A donkey who mysteriously injured his front leg is now walking easy thanks to the quick-thinking actions of his grooms.
Sean, a 15-year-old gelding who resides at our Devon-based Hurfords Farm, came in from his field with a deep gash on his left leg.
His grooms immediately called our vet team to assess the wound, and it quickly became apparent that it was very deep and near his knee joint.
Veterinary Surgeon Jamie Forrest says: “We couldn’t find the cause of Sean’s injury in his field, but it was important that he received veterinary attention urgently.
“Septic joints can be life-threatening in donkeys as they require all four legs to navigate their environment, so quick treatment was required.”
After conducting radiographs and tests on site, Jamie, along with fellow vet Ellie McGoldrick and vet nurse Sue Dabinett, transported Sean to our Brookfield donkey hospital, a short distance away from Hurfords Farm, to undergo emergency surgery.
During the operation, his joint was thoroughly flushed with saline and antibiotics, and stitched up and bandaged.
Jamie adds: “With the help of pain relief, Sean remained comfortable in the days after his operation.
“He recovered really well and was soon .
“Sean’s wound was quite substantial, and had it not been for the speedy actions of his grooms, the infection may have spread and resulted in severe complications.”