The torrential rain tapered to a drizzle today and everyone came out of the barn for the first time in a couple of days. Phew - that was some storm! Needless to say, all the donkeys were soaked by the end of the day.
Although it's certainly not cold at 8 degrees, donkeys can get drenched and they don't shed water like horses do. So I felt the need to towel dry them as best I could. Deenah is prone to rain rot (ears especially) and with the long dark night ahead, I felt it best to rub and fluff. You want to make sure you don't rub water deeper into their coats, but rather wick it up and fluff their hair coat.
Deenah is easy - she loves to be toweled off but the minis hate it! So clicker training can be a big help.
Dorica is pretty clicker savvy by now - she well understands the concept. I asked her to touch the towel, then clicked, removed the towel from sight and treated. After doing this a few times, I laid the towel on her back - at this she immediatetly starts walking around the stall, so I asked her to "ho" when she did, I removed the towel, clicked and treated. Pretty soon she understood that she was to stand still when the towel was placed on her. She still is apt to walk a bit, but will soon stop and let me rub her with the towel.
Siog is brand new to clicker training so I started by using the towel as a target for her to touch with her nose. She really doesn't understand yet, although she touched the towel a few times by accident more than curiosity. When the towel is placed on her back, she tries to shrink from it. I am able to leave it draped over her while she eats some hay and that way, at least it absorbes some rain water. But I can't towel her off without scaring her so I don't try to do that yet.
Baby steps in training lead to confident, safe animals.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Understanding donkey discomfort
Whenever a donkey is off her feed, it's cause for alarm ... something is wrong! Nothing gives me a chill, makes my stomach churn or my heart flutter more than seeing a donkey standing in front of a pile of hay or out on pasture and not eating. I've seen numerous variations of this by now - one had fatal consequences, like when I lost my mini Annie 5 years ago. But sometimes a "wait and see" approach is better than jumping in with a vial full of Banamine.
It's really really important to know your animals and what's"normal" for each one. For example, Deenah is prone to getting food caught in her throat or esophagus. As an older donkey, she is the one most likely to be off her feed. This has happened twice in the last two weeks. Both times I noticed that she was just standing there, kind of hanging her head and when offered hay, she wouldn't eat.
I needed to figure out if it was her throat or her belly giving her trouble - an owner could make serious mistakes by jumping to conclusions. As donkeys are very stoic by nature, it can be hard to understand what they are feeling. So I watch.
In the past, I have phoned the vet in alarm right away and the answer has always been "give her Banamine." Banamine is an anti-inflammatory analgesic drug most often used to reduce the pain associated with colic.
In Deenah's case though, because she has suspected gastric ulcers, I would only use it in an emergency and never just as a routine response.
Equine are not able to regurgitate (or throw up) so something unpleasant in the gut has to pass the other way but by the time a full episode of colic is underway, that might not be possible. A vet will often pass a nasal-gastric tube through the nostril and into the stomach and pour water and mineral oil through the tube to flush out any impaction. It's not pleasant but sometimes necessary.
Well anyway, as I carefully observed Deenah yesterday it seemed to me that the problem was not her gut (thank goodness!) but something stuck in her throat, or she had eaten something bitter. Her response to this after initially standing and looking absolutely glum, is to develop lots of saliva to lubricate her throat and get rid of the problem. So she starts to drool and great bubbles of spit appear. Coughing usually follows. When I see this, I am actually relieved! I gently massage her throat on either side in case there's a wad of something that I can help loosen - she will tell me if I am helping or not and I never force her.
More than you wanted to know? Sorry but it's so important to understand this!
Drooling and salivating is the response to having eaten something toxic and it's an equine's way of "ejecting" the problem or at least minimizing its effect. I've never seen it as a response to colic although a poisonous plant could cause a donkey to colic.
Dorica sampled a few plants when she first arrived that were not typical donkey fare. Once she ate some daffodil leaves and basically shut down! No drooling but a belly ache for a few hours. Another time, she ate red elderberry and I found her standing in a pool of drool.
In any case, it's important to know your animals and also to know the plants that might be toxic or poisonous to them. Be observant!
