Fireworks Your Animals Need You To Have A Plan

Fireworks and Pets Not A Good Combination:

Plan ahead to keep pets safe; owning pets is a huge responsibility and for those of us who have equine (donkeys, horses, and mules) living in rural areas, we must be extra careful. The equine is a flight or fight animal when terrified of death. Meaning; they can get scared when the fireworks start, and the smell is in the air.  Some horses have been known to run into fences.  Locking them in their stalls is the safest when neighbors are shooting off fireworks I turn the radio up and give lots of hay and fresh water. Donkeys have died from fear, yes fear. Colic is a life-threatening matter. Donkeys are stoic will not show pain until it is too late. Do your best to stay calm and keep your donkeys, mules, and horses locked up safe in their stall until the fireworks are over. Long-distance fireworks are not that big of a deal, fireworks right over the farm or barn can kill your equine.

Want to read more tips on pet safety and fireworks?  Select Blue Cross Pets Fireworks for more details.

Dogs and cats can get so scared of fireworks they can run off and not be able to find their way home best to keep them locked in the house too. Our doggies get very stressed, turning the radio up helps, some people tranquillize their dogs until the fireworks are over.  I say do whatever you have to do to keep your pets safe as they don’t understand fireworks.  Please remember animals do not understand fireworks “they are truly scared and think they will die.” It’s our job as the smart human to protect them and take care of them.

What do you do to keep your pet(s) safe during the fireworks?  Please leave a comment to help others.

Read my blog Fireworks and Pets Is A Bad Mix

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

 

Happy Thanksgiving From The Donkey Whisperer Farm

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

What To Do When Your Donkey Has A Hoof Abscess

Here at Donkey Whisperer Farm ® we get more inquiries about hoof abscesses in donkeys than any other healthcare issue. Due to this common, but dreadful hoof ailment, we have decided to share our personal experience here at the farm with you through our new Donkey Healthcare Video ‘Donkey Hoof Abscesses’. Order Donkey Hoof Abscess.

Donkeys are stoic meaning they will hide pain, the donkey is sound in the morning and by the afternoon the donkey looks like he/she has a broken leg. Some hop on three legs or have a slight limp in the beginning. The donkey lays down too much. This is a sign of a hoof abscess and we the owners need to know what to do to get the donkey out of pain quickly.

We have over seventeen years of experience treating mild to life-threatening abscesses in donkeys with veterinarian guidance, as well as alone in the field. Over the years Donkey Whisperer Farm ® has developed a strict and successful protocol for preventing, treating, and overcoming hoof abscesses all has been taught to us from our veterinarians.

It is vital that every donkey owner and caretaker understand that hoof abscesses in donkeys can be fatal and should not be considered a routine health problem. In the Donkey Whisperer Farm ‘Donkey Hoof Abscesses’ Video we outline causes, prevention, do’s and don’ts, home care, pain control, and recovery from donkey hoof abscesses.

This is a must-have donkey healthcare video for every donkey owner or caretaker! As we say at Donkey Whisperer Farm: it is not IF your donkey gets a hoof abscess, but WHEN your donkey gets a hoof abscess! The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® teaches you the owner or caretaker how to treat the abscess without cutting a hole out of the foot. If after four days the abscess has not drained out it is time to call the vet. We are not vets. The hoof takes 1 year to grow out. Order Donkey Hoof Abscess.

Farm living is a blessing, a personal choice, and its hard work. Very few vacations, time to travel as the farm is a full-time job.  Owning any form of equine (donkey, mule, or horse) is not cheap. The cost for hay, vet, the trimmer is all rising each and every day. We must understand the vet is the team leader for the health of our equine. The trimmer follows the vet’s instructions.

The owner is 100% responsible for each and every step that is being taken to keep the farm healthy.

Anytime I can share information that can get the donkey, mule or horse out of pain and suffering fast I promise to do it. 

We have six donkeys and two horses living on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®, out of the six donkeys only one donkey has never had a hoof abscess in the last thirteen years. I teach worldwide the owner of a donkey or mule how to train and care for the equine. E-training is always the best way to learn. Preparation is the key to solving any crisis and keeping our money. Select Donkey 101 E-TRAINING Video On Demand

If we can be prepared in training the donkey, mule or horse to pick up the feet without a fight. Trust us as a leader it is easy to soak the foot and create the hoof boot. First, we have to learn how to train and stay in the leadership position the entire time we are with our equine.

Select Donkey 102 Video On Demand is problem-solving. 

