If keeping her separated from the others is making her pace the fence, I would put her back in with the group. She's obviously not grazing while she's walking the fence, so it's really counterproductive--making her use extra energy and not eating the special food you're giving her. Maybe if there is one other donkey who is easy-going you could separate them both off and feed them both the special food see if she won't calm down if she has a buddy.

I only have experience with horses, not donkeys, but it seems to me that she should have recovered from the separation by now. I know that my mares may be upset when separated from their "best friend," but they get over it within a few days. If she was really "starving," it seems to me that her bloodwork would have been out of wack. Meanwhile, even a few little nibbles of grain are better than nothing, so I would go out there a few times a day and offer her some...if you can do it without being mugged by the others! I assume donkeys are like horses, in that most of the baby's growth takes place in the last 1-2 months of gestation, so you should have some time to get her back in condition. Maybe you could get some "cheaper" hay that you could feed to the whole group--if everyone else is hanging out around eating hay, maybe she would go with them. Just some ideas....

Yes I have 2 jennys that are never farther than 3' apart.I dread the day when something happens to one.Put her with the others.The pacing continuously will make her thin.Its important, they are pack animals need to be with others.Maybe try another grain is it possable its bad?

I only have experience with horses so all this is all FWIW...

Could she have an ulcer? Don't know about donks but that can put a horse off it's feed.

Is it possible that the meds she was on for the pneumonia could have caused an ulcer?

Other things to try might be probiotics or prebiotics..

What was she wormed with? Most wormers don't get all the nasty bugs, only some of them.

Probiotics might help. The pneumonia treatment might have upset the bacteria balance in her gut. Are her droppings normal?

Like the others, I have horse rather than donkey experience. But I agree that she probably isn't still upset about the jack. From what I've seen, it usually only takes a few weeks (a month at most) for a horse to settle down after a big change.

Is the vet completely certain the pneumonia is gone? I had a cat with pneumonia who seemed fine after treatment, only to relapse and be diagnosed with "dry pneumonia". Can the vet x-ray her lungs to make sure they're clear?

Man, this is bugging me. I have NEVER seen a skinny donkey. Except maybe in pictures of Middle Eastern countries.

There are a couple of things you could try that wonÂt hurt and might help. I would for sure discuss with the vet starting these two treatments ASAP:

1. Get her started on probiotics and prebiotics. You can syringe them down whether she is eating or not. Get the vet to recommend a brand to use. DonÂt mess around with the cheap stuff.

2. Start her on an ulcer treatment program:

If she was off feed while she was ill with pneumonia, that could have caused an ulcer as empty tummies can cause ulcers in equids. I think the only way to diagnose gastric ulcers is for the vet to stick a gastroscope down her gullet, so you might try this ulcer treatment and see if she improves, wonÂt hurt her either way:

Aloe Vera juice 1/4 to 1/2 cup AM and PM (relatively tasteless, so might try mixing with feed)
3 to 4 oz of generic liquid antacid (for humans, like Maalox) every few hours for 2 to 3 days (youÂll probably have to syringe this into her)

If it's ulcers, her appetite and attitude should improve in a day or two, and you can figure out where to go from there.

You can get the Aloe Vera juice in WalMart's pharmacy section. You could also talk to your vet about using Zantac (OTC human ulcer med).

HereÂs a pretty good article about equine gastric ulcers:

http://www.surgi-carecenter.com/topics/200408equineulcers.pdf

Also:

I know getting calories into her is of paramount importance right now, but grain is not good for donks. Free choice hay, along with a small amount of alfalfa hay, cubes, or pellets, or beet pulp would be healthier and give better weight gain. You can mix beet pulp shreds, alfalfa pellets with water and make a nice soupy mush-mash thatÂs great for hiding meds (if sheÂll eat it). Of course, a sudden change in her diet wouldnÂt be good, either. And if she wonÂt eat hay, free-choice hay wonÂt help either :-(

When the bloodwork was done, was her thyroid function checked? In horses, blood tests for thyroid function are unrelilable, sometimes even though bloodwork comes back ok vet will suggest a prescription supplement such as Thyro-L.

I dont know about getting over missing the other jack so soon, again i have horses-but i had 2 that were seperated for a little over 10 YEARS- when they were put back together, it was like a human reunion! i've seen the same with dogs.

thank you thank you thank you, you guys are the best!
After reading the above I called my vet and talked to him.
He said, the ulcer is a very good possibility. And did look at our chart and told me I had not told him she was off her feed for so many days when we treated her for pnemonia but said he should have known and apologized for it.........I in turn apologized for being laxed in being a good donkey mom...He said he suspected parasites or Equine flu and the blood work/fecal sample was good in both areas...so that's a relief. He also suspects she is suffering from seperation from her life long mate and that doesn't help.
I'm starting her on the ant-acid today. And the probiotics the first thing in the morning when I can get them. He is ordering the Gastrogard and it will be here Monday. I will get the beet pulp and pray that I can get her to eat it. He suggested adding some molasses on top. and she's a sucker for that....
thanks so much..... I'll let you know how she's doing.
arkiema..