It's really really important to know your animals and what's"normal" for each one. For example, Deenah is prone to getting food caught in her throat or esophagus. As an older donkey, she is the one most likely to be off her feed. This has happened twice in the last two weeks. Both times I noticed that she was just standing there, kind of hanging her head and when offered hay, she wouldn't eat.
I needed to figure out if it was her throat or her belly giving her trouble - an owner could make serious mistakes by jumping to conclusions. As donkeys are very stoic by nature, it can be hard to understand what they are feeling. So I watch.
In the past, I have phoned the vet in alarm right away and the answer has always been "give her Banamine." Banamine is an anti-inflammatory analgesic drug most often used to reduce the pain associated with colic.
In Deenah's case though, because she has suspected gastric ulcers, I would only use it in an emergency and never just as a routine response.
Equine are not able to regurgitate (or throw up) so something unpleasant in the gut has to pass the other way but by the time a full episode of colic is underway, that might not be possible. A vet will often pass a nasal-gastric tube through the nostril and into the stomach and pour water and mineral oil through the tube to flush out any impaction. It's not pleasant but sometimes necessary.
Well anyway, as I carefully observed Deenah yesterday it seemed to me that the problem was not her gut (thank goodness!) but something stuck in her throat, or she had eaten something bitter. Her response to this after initially standing and looking absolutely glum, is to develop lots of saliva to lubricate her throat and get rid of the problem. So she starts to drool and great bubbles of spit appear. Coughing usually follows. When I see this, I am actually relieved! I gently massage her throat on either side in case there's a wad of something that I can help loosen - she will tell me if I am helping or not and I never force her.
More than you wanted to know? Sorry but it's so important to understand this!
Drooling and salivating is the response to having eaten something toxic and it's an equine's way of "ejecting" the problem or at least minimizing its effect. I've never seen it as a response to colic although a poisonous plant could cause a donkey to colic.
Dorica sampled a few plants when she first arrived that were not typical donkey fare. Once she ate some daffodil leaves and basically shut down! No drooling but a belly ache for a few hours. Another time, she ate red elderberry and I found her standing in a pool of drool.
In any case, it's important to know your animals and also to know the plants that might be toxic or poisonous to them. Be observant!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Beginning packing
Out with Dorica to pick up some groceries from a neighbour today. I put on her new pack saddle pad
and then a set of saddle bags on top. Held this together with a girth attached to the top of the saddle bags with a couple of pieces of leather belts. It was pretty makeshift and I had to keep watching that the whole thing didn't slip or shift.
Dorica was a trooper and seemed really proud of herself! Once at the neighbour's, I loaded exactly 5 lbs in each saddle bag and off we went home. She stepped out so nicely and didn't seem to mind the load.
Close to home, three dogs rushed down their driveway towards us. It was a bit scary but Dorica turned to face them and gave a loud bray right in their faces. That did it and they all turned tail and rushed back home!
You might notice in this picture that the girth has worked it's way to just behind Dorrie's back legs and the saddle bags and pad are too far back. As we walked through the narrow gate when we arrived home, Dorrie forgot that she was now a "wide load" and her saddle bag knocked against the side of the fence and the whole thing slid back! I unloaded her and grabbed my camera for a shot, but I'll have to work on a better system for her as this seems too precarious ... but it sure was fun!
and then a set of saddle bags on top. Held this together with a girth attached to the top of the saddle bags with a couple of pieces of leather belts. It was pretty makeshift and I had to keep watching that the whole thing didn't slip or shift.
Dorica was a trooper and seemed really proud of herself! Once at the neighbour's, I loaded exactly 5 lbs in each saddle bag and off we went home. She stepped out so nicely and didn't seem to mind the load.
Close to home, three dogs rushed down their driveway towards us. It was a bit scary but Dorica turned to face them and gave a loud bray right in their faces. That did it and they all turned tail and rushed back home!