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Donkey Scratch

Introducing Rocket Man, a miniature donkey gelding, he just turned twenty-six years old. Rocket Man has been in our life since he was thirteen years old. When Rio our Mammoth donkey was weaned from his mom, Rio bonded to Rocket Man. Rocket Man was a jack on the breeding farm in his early years.

Rocket Man has the ability to sing when talking and he can bray. He is the only donkey on our farm that sings and he can find anything to get that special spot for a scratch. He is a super special donkey. Did you know some donkeys never bray? Yes, the introverted donkey does not bray. Rio our Mammoth donkey has never ever let out a full-bray and he is fourteen years old. If you would like to learn more about donkey behavior and donkey training please take a look at Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand. Sold with lifetime access.  Select Donkey Whisperer Farm ® Store to browse now.

Remember to stay On Donkey Time ® when interacting with your donkey. Life is better with donkeys!

People Who Talk To Animals

Donkey 101 & 102 E-Training Video On Demand trains the owner or caretaker how to train the donkey using words, (NOT CLICKER) facial expressions, energy, phases and endorphins. Endorphins can be a rub on the withers or a bite of a carrot. 

A study conducted at Harvard University by Gary D. Sherman and Jonathan Haidt says that people who like pets more than people and those who have a conversation with their pets on a regular basis are more intelligent and not a crack- head! Talk To The Animals Study

 

Death Valley’s Wild Burros~ —

Seems the park would want people to come and visit the park. The donkeys are part of the excitement of the visit. The decision was made to protect plants in lieu of the wild burros. Truly a sad day for the United States Of America.

Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the lower ’48 consisting of 5,270 mi² s of barren, beautiful desert. It holds the world record for the hottest place on earth topping out at 134 F in 2013. Burros (donkeys) were introduced to the park by gold miners in the 1800’s. Some escaped and […]

Death Valley’s Wild Burros~ —

American Mammoth Jack Opening The Barn Door

 

Donkeys Evolved From The Desert.

Thinking about bringing home a couple of donkeys?

Donkeys are smart not stubborn. Donkeys are visual learners meaning; Donkeys can watch you do something repetitively and repeat the process. Donkeys are wood eaters. Make sure you have excellent fences, gates and locks.

Donkeys love wood!

Please do not confuse eating wood as cribbing as its not. Donkeys evolved from the desert.

Select Donkey Whisperer Farm to learn more.

Miniature Donkey Rocket Man.

 

 

Don’t Look Back

WWW.DONKEYWHISPERER.COM

Take a look at my new riding reins “Romal Split SOFT YACHT ROPE with 30 Spanish knots, a large popper. NO SPURS REQUIRED TO TRAIN the donkey, horse or mule to ride. 🙂  Select Our Store to order. Handmade in the U.S.A. 

Donkeys Neck Should Never Look Like This

The Dangers of Obesity in Donkeys


Donkeys evolved from the desert. Donkeys living in the U.S.A. are being overfed and fed the wrong foods. Once the neck crest breaks over nothing can be done to repair the neck. Insulin resistance, laminitis, and soon death. If you rescue a donkey with this abuse, get a donkey vet fast. You can save this donkey’s life. Diet changes everything in most cases, test all of your hay, equine analytical lab in the USA to ensure 10% or lower in sugar and protein, no grain, create a donkey track, clean water, salt, and portion control with a slow feeder. 

The donkey must live on a dry pasture or paddock for the majority of their life. If we feed the wrong foods such as alfalfa hay, apples, pears, cookies, oats, bread, or munching all day on grass, brush, and trees we will see this in our donkey’s neck. Not to mention death. Death comes next as the donkey evolved from the desert, the donkey was created to live on low sugar/protein hay, clean water.  Round bales for the donkey will cause this too! Hay should be measured and controlled as the donkey evolved from the desert.

Laminitis is a condition in which there is inflammation in the laminae of the foot that connect the pedal bone to the hoof wall. This can progress to rotation or sinking of the pedal bone within the foot. The cause is not fully understood and many factors are involved but obese animals are more prone to develop the disease.”

Equine Metabolic Syndrome: Overweight donkeys often develop a fat, crest neck and fat pads around their tail base. When this occurs the donkey can develop a metabolic disease known as ‘Equine Metabolic Syndrome’. This causes insulin resistance and increased levels of blood glucose (blood sugar) in the bloodstream. In equids, this can lead to recurrent episodes of laminitis or founder. This disease involves inflammation of the white lining or laminar junctions of the feet, extreme foot pain and difficulty walking and chronic abscesses. In severe cases, this is death for the donkey.

