Haven't heard form the vet clinic about Jenny today.  They usually call in the afternoon, although they said they'd call if she got up, so I assume she hasn't.  

Tucker is doing just fine after his traumatic day yesterday.  He was laying down a little more than usual, but when I let him & Mocha out this morning he took off as usual.  I checked him, much to his disgust, & everything seems to be just fine, no drainage or swelling. 

Today is the 1st race day of the season, so Burroland is closed.  I looked over there & almost everyone was milling around trying to figure out why they couldn't go over there.  When John rounds them up at 2pm to feed, it's much easier if they are all over here on this side.  

LOADED UP & READY TO GO......!!!

Since everyone was so upset I took a bottle of fruit flavored Tums out to the feed room porch & sat down.  Didn't take long for the observant ones to figure out there was treats being offered.  Ended up with Chantilly, Rusty, Gus, Mocha, Justin, Tucker, & Daisy.  Some of them had never had Tums but decided real quickly that they were worth pushing others out of the way.  Gus even put his front feet up on the porch & started making ugly faces at Tucker, shaking his head & putting his ears back.  Maybe because of being with Quilla all winter up at Claire's he seems more assertive.  I don't know, but he is definitely more involved with the other donkeys, even if it is in a negative way sometimes.......!!! LOL

Courtney is trying to get a day to come out & trim those that need it & reacquaint with Gus' feet.  She's also talking about bringing Martha out to do some massage work on Gus.  She thinks he might have some alignment issues, if he does Martha should be able to find them. 

TUCKER HAD BRAIN SURGERY TODAY

I took this right after he got on his feet afterwards.  He did real good, very little bleeding.  It's so much easier on them when they are young, although Nancy said as tiny as his little "marbles" were it wasn't very easy for her.  She said she likes them about a year old.  But since he was born in September, that would be right in the middle of fly season.  Besides he was already getting obnoxious, & we didn't want to put up with him all summer.  

Jenny is still down.  I'm really getting worried, donkeys or equines in general are not built to lay down for any length of time.  They have a tractor, but I don't know if they have any type of sling they could use to try to get her feet under her.  They also have an Anderson sling in one of the stalls.  She has already shown what she thinks of inside stalls, so that isn't really on the table.  They said she seemed stronger today than yesterday, but don't seem to have any ideas of how to get her up. 

The vet clinic called this afternoon.  They moved Jenny out to the grassy area yesterday afternoon on a canvas.  He said they had about 10 people, pulling on it to drag her.  He said she just rode along like that was what she was suppose to do.  He said she is much happier being outside, which I'm sure she is. 

He said he thinks she is stronger today, but hasn't gotten up.  She's eating all the green grass & clover she can reach, & they put up a sun shade for her.  They also changed the bandage on her foot & he said it looks real good.  Sigh! 

He said everyone has fallen in love with her, because she is so sweet, although we both agreed that she is rather opinionated.  

Tomorrow morning right after chores we'll load up Mocha & Tucker to take him for his gelding.  To say I am reluctant is an understatement.  I hate gelding it's such a barbaric way of doing surgery.  He's such a spoiled little baby, I told John I don't think I can watch this time.  The young ones get along so much better than the older ones, so once it's over I'll be OK.  But in the meantime...........!!!!  

Heard from Dr. Voss this afternoon about Jenny.  She is still down, he says she just acts like she's weak.  He said he really didn't want to put her into a sling, I guess it pushes on their bodies in areas that make them uncomfortable.  So they planned on triple folding a canvas & literally carrying her outside to a small grassy area & leaving her there overnight to see if she will be happier outside.  She has let them know she does not like being in "donkey incarceration" as Dr. Voss said. 

She has been on Baytril since last Thursday.  He said there is research showing muscle weakness in people that have been on Baytril, but nothing that he knows of on equine.  But just in case they quit giving it to her.

Haven't heard from the vet clinic this morning.  John talked to Dr. Walker yesterday afternoon, & she was still down.  They planned on trying to move her today to the stall with a sling.  I thought that was going to be done yesterday, but guess not. 

He said she seems comfortable, is eating & drinking.  They did an IV of DMSO yesterday, I don't know why & John didn't ask.  I was at the emergency room with my Mother, so missed out on Q&A.  Mother's OK, by the way.......!!!!  

