June 14th
Alice, one of our beloved mini donkeys, recently developed a small abscess under her chin that began to drain. Considering her harrowing past, we worried deeply that it was life-threatening and immediately sought help to free her from the pain.
To ensure her safety, we performed cultures, which thankfully came back negative. We diligently monitored her temperature, treated the area multiple times daily with ointments, administered a course of antibiotics, and used heating packs twice a day to promote draining. Despite our best efforts, and although the swelling has reduced and the drainage has lessened, we still felt something wasn’t right. So, we had the vet come back for another examination.
After consulting the veterinarian for a third time, we arranged for them to return as soon as Alice completed her antibiotics and treatment. Despite the initial improvement, a rock-hard ball had formed under her chin. We knew something was still terribly wrong, so we had the vet perform X-rays.
Alice is 8 years old, and her teeth are constantly growing. We have them floated regularly to prevent chewing issues, sharp points, and abscesses in her mouth. However, the X-rays revealed a devastating truth: the roots of a couple of her teeth are so tightly packed together that there is barely any room in her mouth. As a result, the roots have grown much farther down and have anchored deeply into the base of her jaw, causing an incredibly painful and hard baseball-shaped abscess outside the bone.
Right now, we are administering intramuscular anti-inflammatories and pain medications. We can continue treating the abscess, but it won’t stop and will only worsen until those teeth are removed. Alice needs to be transported to the vet for surgery and may need to stay overnight, depending on the severity of the roots and jaw upon arrival. The estimated cost of her surgery is between $2,500 and $3,500.
Alice's story is devastating when you put it in the context of her traumatic past. We took Alice in as part of four mini donkeys from an owner who could no longer care for them. These donkeys had been living on over 15 acres, leading to severe obesity and potential health issues like equine metabolic syndrome. It took days, and the help of many dedicated volunteers, to safely capture and relocate these donkeys, and begin to get them the medical treatment they deserved.
Alice’s pain and struggle are palpable. Are you willing to help save her? We are desperately searching for grants to help cover the cost of Alice's critical surgery, but with so many applicants, we are painfully aware this may not be a successful avenue. We have scheduled her surgery for the earliest available date because delaying it will only make her condition worse.