Cushing’s

Select What Is Cushing’s

Hyperlipaemia is a condition in which triglycerides (fats) are released into circulation which can result in organ failure and death unless treated rapidly. The early signs of dullness and reduced appetite can be difficult to detect. Hyperlipaemia can be triggered by anything that causes a reduction in food intake e.g. stress, transport, dental disease.

Causes of hyperlipaemia

A number of risk factors have been identified as contributing to this condition. It is known that a female donkey is at higher risk than a male, especially when there are high energy demands such as if she is pregnant or lactating. Overweight and obese animals are at higher risk than those in average condition but even thin donkeys are at risk. Donkeys that have lost significant weight in the preceding weeks should be monitored carefully as they are at a much higher risk of developing this disease. When managing your donkey’s weight, care should be taken not to crash diet as this will put your donkey at risk.

Stress will cause a donkey to reduce its feed intake and can be brought on by many stressors such as:

  • Pain
  • Removal or death of buddy
  • Diet Change
  • Transport
  • Living With Another Animal Who Is A Predator
  • Bad weather
  • Sickness
  • Forced To Live A Life With Constant Stress And Abuse

Action Plan To Lose Weight – DO NOT STOP FEEDING THE DONKEY.

  1. Build Pastures made to exercise, a track
  2. Thyro-L can help along with tested hay low sugar/protein, no pasture and brush to eat and portion control.
  3. Ask your vet to do blood work insulin resistance or Cushings
  4. Have the equine vet dentist come out and examine the donkey’s teeth yearly. Fecal sampling spring and summer.
  5. Engage in an exercise routine
  6. Take Your Donkey For Walks
  7. Make Sure Your Donkey Has Toys and A Buddy To Play With
  8. Clean Water, warm clean water in winter and cool clean water summer.
  9. Test Your Hay 10% Or Lower In Sugar and Protein – Measure for portion control.
  10. No treats, sweets, bread, alfalfa, oats, vitamins or supplements are needed. Do give lose free salt with minerals.


Looking for more help?

Sign up for personal Consulting time with Melody Johnson WWW.DONKEYWHISPERER.COM

Donkey Hoof Abscess Healed

Live Each Day Like Someone Left The Gate Open

WWW.DONKEYWHISPERER.COM

How Can I Help My Obese Donkey Get Healthy?

Question & Answer

Melody, My donkey is obese how can I help my donkey lose weight.

Donkeys who are obese can have what’s called insulin resistance making it harder to lose weight. People have insulin resistance too. Here on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® we have one obese Donkey a rescue donkey named Tuba. Tuba is estimated to be in his late 20’s his weight is better and his blood work is great. Schedule blood work with your vet to see if you have insulin resistance and if the donkey is in the mid years and obese check for cushings, Pracend or Pergolide compound lab is used to manage cushings. Thyro-L can be used to treat insulin resistance and to help donkeys loose weight for a short time when used with a correct diet and exercise.

Tuba is obese but he is healthy. Taking the weight off him is a slow process. Tuba has perfect hooves. Tuba’s blood work is perfect. This is amazing as Usually when a donkey is obese the hooves rot off, white line separation and more. Controlling his diet is key.

My donkey has a thick fat neck that has broken over.  Can I fix this? Once the neck fat breaks over the donkey is stuck with this for life. Here is the good news. If your donkey has a fat neck that has broken you can still help him/her have a healthy diet and life. The donkey can recover in most cases and have a long beautiful healthy life. The donkey who is obese will gain weight much faster than the donkey who is not obese. Kinda like people.

Never starve a donkey. Losing weight and changing the body and blood chemistry takes hard work and time. You can do this! Your donkey is depending on you to learn everything you can to help him/her stay healthy.

How Can I Get My Obese Donkey Healthy?

Schedule a vet to come and take blood for insulin resistance and Cushings.

1. A dry paddock or pasture is a must. Donkeys evolved from the desert they cannot eat all day and night without getting obese and eventually sick or death. Please understand donkeys die from obesity. It is a sad death.

2. Create a track connected to the dry lot. The track is for exercise and not for meals. Feed tested low sugar/protein hay under 10% for meals.