You're a great donkey mom! That jenny better start shopping for a monther's day card right now! :-D

For sure keep us posted!

PS I have been through the horse-nose-turned-up-at-beet-pulp battle :-) you will win if you mix enough yummies in!

Sounds like you are doing the right things for your Jenny. I give my mini-donks crimped oats instead of grain as a treat. It is a low fat alternative to the normal equine grain.

Good luck! and let us know how she's doing.

Would it be feasible for you to get her jack back? Animals do grieve deeply. I am having that with my cat right now. His sister died suddenly in June and his whole personality has changed. He had been a ball of fire, always playing jumping, etc. He now mostly sleeps. He will play, but we have to initiate it. It's like he is waiting for her to come back.
Bless you and your little donkey.
Pat

There is a magazine outof Maryland called Donkey Talk .just for mini donkeys,I also got a book just minis from them.When I get an animal I find all info I can before I get it so I know whats going on and needed.This book was great.

A short update.

I started her on Mallox on Thursday morning. She's not excited about it but since I'm boss she takes it okay with a syringe. doing it 3 times a day. Yesturday, all day she ate hay. And she ate some corn. I bought the Probiotics and gave it to her yesterday. Should I do it again today?

She's eating hay like crazy, she and another jenny and foal are confined in a 1/4 acre lot with fresh water three times a day and plenty of shade.

The beet pulp is so far a no go.......I even put some of Grandma's molasses on it....no go....but in all honesty anytime you do something to a donkey like medicate it has a tendency to make them really stubborn about eating anything offered. lol The alfalfa cubes also didn't tickle her fancy. I've pounded some with a hammer and she will eat a bit of them crumbled, that way from my hand....

Dr. will have the Gastrogauard on Monday so we'll start that.
Her appetitie for the hay has greatyly improved.

It is not possible to get the jack back. He was the sweetest jack in the world, grandkids rode him, he was a huggable teddy bear. But he was a jack and as with all intact males either needed to be gelded or used. And I chose to give him to a friend who's jack is just too small and not agressive enough for breeding. He's also got 4 Shetland pony mares in his harem and is very happy. And donkey's do breed like bunnies and I'm at capacity.
Thanks so much for all your help. I'm seeing some improvement in her and now that she's happy and confined, eating all the best hay she wants under a big oak shade tree I'm praying she'll gain some weight.....

arkiema

Thanks for the update! So glad to hear her appetite is back - that's really fantastic news. Sounds like your diligent care has done the trick!

You could continue to give her probiotics for several days, wouldn't hurt, might help her digestive system get back up to speed, help her extract every available nutrient from her hay :)

Hey arkiema, did you get beet pulp pellets or shreds? I'm sure the bag will tell you, if pellets, they oughta be soaked in plenty of water for a half-hour maybe? at least until they soften up considerably. All the alfalfa cubes I've ever gotten have been pretty rock-hard, too. Might try just soaking the whole mess together, feed soaking water and all, see if that gets slurped up. Of course she probably still won't eat it but just think of the satisfaction she'll have at getting you back for pumping that Maalox down her throat :-D

Whenever I have some new concoction I want to feed the horses, I dump it into the community trough. Those greedy piglets are MUCH more worried about not getting their fair share than they are about momsy trying to poison them with some inedible something-or-other!

More info about probiotics and beet pulp at the link below...

An Introduction to Equine Microflora and Probiotics

The Myths and Reality of Beet Pulp

and you have to read this one, it will make you smile!
Beet Pulp Safety Warning (aka the famous squirrel story)

Here is a link that might be useful: Susan Garlinghouse DVM Equine Nutrition Articles

I gave her another dose of the probiotics today. And of course her doses of Maalox and boy is she getting pi$$y....lol
Her entire attidude is 'yes, you are trying to poison me, if one thing doesn't work you'll try another right?"
She's beginning to finally shed off...which is a good thing. It's actually the fact that she hadn't shed off that made me notice her not well over two months ago. Donkey's shed off really late but she was way behind the others. I brushed her for an hour or so tonight and she's loving that.
I got the beet shreds. That's the only thing they had. When I opened the bag I new immediately it was going to be a trial to get her to eat it. It has added molasses. I put some in a large zip lock and added water and it really smelled good. Actualy after reading the article you sent the link for, as a diabetic I think I've found the perfect food for me! lol
Tonight she ate about 2 cups of whole corn. She refused, Horse and Mule, alfala cubes, ground corn, and of course the beet pulp. I added half a cup of molasses to the batch I have soaking tonight and added some crushed alfala cubes.
She's still eating hay very good and I'm happy with that. And the corn is okay according to vet, a little high in protein but he said as long as she's still eating the hay in good amounts it won't hurt. but it would be really nice to get her to eat the beet pulp.
We have cows and our feeder steer is getting all of her rejects. So at least it's going somewhere that will do some good.
I truly enjoyed the article you linked. A lot of good information. And a great chuckle about Willam. We've raised a squirrel and I know just what she's going through. Our Rocky did finally go to the wild but returned for a few years to be fed grapes...
thanks,
arkiema