When I got home after dark John was still outside.  I usually do the pellets etc, John does the hay.  He forgot to soak Pepper's pellets.  He said he dump Pepper's food, walked back to the feed room, remembered he hadn't soaked, went back & Pepper was already choked.......!! SIGH!  This is why his pellets get soaked.  It took about an hour to get him cleared.  

So as usual we aren't bored.........!!!! 

NOME, ALASKA - 4TH OF JULY - 1916

When I got up this morning this is what I saw outside the spa room window at John's bird feeding station.  Years ago he found out that if he wanted to feed birds outside the back yard wall, he would have to build a barrier between bird seed & donkeys.  And it would have to be sturdy enough to with stand attacks.  

He took a 16 foot cattle panel bent it around in a circle, put a gate in the end of it, added a few T-posts & it's held up to all attempts of the donkeys to tear it down.  I think they have all had a shot at it at least once.  

This morning was Gus' turn I guess.  I hadn't seen him out there before, but he seemed to think there should be some way to get in there.  This was the 2nd picture I took.  As you can see, his hearing is perfect, he heard the camera click from inside the spa room.  They all seem to know they aren't suppose to be there....!!!

Talked to Dr. Walker about Jenny this morning. He had called yesterday, but we got in from Tucson too late to call back.  She went down sometime between 1-6am Sunday morning & they haven't been able to get her up. She's eating & drinking.  They've blocked her re-sectioned hoof & it didn't make a difference. Blood work is good, muscle enzymes are a little high like tying up. He said she hates being in the inside stall, which would cause stress.  Saturday morning when they were cleaning her stall, she slammed the wheelbarrow out of her way & took off. Said she didn't go anywhere, stood outside the stall. I asked if he thought she had given up, he said no. They have a sling in another stall, so they are going to try to transport her to that stall or to an outside pen. Wanted to keep her inside for cleanliness, but looks like as usual with Jenny she's calling the shots.

When she came here 5 years ago, she was laying down pretty much 24/7, eating & drinking because of both front feet. So it's not like she's never done this before. Of course he discussed the "delicate" idea of cost. They are already over the estimate when we went in, but I'm not going to give up unless she does. Wonder if they have room for a lot of donkeys, to go with us to the poor house...!!! LOL

Haven't heard form the vet clinic, week-ends aren't good for getting information even in people hospitals.......I know....been there, done that.  They are suppose to change her bandage today & see how it's doing.  Unless there is something going on, I doubt if they will call even then.  They locally infused antibiotics into the area during surgery, & she is on Baytril now, so I would think she should be doing good.  Sure hope so.

A blog watcher recommended Equisocks for Jenny's foot.  I read up on it & sounds like it might be a great idea for Jenny.  When the vet calls with an update I'll ask him about it.  The bottom inch or so of her hoof was already cracked horizonally about half way around.  Now that they've cut a "window" to the inside, it might not hang on as it grows out.  This stuff sounds like it might be a good idea.  As I read about it & how to use it, it sounded very much like the stuff they made my thumb cast out of last fall.  It was very sturdy, I even used it for a hammer a couple of times, when I needed one. 

Yesterday afternoon when John started rounding up early to feed, before we went to racing practice, everyone showed up except Pepper.  It's been weeks since he got down on his right side & couldn't get up.  John went over on Burroland & couldn't find him.  He could have walked across the driveway & saved himself a lot of walking.  Pepper was laying almost within sight, had been down long enough to scrape up his face.  We got a couple of ropes, flipped him over on his good side & after a couple of minutes, up he popped.  Since it was early he started to take off thru the trees for adventure, we had to "escort" him to his pen.  If his body was as strong as his mind, he would be  formidable.

Went to practice last night as planned.  Would have been more fun if my car had been  available, but it was good to see the others out there tearing up the dirt.  Looks like there are some new Hornets, so maybe we'll have more cars.  The more the merrier, especially if they are all on the track at the same time.......!!! (G)

John took a "sample" of what came out of the gas tank for "show & tell".  The general concensus is they probably put alcohol or methanol in the gas & it ate up the fuel pump.  It's a 4 cylinder Hornet, not a dragster or late model........!!! Jeeesh! 