You might notice in this picture that the girth has worked it's way to just behind Dorrie's back legs and the saddle bags and pad are too far back. As we walked through the narrow gate when we arrived home, Dorrie forgot that she was now a "wide load" and her saddle bag knocked against the side of the fence and the whole thing slid back! I unloaded her and grabbed my camera for a shot, but I'll have to work on a better system for her as this seems too precarious ... but it sure was fun!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Hittin' the road!
Siog and I went out for a 2 hour walk today - our longest to date. Finally a wee break in the rain.
We encountered everything from people to cyclists to some loose black labs who, thankfully didn't see us as they were almost as big as Siog and I didn't want to have to deal with two of them!
Visited some neighbours where Siog got to graze for a bit while we chatted. She is an absolute delight to be out with! And very good on a lead although she is now developing a bit of a tendency to pull her head away.
She is very responsive to pressure and release though and easy to control. Still haven't started any "formal" clicker training lessons with her. She has been here for almost five weeks now.
We encountered everything from people to cyclists to some loose black labs who, thankfully didn't see us as they were almost as big as Siog and I didn't want to have to deal with two of them!
Visited some neighbours where Siog got to graze for a bit while we chatted. She is an absolute delight to be out with! And very good on a lead although she is now developing a bit of a tendency to pull her head away.
She is very responsive to pressure and release though and easy to control. Still haven't started any "formal" clicker training lessons with her. She has been here for almost five weeks now.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Today!
It is pouring and windy - ALL day ( and night!) Donkeys haven't set foot outside the barn and are feeling pent up.
I have divided their flakes into smaller portions and feed them frequently - trying to satisfy that grazing urge.
At least it's not cold but this frontal system isn't supposed to move on for a few days ... wind warning in effect!
I have divided their flakes into smaller portions and feed them frequently - trying to satisfy that grazing urge.
At least it's not cold but this frontal system isn't supposed to move on for a few days ... wind warning in effect!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Weather
As a gardener and donkey owner, the "weather" is always a topic of concern (more than it should be, probably!) and while winter weather can mean a much needed rest from the vegetable garden, it can also mean that donkeys might be confined to the barn, having hoof or skin problems (Deenah) or at the very least,
standing for long hours in darkness.
I don't know how donkey and horse owners get through winter in cold climates! I would go nuts with months of snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Here on the coast, at least we can expect winter to be short.
Summer can be as challenging as winter can be, in my opinion. Hot, dry days, parched ground, water shortages, biting flies, the threat of West Nile Virus ... ugh! Add to that lots of traffic on the roads, loud
motorcycles and silent bicycles suddenly wooshing by to scare a donkey out on a walk!
This year, winter has been easy so far. We had a week or so of very cold temps, then snow but now it's a balmy 6 degrees with some dry days in between rain. Who knows hos long that will last! So with gardening projects on the top shelf for a few months, these are perfect days to hit the trails with the donkeys.
With Siog being new to the herd, she's the one I've been taking out most often. Remember what I said about Deenah being fine left with Siog if Dorica leaves ... not so! That one time seemed an exception for poor Dee - the next time Dorica went for a stroll, Dee was her same old upset self.
Today I'll take Deenah out for a bit and see how the minis do without her.
standing for long hours in darkness.
I don't know how donkey and horse owners get through winter in cold climates! I would go nuts with months of snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Here on the coast, at least we can expect winter to be short.
Summer can be as challenging as winter can be, in my opinion. Hot, dry days, parched ground, water shortages, biting flies, the threat of West Nile Virus ... ugh! Add to that lots of traffic on the roads, loud
motorcycles and silent bicycles suddenly wooshing by to scare a donkey out on a walk!
This year, winter has been easy so far. We had a week or so of very cold temps, then snow but now it's a balmy 6 degrees with some dry days in between rain. Who knows hos long that will last! So with gardening projects on the top shelf for a few months, these are perfect days to hit the trails with the donkeys.
With Siog being new to the herd, she's the one I've been taking out most often. Remember what I said about Deenah being fine left with Siog if Dorica leaves ... not so! That one time seemed an exception for poor Dee - the next time Dorica went for a stroll, Dee was her same old upset self.
Today I'll take Deenah out for a bit and see how the minis do without her.
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