Howdy,
Oh how many times have each of us humans said If I could Only Go Back In Time? Seems life is not fair in so many ways and if we make a mistake the mistake can have life long effects on us and those we love so preventive care is the best plan. Please understand Dogs, Horses, Donkeys and Mules can be a deadly combination! Some can learn to get along and respect the owners commands to NOT pack and chase the equine and some cannot. Some equine can learn to not fear our domesticated dog meaning attack them kick them in the head or stomp them to the ground and some can not “One Size Does Not Fit All”, use extreme caution when working with dogs and equine.
Lessons learned the hard way; Dogs, Donkeys, Horses and Mules take extra caution, keep your dog on a leash until the donkey and dog respect one another. Dogs seem to like to chase a donkey, horse or mule and the equine can kick the dog killing our dog or leaving our beloved dog with brain damage. Shortly after our donkeys and horse came home to live on our farm I made the mistake of thinking I had control of my dogs in the same place as the equine. My dogs have always been honor dogs minding me in public places on lot’s of camping trips and traveling and yet on this new matter I had no control over my dogs.
What I could have done better?
Looking back all of my dogs should have been introduced one at a time and on a leash with at least two humans working to make this introduction a success, one human holding the donkey, one holding the dog. Letting the dogs and equine loose in one space is an accident waiting to happen. This was my mistake and a mistake I have deeply been regretting over and over. I pray my transparency helps you learn the right way of introducing dogs and equine to one another. In a matter of seconds the dogs broke from my command to stay and Buddy our little dog was kicked in the head. He was knocked unconscious for about twenty minutes and then four years later the seizures started so no doubt it is all connected.
Here is an article I wrote why Donkeys hate dogs for more information.
Living with epilepsy in our dogs can be managed but it is never easy and always leaves my face wet from tears and wondering Is this the last moment we get to have with our dog?
Select Canine Epilepsy to learn more about what Epilepsy in dogs and how to treat, help and give our most beloved doggies the best life possible. Remember head injuries can look like all is well and then like in the case of our little dog four years later the seizures start.
Perhaps this link will help you and your dog. Please do not be shy, leave a comment and a link if you have information to share be a human angel for a sweet dog and his/her owner.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer