after his bath.  He had hospital gunk on him, like the glue holding the IV & other assorted unknown ickies in his hair.  

I never bathe the donkeys unless it is absolutely necessary, they will let you know what they think of being bathed.  I assume that donkeys that are shown are bathed on a regular basis from "childhood" & consequently have become resigned to the indignity.  But these donkeys that have for the most part been on their own most of their lives, DO NOT appreciate being wet & fluffy.  

He was squirmy & wiggly & all that, but I pressed on with my mission.  All of a sudden he let loose with a hind leg, not really at me, but just to let me know he was very unhappy.  Of course I jumped on him like a duck on a Junebug, can't have rude behavior like that, but inside I was thinking, "Yea Quilla, you go guy".  He has never ever shown any aggression since we've had him, & I can only assume that he is feeling better than he has in a long time. 

His glucose is holding below 120, I'm still testing him once a day, thru the week-end & will get my new orders from the vet Monday.  I would imagine she will have me check his glucose once a week or so for awhile just to make sure but it looks like he's going to be OK.  She wanted him kept in for a couple of weeks, so unless she changes her mind he'll have another week in solitary.  

Daisy is acting like her mouth is bothering her, & she didn't eat all her hay this morning.  We both checked her mouth, it smells OK, & we didn't find any sores places, so I don't know what it going on.  If she isn't perkier by Monday we'll call the vet.  I don't think she is a big cactus eater, like Cisco & some of the others.  One time poor old Jack the mule had been eating funny for a long time, & we took him to have his teeth looked at.  He had 2 prickly pear spines stuck in his gums, so I always think of that when they act funny with their mouth. 

I think we're headed in the right direction with Quilla.  He hasn't had any insulin since yesterday at noon.  Three hours later his glucose was 72, which is a little low.  I called the vet & she said to not give him anymore insulin & we will monitor him twice a day for a few days to see what happens.  This morning his glucose was 107 with 100-120 being perfect.  I'll check him again this afternoon, & if he is still in the ball park, I would imagine she will just have me test him for awhile.  He seems to be feeling good, & no more bounding pulses in his feet, so I don't have to soak his feet.  

Since the sonogram on his liver showed it isn't shaped properly, the assumption is he has fatty liver disease.  I haven't read up on it yet, so I don't know what the long term treatment is.  It might just be to get as much fat off of him as possible & keep it off.  It's amazing, he didn't eat for over 10 days, & really didn't lose all that much weight.  Before the vet & I break up this daily connection we have right now, I'll ask her about the liver.  They also said his kidneys were enlarged.   

I have sent off for some milk thistle which is suppose to help with liver problems.  We'll see, Mr. Picky has decided he isn't real impressed with "things" being put in his food.  He'll look at it, give me a sad look & walk off.  If I leave it in his pen, it's gone by the next feeding, but he lets me know he is disappointed.  

It tried to rain yesterday & a little last night.  This morning when I took Lucy's boots off, her feet were damp & smelly.  So I left them off today, I hope she doesn't come in with sore feet from going bare footed for the day. 

UPDATE

Quilla seems to be doing just fine.  I'm certainly learning a lot while trying to get his insulin levels right.  Yesterday morning I gave him his insulin, when I checked his blood 2 hours later his number was 59, which is really low.  Called the vet (she'll probably want to change her phone number before this is over) & she said to call before giving him his evening insulin.  His numbers were 113, & when I called she said not to give him anymore insulin until I checked his blood this morning & called her.  Between 100-120 is what we are shooting for, so she was quite pleased when this morning's number was 115.   But she had me wait until noon to give him a smaller dose of insulin & then wait 3 hours instead of 2 to check his glucose.  After giving him insulin at noon I would assume if the numbers are within the 100-120 range, that we will get him off insulin pretty quick, since he probably doesn't need it.  I know he will be glad to not get stuck in the cheek anymore.  

This morning when we were rounding everyone up, Chester was moseying past Quilla's pen towards his pen, & stopped to see if there was anything in Quilla's pen that needed his attention.  Quilla pinned his ears & came all the way across the pen to "tell" Chester to go away.  I have never seen Quilla show any aggression before to anyone, which leads me to believe he hasn't felt good for a LONG time. 

Yesterday when we came in from town there was a message from Jerry.  He has been doing odd jobs for one of the local vets & is an animal lover.  He's looking for a place to park a trailer & help out.  We've been talking about getting someone to live here & help with chores etc, so this may be good for him & us both.  Just wish he was younger, he's John's age...............!!!  (G)  But he seems very nice, so we'll give it a whirl & see what happens.  He has 8 cats living in a travel trailer with him, so you know he loves animals, although he's never worked with large animals.  Donkeys are a good place to start for large animal novices, donkeys are congenial & forgiving.  Well............most of the time.................!!!

