Lulu has been limping for several days and over the years, we’ve learned about this problem. With donkeys, this is almost always an abscess in the hoof or a twist or strain. I used to call the vet, but that usually meant a $250 bill and an armload of medicines and syringes.

Abscesses are sores or infections in the hoof caused by stones or sticks or sharp objects, they are painful but almost always break of their own accord, although they can become infected if not treated. And sprains and twists always heal, you just have to be patient and willing to watch your animal limp for a bit.

Lulu was limping for three days, so we called Ken Norman, our friend and farrier and he came by tonight. Three days is my limit.

He scraped Lulu’s hoof, saw the abscess, helped to drain it, Lulu is already walking better. Ken will be back to trim the donkey’s hooves during our Spring Open House, June 10-11, 11 to 4 p.m.  He said the abscess was beginning to break naturally, but he put some balm on it and wrapped it.

We feel better about going to Connecticut tomorrow for a book talk.

I’ve learned that there are times to call the large animal vet, and times not to call them.  Vets don’t know much about donkeys, farriers do.

While it’s always hard to see an animal in pain, there are a number of problems that they can work out themselves. And the less expensive animals are to maintain, the more animals we can have and care for.