3. Make sure your donkey is not getting fed by the neighbors etc., as this happened to us when we moved to our new farm.

4. Test your hay to ensure you have hay that has no weeds, alfalfa and is 10% or lower in sugar and protein. If you cant find low sugar/protein hay soak your hay to remove sugar. Soaking hay to remove sugars that can exacerbate metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance takes more time. If you’re using warm water, you’ll need to submerge the hay (again, a hay net makes this easy) for 30 minutes; if your water is cool or cold, soak the hay for 60 minutes.

5. Weigh your hay.

6. Slow feeder helps the donkey eat slower and make sure you are giving at least two meals a day. If you want to give more you must be weighing your hay.

7. Do not feed people foods, breads, cookies, etc., fruit foods. Sugar is sugar.

8. Do not let your donkey eat on pasture, brush, trees etc., all day and night. This can cause weight gain too. A dry paddock is a must. Toys and another donkey to play with are vital to your donkeys health.

9. Train your donkey to walk with you and take your donkeys for lots of walks and exercise.

10. Exercise is important for donkeys the same as humans. Donkey 101 & Donkey 102 will teach you how to get the foundation training in place to train your donkeys.

Melody Johnson
Donkey Whisperer Farm
www.donkeywhisperer.com

Donkey Health Tip – MUD

 

Here Comes The Rain
 
If your donkey is laying in mud be sure to get the mud off when it drys. Why? Mud has the potential to give sores to equine. The best way to remove the dirt and mud is a brush in the winter. Be gentle around the eyes and ears. We place sawdust down in the high traffic areas and a place to sleep outside. 
 
 
How nice would it be if I was able to come to your farm and train you how to train your donkey? Please take a look at Donkey 101 & Donkey 102. I train the owner or caretaker how to not only train the donkey for basic social skills. Learn how to stop the bolt, kick and bite. Prepare for the farrier and more.

Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand – Use your smart phone or any smart device on the farm. 

1. What is a sign of stress in my donkey?
2. What is a sign of a relaxed donkey?
3. What is the Donkey Hand Shake?
4. What is the 3 second rule?
5. What does walk-on mean? What is the ground tie whoa? (gas and breaks)
6. How can I help a donkey who wants nothing to do with me ever?
7. I have a kicking donkey, how can I help this donkey and stay safe.
8. How can I use the honor donkey to help my donkey learn?
9. Why is my donkey refusing to pick up the feet?
10. Why is play important in training and caring for equine?

Your donkey is waiting for you to learn donkey behavior and how to lead the donkey as a fair leader with a plan. Each time we step into the donkeys world we should be a fair leader. Scanning and aware of how to respond and never drilling or stressing our donkeys out. Stay ON DONKEY TIME ® .

Donkey Whisperer Farm Trainer, Melody Johnson
www.donkeywhisperer.com

 

Donkeys Are Stoic Will Not Show Pain Until It Is Too Late

Donkeys on the whole do not show their feelings of pain in very obvious ways, but behave as a human would who is called ‘stoical’, i.e. tolerating pain without complaint. They may make an initial violent movement of avoidance, but after that they become silent and as nearly as possible immobile in the face of pain and/or fear.

Therefore it is sometimes difficult to know when they are suffering acutely, and their behavior may look like ‘stubbornness’ rather than stoicism.

One indicator of pain or fear can be diarrhea, just as in humans. Since this may also dehydrate the donkey, it will be adding to its problems if it persists. A donkey who stops eating and drinking is at risk for death.

Please call the vet ASAP to save your donkeys life.

Thinking About Health Concerns of Donkeys and Mules

Health Concerns of Donkeys and Mules

Working with donkeys and mules takes training to an entire new level. Donkeys have photographic memories. Mules are half horse and half donkey meaning some mules will be more like a donkey and some more like a horse.  Not every mule is going to make it to the Grand Canyon. What’s the big deal? Horses are flight equine. Donkeys are seriously smart and into self-preservation. All equine have personalities just like people extroverted more go than whoa. Introverted more of a deep thinker and more whoa than go.
Dictionary:

Donkey – Equus Asinus or Ass

Three sizes

Minature

Standard or burro

Mammoth Donkey

JackThe term used for the male of the ass species.

JennetPronounced JEN-et, it is the correct term for the female of the species. The most commonly used term is jenny.

BurroA word taken directly from Spain. It means the common, everyday working donkey found in Spain and Morocco. Many people call a wild donkey a burro in the Pacific Northwest.

Donkey sizesDonkeys come in all shapes and sizes ranging from the Miniature Mediterranean 28 inches to Mammoth 16’2 hands. The ears of a donkey are much longer than the horse.

