hoof

What To Do When Your Donkey Has A Hoof Abscess

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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 Hooves Prepare For The Farrier

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 3 Comments

 

Donkey 101 Video On Demand Training Course – 19 Videos

https://donkeywhisperer.com/product/donkey-102-video-on-demand-training-16-videos-3-hours-long/

https://donkeywhisperer.com/product/stick-and-string-3ft-4ft/

 

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Why Train The Owner or Caretaker To Train The Donkey?

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“Horses Dream of Being Trained The Way A Donkey Demands To Be Trained” Melody Johnson, Trainer Donkey Whisperer Farm

Select Donkey Whisperer Farm Store to order our donkey halter/lead line, Donkey 101 video series and Donkey 102 with our stick and string to touch your donkey never hit the donkey.

Purchase in our Online Store

Donkey Whisperer Farm

Donkey Whisperer Training Tool Stick and String
DWF Stick and String

Donkey 102 E-Training Video Series launches our new Donkey Whisperer Farm Training Tool a high quality, ergonomically designed fiberglass stick and string for desensitizing and working intimately with your donkey. It is a mandatory tool for training your donkey to pick up his/her front and back feet and for addressing behavioral issues such as, pushing, crowding, bullying and refusing to come and lead. This tool is the key to being a Fair Leader and building a foundation of trust and respect with your donkey.

The DWF Training Tool Stick and String is not a whip and is never used to punish your donkey. The DWF Stick and String is designed for touching, desensitizing and connecting to your donkey. The DWF Stick and String also acts as a safety device, a boundary, if you will, should you have problems with your donkey pulling, pushing, dragging or violating your personal space. At Donkey Whisperer Farm we teach only holistic, resistance-free training methods and design training tools that are compassionate and support you in building a loving partnership with your donkey.

Our DWF Training Tool stick and string comes in two lengths, 3ft for Miniature Donkeys and 4ft for Standard and Mammoth Donkeys. Each stick and string is made from high quality fiberglass and comes in Royal Blue and Deep Purple. The string is a light, soft yacht rope with a leather popper that does not sting or make a whipping sound. The tip of the stick is black stitched leather and double reinforced and will not stick to your donkey’s hair. The handle is black rubber and is ergonomically designed for non-slip comfort. Our DWF Training Tool Stick and String has the Donkey Whisperer Farm logo on the stick. The DWF stick and string is made in the U.S.A and has a lifetime warranty.

We ship worldwide. within the United States Contact Us for International Shipping.

Donkey 102 E-Training Video Series with 3ft DWF Training Tool Stick and String. Colors Royal Blue or Deep Purple. 
Donkey 102 E-Training Video Series with 4ft DWF Training Tool Stick and String. Colors Royal Blue or Deep Purple. 

Donkey Whisperer Farm Training Tool 3ft for Miniature Donkeys. Sold separately in Royal Blue and Deep Purple. 
Donkey Whisperer Farm Training Tool 4ft for Standard/Mammoth Donkeys. Sold Separately in Royal Blue and Deep Purple. 
Royal Blue
Deep Purple

 

Purchase in our Online Store

Did I tell you donkeys are smart not stubborn. Donkeys are visual learners. Adopt a wild donkey and do not be afraid as this is going to be an amazing journey. Your donkey will teach you all about you! Donkeys are healers!

Why train the owner to train the donkey?

The donkey must trust the human before we can train the donkey. Donkeys are thinkers, game players they are not flight equine. This does not mean your donkey will not spook. All donkeys can spook. Many factors come to play when owning a donkey as in all equine the more we can show the donkey we are a fair leader and expose them to our human world the better the donkey will be. Donkeys generally do not enjoy loud music, and chaos. Donkeys are comical and intelligent. “Donkeys are not stubborn they are smart” if your donkey is not learning perhaps it is time for you to learn how to train your donkey.

It’s all about you! Stay ON DONKEY TIME when training your donkey and remember your donkey will learn best when you do not drill. Wait another day and stay consistent in your words, timing and training techniques.

Select Donkey Whisperer Farm Store to order our donkey halter/lead line, Donkey 101 video series and Donkey 102 with our stick and string to touch your donkey never hit the donkey.

Does A Donkey Need A Hoof Trimmer?

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Donkeys need their hooves to be trimmed just like a horse.

In the wild the donkey is walking up to 25 to 35 miles a day. On our farm the donkey is most likely not moving this much. A trimmer who is skilled in donkeys hooves is imperative to your domesticated donkeys health. It is best to keep your donkey(s) on a regular trimming schedule.