The vet clinic called yesterday a couple of times to let us know Jenny is doing great.  We are shooting for going to get her next Thursday.  That should give the resection area time to dry up & start scabbing over.  Also if there was any infection left it should show up by then.  They will change the bandage again tomorrow.  

We are thinking about taking Boaz up when we go Thursday, to let them evaluate the proud flesh on his knee.  Yesterday he came in with it a bloody mess.  Unfortunately there is no good granulated tissue within the circle, only proud flesh.  Nancy the local vet has scrapped it twice & it looks much better, but it's what it is, proud flesh that will have to have daily care & probably will need to be kept covered or it will become a bloody mess.  Proud flesh has no feeling which is a good thing..........BUT........... it has zillions of blood vessels, consequently it bleeds like crazy if the surface is scratched or heaven forbid punctured.  He's only 8 years old, & that will be his life, unless we can find a way to get rid of it once & for all.  

We were suppose to take the race car to the track today for practice.  But when John tried to start it yesterday........NOPE......!!  It has a problem with some kind of goop caught in the fuel pump, & coating the inside of the gas tank.  When he bought it the owner couldn't get it started because the fuel pump wouldn't work.........Hmmmmmmmmm....!!  John had replaced the fuel pump.   We are thinking that they might have put some kind of fuel booster in the gas & for some reason it wasn't a good idea.  The stuff caked on the fuel pump intake, but as soon as you take it out of the gas, it dries & acts like flour.  I've already ordered another pump, & we're going to take the gas tank into Tucson Monday to have it powered washed inside.  Hopefully it will be all ready to go for the 1st race of the season next Saturday, the 31st. 

JENNY UPDATE.......!!

Jenny is doing good this morning the vet said, when I talked to him.  They had to take quite a bit of the coffin bone, but he said the joint wasn't involved, so that's good.  Said she's eating & drinking, & seems to be doing just fine.  He also said they had to remove quite a bit of the hoof wall.  When we were up there Dr. Voss had talked about what they would do if they have to take off so much hoof that it would be in danger of collapsing.  They can either put an egg bar shoe across the bottom, or run a piece of metal strap across the open part of the hoof & attach it to the hoof with screws, or both.  He didn't say anything about either one of those & I forgot to ask.  Hopefully I'll remember it for tomorrow's call.

I don't know for sure but am guessing that since it is a back foot the lack of coffin bone will be less of a problem than if it was a front foot.  Unfortunately her front feet are already lacking coffin bone, but she has adapted well & doesn't seem to be too uncomfortable on them.  

I've always thought that equine carry most of their weight on the front feet, something like 60/40%, which would mean the back feet carry less weight.  But recently I read that donkeys are more balanced than horses & actually carry closer to 50/50%.  

John's already started getting the hay barn ready for her to stay in for awhile.  She stayed in the hay barn when she came here almost 5 years ago, & as I recall wasn't real happy about the situation.  She really likes to be out with the "jenny" herd.  John plans on fortifying the corral panels with T-posts, otherwise I'm sure she would rearrange them at will.  

Yesterday was a fun time.  Boaz, Ruthie & Ruger's family came out to visit for the first time.  They seemed to approve of how the donkeys are getting along & said how much they appreciated us taking care of them.  I'm just glad we could do it, right now there is such a need & all rescues & sanctuaries are full, with more needing to come into sanctuary. 

I really hope the new hay season will lower prices, so that people that want to keep their animals will be able to do so.  We'll have to buy hay this summer, I'm sure not at the price we paid last time....!!!  I would imagine those prices are gone forever.  Right now people in this area will be thrilled when the price goes down to $15 a bale.  So there won't be a lot of incentive for farmer's to charge less, unless there is a glut of hay. 

 

 This is a picture I took yesterday morning before it got very light.  This is Gus on the "wrong" side of the courtyard gate.  I left it open for a moment & he wandered in to check out 3 sprigs of grass growing in the tree well.  They seem to have a 6th sense when it comes to, not only going where they don't belong, but if grass or greenery is involved finding a way to it. 

 

This morning when I went out Quilla & Gus were standing in Gus' pen together.  So I guess they have bonded by being up at Claire's, at least a little bit.  Quilla usually goes out & comes in with the herd & Gus comes in by himself, so they aren't "joined at the hip", but it was nice to see they like to hang out together.  

Haven't heard from the clinic yet, I doubt they have even started surgery yet.