My baby mini donkey was born this morning. She has no hoofs on the bottems or on her toe part. What is this? She is having a very hard time standing, so we have been holding her up to nurse. Vet is on his way. Has anyone ever seen anything like this? I will load a pic later on.
I do know that foals are born with a soft coating on their hooves to keep from damaging the uterus/birth canal during the birth. Beyond that, I can't invision what you are talking about.
This might be an old thread but it's great for learning. I hope the donkey breeder will chime in again here.
My education taught me that mini donkeys are mini not due to screwed up genetics, like mini horses. Donkeys have 3 "species". Minis, standards and mammoths.
Also an interesting fact. Donkeys can live on seawater.
I am very glad the breeder posted here, because I would never have known that about the feet of mini donkey babies. So very glad to have learned this! Thank you!
Vet is not sure what this is. He gave use a couple things too keep it clean we have too clean it 4 times a day. She can no longer stand because its painful. He said give her about a week, if it does not improve we will have too put her down. I cant even think about putting down a baby so young. So lets hope. Here are some pics. We named her Neera. Anyone ever seen this before?
Ageed - especially considering even the vet is at a loss as to how to even try to address the situation. Unless there was another vet who could offer a second opinion I'd be hard pressed to prolong suffering. As horrible as it is to have to consider ending a new life - if the condition is so painful that the animal cannot stand on it's own feet the physical and mental suffering (after all, a prey animal who cannot stand - and therefor knows it cannot flee - is going to feel extreme distress) is going to eliminate quality of life. These are the times when we have to put their well-being above our own {hugs}
I'd be contacting your farrier (or reaching out to those members here in the profession) as they may be more familiar with conditions specific to the hoof than your vet.
He said if we can dry it up, that will help. Hes a very good vet and said he sees no reason to give up on her at only a few hours old. And hes a very straight to the point guy. She is eating very well out of a bottle. He said we dont give up until she does.And with help she can take about 8 steps. He said to keep her off them as much as possible.
Did he take any internal views (ie xrays) of the actual structures within the hoof to be sure there is underlying structure to support the external structures if you are able turn them around?
THR, that was my first thought as well. Granted, I am terribly inexperienced when it comes to foaling and foals in general, but they look like the foal slippers to me that just haven't been walked off because she's reluctant to stand.
It makes me wonder if she's hurting due to something else than her hooves that makes her resist standing.
The more we get her up and standing, i don't think its her feet. Even tho they are a tad off. She would not stand when the vet was her, she had her legs tucked up and wouldn't stand. When i set her up, she almost doesn't know were her legs are. Once i place them she can take a few steps before they cross again she flops over. Also her mom was walking too the door, when she just kind of step on her little foot, and the baby did nothing. If she was in that much pain she would pulled back or at least reacted. Vets coming out in 2 days again. She is bigger then the last baby,who was on time. This baby was def, a little late. Maybe mom had a hard time getting her out? And she stayed in the sac to long? I guess we will see what happens threw the night.
i think her hooves look okay, from my understanding most foals are born with slippers so they dont hurt mama on the way out. Best of luck!!! *also subbing to wait and see what happens
While slippers are normal, an inability to stand (and apparent agreement that this is beyond the *norm* by the vet) is not - this may well be a chicken/egg situation in that it is hard to tell if the hooves are the cause of the standing issue or if the standing issue is causing a failure to shed the slippers via normal progression of mobility and use.
Maybe it's some kind of neurologic issue (like dummy foal) due to lack of oxygen at birth. Does she have a good sucking reflex? Or maybe it's some kind of nerve damage and she doesn't have control of her feet. I honestly have no idea. :-(
But I hope you can get her fixed up and she gets better. She is a precious baby!
THinking of you-sending prayers and strength. Will be anxious for updates on this sweet babydoll. I LOVE donks, especially minis.....keep your close observation-every hint you can give the vet may help him help her. Good on you. **hugs**
poor baby girl I hope you figure out what is going on with her and it is fixable. will keep your baby and you in my thoughts. I so hope it isn't permanent.
Did Mom have any problems foaling? Was she carried over long? Did labor last a long time? Any signs the umbilical cord wrapped the foals neck? Red bag birth? Any excessive bleeding from the umbilical cord? Any way she could have been exposed to tetanus, as in not doctoring the cord stump?
We checked her last night at around 9:30 she was showing NO signs at all. Checked her this morning at 7 and the baby was up nursing but still some what wet. So don't know anything about what happened in between time. She is not doing well at all. has no use of her legs, and know her head is doing the same thing. Vet will be out in the AM when they open. Her gums are very pink tho. I read up on dummy foals, that almost sounds like her.
I thought that was what the hooves are supposed to look like? Posted via Mobile Device
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