Shipping fever?

[Fluffy_the_chicken]

Hi there! We are adopting a donkey from BLM. When we saw her she was really down and I assume that she has shipping fever since she has come from Nevada and the Oregon rain season has started. What should we do? We plan to call a vet once we can asses her more, but any medicine/precautions we should take to keep her safe?

 

[Cinnamon11]

I would call the vet to do a check up and make sure she’s healthy once you get her. Also you should quarantine her from your other animals.

 

[Fluffy_the_chicken]

I would call the vet to do a check up and make sure she’s healthy once you get her. Also you should quarantine her from your other animals.

ok! Thanks

 

[Bunnylady]

I would not bring this animal home until you know she is healthy. That means having a vet see her at whatever holding facility she is currently in. Every time you move an animal, it is an enormous stress on them, and this animal's body is already dealing with an incredible amount of stress even without piling an additional move onto it.

"Shipping fever" is pneumonia, and it can kill. Lung tissue is delicate stuff, it doesn't take a lot to do permanent damage to it, so time is of the essence here. If this animal actually has shipping fever, she needs to start antibiotics as soon as possible.

You say she was 'really down,' I hope you are talking about her apparent mood, since 'down' can have a pretty sinister meaning in large animals. Did you witness respiratory symptoms (cough, nasal discharge, etc)? If this donkey seemed depressed and her lungs are fine, it's also possible that she could have colic. Donkeys aren't usually all dramatic like horses when they are colicking, they tend more toward just standing around looking like, "I don't feel good." Either one is an urgent situation requiring medical intervention, the sooner, the better.

 

[Fluffy_the_chicken]

I would not bring this animal home until you know she is healthy. That means having a vet see her at whatever holding facility she is currently in. Every time you move an animal, it is an enormous stress on them, and this animal's body is already dealing with an incredible amount of stress even without piling an additional move onto it.

"Shipping fever" is pneumonia, and it can kill. Lung tissue is delicate stuff, it doesn't take a lot to do permanent damage to it, so time is of the essence here. If this animal actually has shipping fever, she needs to start antibiotics as soon as possible.

You say she was 'really down,' I hope you are talking about her apparent mood, since 'down' can have a pretty sinister meaning in large animals. Did you witness respiratory symptoms (cough, nasal discharge, etc)? If this donkey seemed depressed and her lungs are fine, it's also possible that she could have colic. Donkeys aren't usually all dramatic like horses when they are colicking, they tend more toward just standing around looking like, "I don't feel good." Either one is an urgent situation requiring medical intervention, the sooner, the better.

When we saw her, she was more soft to every thing, even it was eating her food, or being petted, she would almost do thing in slow motion. I wasnt sure is she was just tried or what? Her breathing is fine, and she walks without lifting up any of her legs, no pawing, but just keeping here head down like a quarter horse with slower and steady movements. I do know that the owners had a farrier vist her in the last couple of days, so would he notice/diagnose colic?