Pallative Care for an old Donkey

It looks like Zekey could die just about any moment. Last week we noticed that his fat hump was suddenly smaller, then a few days later he seemed listless and depressed, which transformed rapidly into just barely alive.

I was surprised to find him still living this morning. He hadn't drank any water for at least 12 hours, so we decided to put a tube through his nose into his stomach and give him water whether he wanted it or not. Donna had me add salt and sugar to make it an electrolyte solution.

After a quart of solution and 20 minutes he seemed better. He continued making small improvements as we gradually got a gallon into him, but then his belly seemed to be getting swollen so we stopped for the day.

I am a member of horseadvice.com and Dr. O responded to my description of the problem with a explanation of how donkeys and ponies frequently get liver disease when they loose some body fat. The fat upsets the liver. They usually don't recover. Well, the disappearance of the fat hump could be the root of the problem.

When he dies, we will load him onto a flat bed trailer with the skidsteer and move him to where natural processes can reclaim his body. Meanwhile we are trying to keep him comfortable.

Here is the webpage I wrote for him last year: Zekey