The Lovebirds

Barnyard Gynecology

If you actually made it past the title of this post without getting scared off, be warned, there is more to come.  You may consider this to be TMI, but a lot of mares have problems like the one below and this is generally a very successful option that not many people seem to be aware of...

After giving birth to a big lug like Ramsey when she was only 23 months old, Emma had a lot of stretching of her vulva.  She managed to give birth unaided despite my valiant attempts to be awake when the time came, but she did have a great deal of vaginal bruising after the birth.  The bruising went away within a few days, but the stretching never has.

I had hoped that this problem would repair itself as Emma finished growing up, but instead, it has gotten steadily worse with time.  It is not an issue when she is standing, but the edges of her vulva tend to gape open when she is lying down and bits of straw or shavings tend to get stuck in this most sensitive of places. 

This is not only terribly irritating and uncomfortable for her, it is a real health hazard as it can cause all sorts of urinary, cervical or uterine infections.  Constant irritation and an influx of air and/or debris into the vaginal canal not only leads to infection, it also causes increased pain during heat cycles. In broodmares, it is also a cause of placental infection and abortion.

So, what is a poor young donkey lady to do?

Make the long dreaded, but necessary appointment with the gynecologist vet and schedule a caslick's procedure.  This is usually done on mares with poor vulva conformation, but is also a good option for cases like this.  It is also particularly helpful for broodmares (especially those with a tipped vulva or a history of miscarriage), athletes in heavy work or for any mare who has suffered some kind of vaginal injury.  It is quite common to see caslick's procedures on racehorses and eventers. 

Basically, the top half of the vulva is surgically closed to prevent any air or debris from getting into places they have no business being.  A very narrow strip of mucosal tissue is cut off from either side of the vulva and then the sides are sutured together so that they will grow back with a clean, tight seal. The sutures generally extend downwards until they are level with the pelvic floor.  This provides good protection without interfering with urination.

Emma has very good conformation in this area and her problems are not very noticable when she is standing, only when she lies down.  On the left is before and the right is shortly after the procedure.  There is some swelling caused by the local anesthetic - that was gone within a few hours. 

If I ever decided to breed Emma, this would have to be undone or giving birth would cause very severe tearing.  However, much as I would love to have more baby donkeys to play with, Emma will not be producing them.  Breeding Emma would not be a safe or responsible thing to do.  She should not have been allowed to become pregnant at such a young age in the first place, but things like that happen in neglect cases. 

The Caslick's procedure should significantly decrease Emma's risk of infection and improve her quality of life since she will no longer have to deal with the constant irritation of having hay chaff in the worst of all possible of places.

That is what I keep trying to tell her anyways.  I am not sure she is convinced yet.

She had the procedure done the Wed. before Thanksgiving and she is only just now starting to talk to me again.  I can't say as I blame her having been through more than my fair share of tortuous encounters with the gynecologist, but it really is for her own good.  I am sure she will forgive me eventually.

I hope.

Donkey Talk

Enjoy it while it lasts

By this time last year, we already had over 30 inches of snow.  This year, we have been having a lovely, extended Fall.  You can tell which one we prefer.

Thanksgiving

A scrumptious feast...

Some good conversation...

A little bit of chaos...

And some time to put your feet up at the end of the day. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sweet Puppy Goodness

A while ago, I introduced you to Baby Bea, Farm Buddy's sister's new puppy.  There was much agonizing about getting a new puppy because they were worried that the old dog might feel upset and upstaged by a new puppy.

It has been my experience though, that most, not all, but most, older dogs enjoy having a puppy around.  It is the nature of dogs to be a part of a pack and pack means older dogs raising and training the pups.  A puppy can often bring a lot of new life and joy into an old dog's world and a good old dog is the best trainer a puppy can have.

Linda was going to put off getting a puppy even though she really wanted one, but then a friend of hers who raises Goldens had just the right puppy and the temptation was unbearable. While FB and her sister were obsessing over this, I told them that Linda should just get the puppy.  Life is short and if you have the time, space, money and energy for a puppy then you should have one.  If you have a pair of sweet, older Goldens who love company, than you should definitely get the puppy.

Fortunately, I was right.  Sadie adopted little Bea after the first few days and absolutely loves her new puppy.

So does everyone else.

Bea has been a big hit....

and, she is learning all she needs to know from her mentors.

 There is nothing like a good pack.

Dust Settling

Tessa is doing very well down at Riding Buddy's place.  She is in loooove with Hawkeye and is enjoying being a horse for a while.  It did go to her head for a bit (doesn't it always?) and she started to behave like a foolish, lovesick twit (or like a herd-bound horse instead of a sensible donkey).  I went down and had a talk with her and showed RB some ground-work exercises to do with her and it did not take long for Tess to remember that she is far to mature and sensible for such nonsense.  She is now having fun going for walks with RB and she is basking in all the extra attention she has been getting.

Not having her around has certainly been an adjustment for me.  Oddly enough, I don't miss her around the barn too much since the donkeys take up such a vast space in the universe, but it is a jolt when I drive by RB's on my way to work and see Tessa out in her field.  Even when I am expecting it, seeing my horse out in the wrong field never ceases to give me a twinge of panic and make me feel like I need to rush home and check my fences.  I guess there are some things that are just hardwired into the deepest, darkest crevices of a horsewoman's heart.

The donkeys were more curious about Tessa's departure than upset by it.  They were also a bit jealous of her adventure.  Emma and Ramsey remain inseparable and there was no real change in their behavior.  Ben, on the other hand, spent a few days cautiously watching for her return and then seemed to take a deep breath and relax.  He was quite nervous around Tessa when he first got here and it took him several months to feel comfortable living with her.  He did finally get relaxed with her, but he is noticeably happier to be biggest equine around.  He has taken to hanging out in all of Tessa's favorite spots

Since her departure, I have even caught Ben playing with a toy several times, which he never did before.  He hangs out with Emma and Ramsey and the three of them are becoming a very tight little group.  Ben used to be a little bit shy and aloof - not anymore.  He has become almost as much a velcro donkey as Ramsey.  If I walk in the pasture now, I have Ben on my right, Ramsey on my left and Emma just behind, nudging my elbow.

Oddly enough, I think the donkeys spend more time outside the barn and are getting a bit more exercise.  They used to spend a lot of time in the barn and Tessa would would stand about 30 feet outside of it.  I always thought that Tessa wanted to be out more, but would not go out without her friends.  Now I wonder if Tessa wanted them to stay in.  She has always been very maternal toward and protective of the donkeys, especially toward Emma. I wonder now if she wanted them in the barn where she could watch over them.

Mind you, the donkeys are still total barn babies and it is a very, very rare raindrop that ever falls on one of them, but they are out and about more.

I always find it fascinating to see the way herd dynamics change and adapt to every new situation.  I have been observing and studying animals all my life, and yet they never cease to stop surprising me. 

All-in-all, this massive shift has been a big adjustment for everyone, but it is working out.  The increased riding time has not happened yet, but it is always hard this time of year anyway with the short days and bad weather.  Now that hunting season is in full swing, we can't be out in the woods regardless, so, for now, it is a moot point anyway.  Tessa is happy pretending to be a horse and the donkeys are happy being donkeys so all is right in their worlds.