QUILLA IS HOME......!!!!

We got home with Quilla about 8pm last night.  It was a long day & of course we were met in the driveway by a grumpy bunch of "starving" donkeys.  

I think they might have given us the wrong donkey.  Quilla has been here over a year & we've always called him Mr. Marshmallow, he's always been at the bottom of the pecking order, anyone could run him off of feed.  He mostly just stood around with his head down & his ears hanging.  The donkey we brought home is ears up, alert & moving pretty fast.  When we got ready to put him in the trailer at the vets, I almost had to trot to keep up with him.  And when we got to the trailer, we figured it would be a repeat of when we put him in the trailer last week.  But he hesitated just a little bit & hopped right in.  

I would assume that the snakebite caused a flareup of liver, glucose, kidneys & whatever else they found out of whack, & things are getting back to where they should be.  His glucose is still high, so on the way home we stopped & got a glucometer.  We're having to give him insulin twice a day & checking his insulin level a couple of hours afterwards.  We are hoping the numbers will stabilize & he won't have to have insulin long term.  We'll just have to see how it goes.  His muzzle still has a few places that are pretty hard, but the swelling is almost all gone.  We'll be giving him vitamin E to hopefully help with rebuilding cells & tissue. 

Georgette rode up with us, she likes adventures & had heard so much about the clinic thought it would be fun to go see it.  She & I jabbered enough on the trip that I'm surprised John didn't tape both of our mouths shut.  Not really, John can hold his own in any conversation & was doing his fair share of talking too.  

Everyone up there at the clinic are so nice & I always get the feeling that the donkeys get the same care as the horses do.  Jennifer is one of the techs & she loves the donkeys.  She came in & said she hadn't even realized Quilla was one of ours.  Over the years she's got to know quite a few of our guys.  I teased her & told her I was surprised she didn't recognize one of our fat, scarred up donkeys.  She said she didn't even think to look at the name.  It has been awhile since we were up there I guess.............!!!

I'm learning more new skills I guess.  Not only do I have to figure out the glucometer, but I have to figure out how to get blood to use it with.  I thought you would probably poke his muzzle or inside his nostril to get blood, which I wasn't looking forward to trying.  But there is a triangle shaped bone on the cheek, & you use a needle & syringe & go in right under the bone.  It's not an exact science, judging from my attempt this morning, I have to say he was more patient than I would be, if some nut was sticking me with a needle.  Hopefully I will get better real quick. 

MORE GOOD NEWS...........!!!

The vet called this morning, & said Quilla seems to be doing real good.  Good looking poo, eating as much as he can, alert & bright eyed.  Great news, I've been worried that he might not get to come home, but it's looking like he's turned the corner.  

She said they are taking him off ICU care, feet soaked, glucose checked, IV's, bute, etc.  He's had no bounding pulses to his feet, so they will stop soaking them. 

His glucose is still high, it was 140 this morning.  So they are going to up the insulin & see if they can get him below 120. 

Over the week-end he will be in his box stall, & will probably be checked once or twice a day.  I don't think staff stays there 24/7, but there is a vet on call, although they don't stay on sight.  So I assume his vitals will be checked at least once a day.  If he keeps going in the right direction we will go up & get him Monday if they call early enough, or Tuesday if they don't.  

Still don't know if he will have to continue getting insulin on a regular basis, but it looks like I will be getting a glucose meter to keep an eye on his numbers.  I've threatened to get one before, since so many of the donkeys are insulin resistant.  By feeding them as little sugar & starch as possible, they usually lose weight & look healthier, but we don't know for sure if their numbers are below 120. 

Nigel the new cat got out last night.  He is a bonafide house cat, never been out except one other time, when he ripped one of the screens out.  This time he got out at the same place, John hadn't gotten around to fixing the screen, & opened the window before he remembered there was no screen there.  Nigel is so laid back & mellow, I don't think he has any survival skills at all, so we went out with flashlights & played "find the cat".  Of course that only works IF the cat wants to be found.  Left the window open in case he would come in the way he went out.  An hour or so later, I happened to see movement in the back yard, turned on the light & there he was, rolling around on the ground.  Went out & he let me pick him up, guess he was tired of being a wild cat.  He was completely covered with a type of stick tights we have this time of year, & covered with dirt, leaves & all sorts of trash.  I wiped off what I could, brought him in the house, & he promptly laid down on the couch & went to sleep.  I guess he thought we needed some excitement.  One reason we're never bored I guess..........!!!  (G)