Mule – The mother is a horse and the dad is a donkey. Mules are Usually sterile.

Hinny – The mother is a donkey and the dad is a horse. The death rate is high when trying to breed this way. 

Female mule – Also known as a Molly.

Health Concerns

Diet is number one in the U.S.A. Donkeys evolved from the desert meaning they are seriously easy keepers. The overweight donkey is prone to laminits, colic, founder, hoof problems, abscesses, fat deposits. I.E., Neck crests and breaks. Death is final all due to poor diet. Donkeys must live on a dry pasture for the majority of their day. Donkeys will eat themselves to death if given the chance. Never feed donkeys alfalfa, oats, grass full-time grazing, bread, grass clippings. A safe reward for your donkey is a bite of a carrot. A bite. Never feed apples, pears etc., to your donkey. Donkeys evolved from the desert think about what is in the desert.  Donkeys are seriously Easy Keepers.

Fecal samples are a must to prevent worms. Donkeys must have vet checks and regular hoof trimming just like the horse when living in domestication.

Reproduction

Donkeys gestation is twelve to thirteen months. Vet care is a must if you think your donkey is pregnant get a vet check do not guess.

Donkeys are stoic – Meaning donkeys will never show pain until it is too late. Be sure to not wait too long to get medical attention as your donkeys life is depending on you.

Training?

The Donkey Whisperer Farm trains the owner or caretaker to train the donkey via our video training series Donkey 101 and Donkey 102. Take Melody Johnson to the farm with  you via your smart device. Each training program has a written PDF to print out and take to farm with you. We train the owner or caretaker to train the donkey worldwide using resistance free methods. Select OUR STORE to purchase donkey halter/lead lines, donkey training stick and string and our Donkey Training Video Series.

Happy Birthday To Rio The Mammoth Donkey

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Rio turned 13 years old! Wow time has flown so fast as Rio came into our life at 9 months.  Rio is a Mammoth donkey, not a mule.  Rio stands 16’2 hands at the withers.

Resource: History Mammoth Donkey

 

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

 

A Donkey Hoof Abscess (Abscess Video Training On Demand)

Donkeys evolved from the desert. The donkey was created to live on low protein and low sugar forage. Please test all of your hay or straw before purchasing. We do not feed straw on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®. Donkeys hooves were created to walk on rocks and hard dry ground, the desert. When the hooves get soft this is an opportunity for bacteria and debrie to enter the hoof. Sometimes a hoof trim can trigger the abscess. Eating too much fresh green grass or the wrong hay can trigger abscesses too. So much to learn to keep the donkey healthy.

Jan 25, 2019 while doing our evening farm check Oboe our rescue donkey had a limp. It’s a hoof abscess I said to my husband Scott. We began working fast to get Oboe out of pain. If you would like to learn how to build a boot for your donkey. Make your own poultice and print out a shopping list to take to the store. Our written PDF is attached with each training video we sell on demand. The best part of our training program videos is you can take me, Melody Johnson to the farm with you via any smart phone or device. We sell all of our videos with lifetime access. We do not rent our videos.

Order Your Donkey Hoof Abscess Training Video On Demand Here www.donkeywhisperer.com

We are not vets. We teach you how to get your donkey out of pain fast. Everything we are teaching you has been taught to us from our vets.

Please call the vet if your donkey is not getting better within three days of soaking and creating a new boot and poultice.

Please do not let anyone cut a hole out without an x-ray to find the infection tract line. A hoof tester is not good enough. The hoof takes one year to grow out after cutting the hole out. Donkeys can tear a ligament, or even fracture a bone, just like the horse.

Pain 

Please learn how to get your donkey out of pain quickly and keep the blood flow moving in the foot, prevent colic from not moving. The best pain relief for a donkey is banamine. If you are not careful with drugs the donkey can colic.

Donkey Whisperer Farm

WWW.DONKEYWHISPERER.COM

Mammoth Donkey

 

 


 

 

 

 

Miniature Donkey Playing

Select OUR STORE to order

 

GOD Bless You And Your Family Two And Four-Legged!

WWW.DONKEYWHISPERER.COM

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

“ON DONKEY TIME ® IS OUR BUSINESS LOGO” 

We train the owner or caretaker to train the donkey. It’s all about you! Learn how to train your donkey and never be frustrated again.

Select Our Store to order E-training and your donkey soft yacht rope halter/lead line.

 

 

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged

Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC

WWW.DONKEYWHISPERER.COM

%d bloggers like this: