Sick Baby Donkey

[bombay_43]

I just brought in a 2 day old baby miniature donkey. It appears too weak to suck its mother, does not want to stand anymore, and is fighting to throw its head a neck backwards.

Can a donkey need selinium just like a calf or lamb? This looks almost like white muscle.

Any advice out there?

[cakadu]

I feel so badly for you bombay and wish I knew more about baby donkeys. Maybe a bit more information might help to get the advice that you so need.

Were there any signs of birthing difficulties?

Do you know if it got any colostrum at all?

[bombay_43]

This is the third baby this female has had, both previous babies were dead when we found them. This one, we kept a close eye on her, and were really happy when the baby seemed to be ok.

I don't know if it is a bit premature, as it does not have any teeth yet. I don't know if that is the case with baby donkeys.

It is still alive, but I am not holding my breath with this one.

[bombay_43]

Linda, it did appear to be sucking the mother ok all day yesterday.

[cakadu]

In looking through my veterinary manual, horses do need selenium, but it doesn't say anything about donkeys or foals. It does say that white muscle is more a condition of sheep and goats than other animals.

The donkey book that I have doesn't mention anything about weak foals or the conditions associated with them, just orphaned babies.

The head going back makes me wonder if it is a vitamin B deficiency of some sort, which can cause them to do that.

I wish I could be of more help, but maybe someone else like kato or emrald can be as they seem to know a great deal about them.

[cakadu]

sounds like it could possibly be a genetic defect in the female that caused stillborns and now this little fellow that is weak. If you want to save it, a vet should see it as soon as possible.

[kato]

I agree totally. Get it to the vet as soon as you can. Little ones are quite delicate, and I wouldn't delay.

Have you checked it's temperature and it's navel?

[bombay_43]

I did try calling the vet, but as it was Rememberance day, no one was answering. I did also administer 1cc of selinium, but to no avail. She died late yesterday, so perhaps it is a genetic thing.

Part of living on the farm, we take the bad with the good. The mother is sure looking for her baby today. Pretty sad ole girl.

Thanks to all for the advice.

[bombay_43]

I will always remember something an rough old cowhand told me when we were new to the cattle business and lost a calf . He said ' you can't save all the people so there is no way you should expect to be able to save all the critters !!!'
Tough break to lose the baby, but maybe it was for the best. Just curious, has the jenny been bred to the same jack for all three of her foals ? If so, I would try breeding her to a jack with a different blood line to see if that might have a different result.

[cakadu]

I'm sorry to hear about loosing the baby, Bombay. That is never easy and is always heartbreaking to hear the mom looking for her baby.

I do know that we can't save everything, but it sure feels horrible when you can't, at least to me it does. I see the animals as being in my care and dependant on me, so when I can't do something, I feel really bad.

My heart goes out to you Bombay.