.......yet another hoof abscess. At nearly 30 years of age Joey Boy is the oldest of my foster donkeys. He has terrible feet, probably due to him being badly treated in his earlier life. He very often gets hoof abscesses which means that I have to apply hot poultices which draw the very smelly yuck out through a hole in the sole of the hoof which has been made by the farrier. The hot, wet poultices are kept in place with duct tape, so it is a fiddly job!
He is such a good lad, he is obviously in a lot of pain because he is limping terribly, but just stands there while he is being treated. I have put him on painkillers which come in powder form which he eats sandwiched between two gingernut biscuits.
Gingernut biscuits are probably donkeys' favourite food and donkeys are very good at looking like they are feeling sorry for themselves which often leads you to think that they are at death's door. At the Donkey Sanctuary, which is where I foster mine from, they use the 'gingernut biscuit test' to determine how sick a donkey is. If they wont eat a gingernut, then you know that you have a seriously ill donk on your hands.
A fav because 1) I adore donkeys, 2) awesome shot and 3) because he looks sad - love the shot and the story - will remember to take ginger-nuts if I ever get to go to a donkey sanctuary
oh Joey Boy is such a lovely old fella. And so sad that he gets in somuch pain but glad he is still eating the ginger-nut biscuits. Will you give him a couple of extra from me please?
oh my... that does sound painful... hope those abcesses clear up real soon! (love the gingernut test... sounds like the sort of litmus test i use on my kids when they claim to be feeling sick ;p)
Poor Joey. Sending lots of healing energy his way.
The gingernut test sounds a bit like the £50 note flu test. You put it on the floor in the middle of the bedroom and if the patient gets out of bed to pick it up you know they haven't got flu!
The gingernut test sounds a bit like the £50 note flu test. You put it on the floor in the middle of the bedroom and if the patient gets out of bed to pick it up you know they haven't got flu!