Select Donkey Whisperer Farm

Donkeys need the following:

  1. Shelter
  2. Clean water
  3. A dry paddock for most of their day.
  4. Lose clean salt in the shelter
  5. Hay to be tested to come in below 10% sugar.
  6. Never feed alfalfa, hay clippings or people foods, breads, cookies etc.,
  7. Never leave your desert equine the donkey on grass or brush, trees all day. They will get sick and have health problems.
  8. Fecal samples to test for parasites. No parasites no need to worm. Over worming has caused resistant free parasites in our donkey, mule and horse world. This is expensive to fix. Just like taking too many antibiotics in the human world over worming destroys the immune system and causes resistant free parasites.
  9. A vet check for dental and health at least once a year.
  10. Trimmer on a regular basis six weeks in the spring and summer and 7 in the fall and winter living in the Pacific Northwest. 

 

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

Donkey Hoof Abscess Video

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Donkeys are stoic will not show pain until its too late in most cases, donkeys hide pain. Donkeys can be perfectly healthy one moment and in a matter of hours laying down and limping or even hopping on three legs due to the hoof abscess. Please understand you must get to work quickly to get your donkey out of pain.

Learn how to prevent and treat a hoof abscess without calling the vet. Order hoof abscess video with a shopping list. Take this E-training video to the farm using any smart device connected to the internet. Sold with lifetime access.

Hoof Abscess Dangerous Myths

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PLEASE DON’T!

Here are some dangerous myths regarding hoof abscess treatment:

1. Soak the abscessed foot in bleach
2. Soak the abscessed foot in Lysol
3. Soak the abscessed foot in Apple Cider Vinegar
4. Place Tea Tree Oil on the abscessed area of the foot
5. Use an anti fungal cream on the abscessed foot
6. Walk your donkey until the abscess blows
7. Dig out the abscessed area with a pocket knife
8. Pack the hoof with Pine Tar and Turpentine
9. Ignore it, it will go away!

A hoof abscess is not a routine health issue! A donkey hoof is living breathing tissue with blood infused laminae. An abscess is a localized, internal infection, creating a pocket that is walled off within the hoof. This infection builds filling the pocket with blood, pus and fluid creating unbearable pressure in the hoof. Hoof abscesses are not external, they are internal. They are not only debilitating, but can be life-threatening!!!

Please, please don’t employ any of the mythical formulas above. Please learn how to respond to a donkey hoof abscess! Go to: Health Care Series

Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm, LLC

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Spring Grass Is Dangerous

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 5 Comments

SPRING!

In many parts of the world Spring has arrived and with it bulbs are blooming and birds are singing. It is a joyous time as we all stretch our wings from a long winter slumber, BUT, Spring is also the arrival of one of donkey’s worst enemies…GRASS!

If there is any health threat that is the most difficult to understand and get across to donkey (and all equine) owners it is the extreme dangers of spring/summer grass.

Grass, whether in a pasture, field or lawn has been dormant all winter. In response to increased temperatures and more direct sun, high concentrates of sugar are produced by the root system to signal sudden growth. This sugar is carried from the roots of the grass to the stem. Grass becomes lush and green and brimming with sugar and simple carbohydrates. It is the equivalent of a rich pastry for us human beings.

Our donkey’s have been in mud, cold and gloom for months and we cannot find it in ourselves to keep them from “getting out”, “being in the warmth of the sun” and “doing what comes natural”. BUT, grass is NOT natural for donkeys and is detrimental to their health! As desert dwellers donkeys rarely have access to green grass in the wild. Their natural diet is high fiber woody materials and every inch of their anatomy is designed for this, including their gut and their feet.

The list of health ailments caused by grass consumption in donkeys are numerous, including insulin resistance, foot abscesses, colic, Cushing’s Disease, laminitis, metabolic disease and founder.

Remember SAFE GRASS takes work to find. Studies have proven mowing the donkey pasture down to nothing and feeding tested low sugar/protein hay helps. We created tracks for our donkeys and horses to exercise on and not eat too much spring or summer grass.

 

Please monitor your donkeys access to tall grass.  Turn-out on the tracks in the early am before 10:00am as the NCS is the lowest. During  these hours the sugar has receded from the stem of the grass back down to the roots. Sugar will be at its lowest.

Here at https://donkeywhisperer.com we are dedicated to donkey healthcare and wish you and your donkey a beautiful Spring.

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

Melody & Scott Johnson

Sunshine On The Donkey Whisperer Farm, Sequim, WA

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 2 Comments

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Build a custom fit halter for your donkey, horse or mule.

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wp-1458048456338.jpgwp-1457445157903.jpgMiss Lily 2015 age 10RocketmaneyeRIOMELODYRIDINGJULY19SEQUIMMMFARMAGE8IMG_6838IMG_6790IMG_6797IMG_6066wpid-wp-1441722749055.jpgIMG_5067IMG_5058

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

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Welfare Ranchers Escalate War on Wild Horses

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Wild Horses and Donkeys

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Rio2012eye

 

Select BLM Wild Horses and Donkeys news article to read more.

smiling donkey

lilylookinginwoodsbitttlesssogood

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

Melody

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Baby It’s Cold Outside

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 8 Comments

Kingston, Washington is cold, twenties at night for at least one week

and low thirties during the day. Wind chill brings us into the teens.

