Spinney, an elderly piebald donkey, was recently relinquished into our care after his bonded companion passed away. After his grooms noticed he had stopped eating, our teams got to work resolving the problem.
Spinney had two severely displaced molar teeth, causing him discomfort when eating. After Spinney stopped eating, our veterinary team rushed him into the hospital to remove both teeth.
The surgery was a complete success. The team removed both teeth quickly, letting Spinney return to our New Arrivals Unit on pain relief and antibiotics.
Our team of grooms monitored Spinney closely on his return. When they noticed that he was still not eating, Intern Veterinary Surgeon Jamie Forrest was called out to see him immediately.
Jamie explains: "Although the surgery was a success, Spinney still wasn't eating and at high risk of developing hyperlipaemia, a disease caused by a build-up of too much fat in the blood if they do not eat enough. Hyperlipaemia can quickly become fatal in donkeys, so it requires rapid treatment."
After a full clinical examination, a feeding tube was placed in Spinney's nose to give him the vital nutrition he needed.
Jamie adds: "Because he wasn't drinking, Spinney was also starting to become dehydrated. As he was used to living outside, he would not tolerate being locked inside a stable, so we could not keep him on an intravenous drip. Instead, we gave him fluids via his feeding tube every few hours over the weekend."
Spinney's dedicated grooms monitored Spinney day and night over the weekend, continuously offering him his favourite treats to get him to eat.
Finally, after seven out-of-hours vet visits from Jamie and Senior Veterinary Surgeon Alex Thiemann over the weekend, Spinney started eating and drinking.
Jamie says: "It was such a relief when he finally started eating. I have never been happier to see an animal eat something! The New Arrivals team did a fantastic job of caring for him 24 hours a day over the weekend, and without their dedication, there is no way Spinney would have made it."
Although Spinney came in as a single donkey, he quickly made friends with some other new arrivals and continues to do well.
Rachel Troutt, Spinney's groom, says: "It always makes me smile when I see him looking so calm and relaxed and interacting with his new donkey friends.
"He is now off all his medications, and his mouth is much more comfortable. He is eating like a donkey and thriving."
