While all of our animals receive dedicated care from their grooms and our veterinary department, our older residents require more regular veterinary check-ups and specialist treatments to ensure they stay in good health.
One of our older residents is Jenny, a 28-year-old hinny who lives at Town Barton Farm in Devon. A hinny is the hybrid offspring of a female donkey and a male horse.
Jenny arrived in our care in 1999 when she was just five years old. After spending some time at a Guardian home through our Rehoming Scheme, Jenny returned to us to enjoy her retirement.
In September 2021, Jenny's grooms noticed she was slowing down a little bit and was slightly stiff with her back legs when walking. She was subsequently diagnosed with osteoarthritis – a common condition in equines as they age that can make everyday activities such as walking and getting up and down uncomfortable.
Veterinary Surgeon Jamie Forrest explains: "There are many things we can do to help make our arthritic animals comfortable. We try to keep our older animals together in groups where they can enjoy a slower pace of life.
"They have a soft, deep shavings bed for extra comfort when lying down, and they graze our flatter paddocks. They also benefit from regular stretches and massages from our grooms.
"Some of our patients like Jenny are on daily anti-inflammatory medications to help keep them comfortable. Jenny gets her medicine every morning along with her favourite treat; strawberry-flavoured golden syrup!"
Jenny has six monthly vet checks to ensure her dose of arthritis medication keeps her comfortable.
Lil Hyde, Farm Supervisor at Town Barton Farm, says: "Jenny is a real character and very popular with staff. Her easy-going nature means she has been able to be part of Donkey Week in the past, as she loves fuss and attention."
"As our animals get older, it is important that we are extra vigilant with monitoring their movement and demeanour and ensure that they take their medication. Jenny is very comfortable on her current medicine dose and loving her retirement here at The Donkey Sanctuary."