 Rocket Man has lost weight due to the slow feeder, he got a new blanket

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Mr. Rio is sporting his winter blanket

RIOAGE7DEC22014

Miss Lily says “enough of the darn photo shoot I am hungry” 

LILYAGE8DEC22013

Why are all of their eyes white? 

Photo was taken last night.

Select How can I measure my donkey, horse or mule for a correct blanket fit?

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

Melody

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Draft new web page – http://donkeywhispererfarm.com/home/

Americas Horses, Donkeys and Mules

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Take action: Select Safe Act

Select Horse Slaughter Advocates

Select Humane Society Stop Horse Slaughter For Human Consumption

Select Straight From The Horses Mouth

Select Why Is Equine meat not safe for human consumption

Select the truth behind horse slaughter 

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

Melody

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Does My Donkey, Horse or Mule Need A Grazing Muzzle?

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 4 Comments

RIOLILYPONYUP

Consider a track for your donkey. The track will turn to dirt.  The track is used for exercise. No grazing muzzle required. Place a gate in the middle and you can let the donkeys graze in the tall grass in the middle for 1 hour per day. The best time to graze is between 6:00am and 10:00am the sugar level is the lowest.

RIOLILY2012JUNESUMMER

Wild horses, donkeys, and mules walk at least fifteen to twenty miles a day along with a bit of running when a predator comes.  Domesticated equine today stand around eating and are prone to laminitis, founder, colic, hoof abscesses, and eventually death.  “All of these things can be avoided if we understand that the equine is built to eat a little bit of grass and walk, eat a little and walk, run, sweat, and move their feet.  Donkeys are always easy keepers and cannot stand out in the lush brush, green grass, oats, and grain while being a couch potato standing around the farm.”

“If you get educated about the diet, learn how to keep your equine healthy you will save vet bills, money, tears, stress, and most of all the life of your beloved equine.” Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm

Did you know laminitis is a man-made problem? 

Yes. Diet and Exercise is the issue.

Here at the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®, I limit the amount of time our equine get to go out to eat grass to half an hour in the morning.

Each of us needs to make our own decisions as to what is best for our beloved Donkey, horse, or mule and we must never forget the animal did not choose us we chose them. We are smart human and it is our job to get educated and provide them with the best life possible.

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

Melody Johnson

https://www.donkeywhisperer.com

What A Farrier Needs

/ Donkey Whisperer Farm ® / 2 Comments

RIO&MELODYM

Perhaps you are wondering what in the world a farrier is?  A farrier is the human who will be certified in balancing, trimming and possibly shoeing  equine (horse, donkey or mule) every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven in the fall and winter.

What is a natural trimmer for Donkeys?  Pete Ramey site explains more

No shoes, balance, trimming and helping keep the equine in optimum balance without shoes

RIOLILY2012JUNESUMMER

Why should I care how happy my farrier is?

A great farrier is essential to optimum health of your beloved equine.  I highly suggest you do your homework before hiring a farrier to work on the hooves of your equine. Balance, no blood, no soreness is what your equine needs to stay happy.  Remember equine pick up on the emotional mood swings us humans have so keep your farrier happy and calm.

What A Farrier Needs?

A safe equine to work on!  Please do not ask your farrier to train your equine as this is not their job.  A  farrier needs to feed himself and his family and a farrier that gets hurt working on your equine will not be able to work and provide himself and his family with an income.  Additionally, a farrier that can’t concentrate on the hoof and is worried for his life will more than likely not be able to do as good a job.

1.  A tame and gentle equine – Teach Your Donkey To Pick Up the Foot

2.  No dogs or children running around causing a distraction for the equine, farrier, and you the handler

3.  Put the cell phone down and pay attention to your equine to keep the farrier and equine safe

4.  A place that is close to his truck as he needs to get to his tools without taking a hike

5.  The equine to be held by a competent human that can control the equine and help the farrier stay safe. – Remember this is a really dangerous job

6.  The equine to be standing calmly and as ready as possible

7.  Make sure your equine has had his hooves picked up at least twenty-five times before the farrier arrives – do not make the first trimming appointment be the first time the equine get’s the foot picked up.

8.  A dry place to work, flat, swept clean

9.  No dark places as your farrier needs to see what he/she is doing

10.  A shady place to work and don’t forget Insect repellant sprayed on your equine

11,  Pay him/her the same day he trims the hoof

12,  Make your appointment for six or seven weeks and keep up with the farrier work

Bonus:  A cool beverage on a hot day

Rioage62012sept

Remember no one knows your equine like you do!  Keeping up with a regular trimming schedule is best for the equine and your farrier.  Partnerships via human and animal form take time and a bit of watering.  You can do this!

Caring for equine takes a team effort; owner, veterinarian , farrier let’s not forget acupuncture, chiropractor and massage therapy as needed. Stay On Donkey Time ®.

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

Melody Johnson, Trainer/Owner

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®