This Pony Needs Your Help
Donation protected
This is Joey. Joey was left behind when a family did not want him any longer.
I am Joey's farrier. I went to trim Joey's hooves in early March and was alarmed at his condition - he was body condition 1 - starving and skin and bone. The person on the property did not realize that Joey was in danger of starvation. I brought Joey and his long time donkey friend Sapphire home. I called the vet immediately and began a refeeding program for starved horses. When the vet came, Joey's teeth needed floating - the sharp points and dental decay meant that eating was painful and difficult. Joey had a fungus on his face due to his poor condition. Our vet ran a general blood profile and tested for PPID (Pars Pituitary Intermedia Dysfunction, also called Equine Cushings). The blood tests indicated that Joey was near starvation and that he was positive for PPID. Lack of dental care and PPID can contribute to rapid weight loss especially during winter. Joey’s body is emaciated, he used all his fat and much of his muscle trying to stay warm this past winter.
Joey’s recovery is going to take a long time and may require several visits by our veterinarian to ensure that his teeth are floated and that he is vaccinate and dewormed. He will need supplements and special food as well.
We have already spent over $1000 on Joey's recovery on blood work, dental care, medicine, deworming, and food. His monthly bills for medicine and food will be approximately $175. He is on Prascend (pergolide) for Cushings (PPID). He is on a special weight gaining diet for older ponies. As Joey's teeth were so neglected he drops hay, even with veterinarian care. This means that he will need to be fed a diet of soaked feed every day. Right now Joey is receiving 4 meals each day with the professional help of an equine nutritionist. When Joey is strong enough, he will be vaccinated, and we will need to test his manure and deworm him again with the appropriate dewormer. Joey will always be a special needs pony.
Please help us help Joey. No pony should be cold and hungry. No pony should be neglected. And no pony's suffering should go 'unseen'. He may be small, but his spirit is great. I will post updated pictures of his recovery.
I am Joey's farrier. I went to trim Joey's hooves in early March and was alarmed at his condition - he was body condition 1 - starving and skin and bone. The person on the property did not realize that Joey was in danger of starvation. I brought Joey and his long time donkey friend Sapphire home. I called the vet immediately and began a refeeding program for starved horses. When the vet came, Joey's teeth needed floating - the sharp points and dental decay meant that eating was painful and difficult. Joey had a fungus on his face due to his poor condition. Our vet ran a general blood profile and tested for PPID (Pars Pituitary Intermedia Dysfunction, also called Equine Cushings). The blood tests indicated that Joey was near starvation and that he was positive for PPID. Lack of dental care and PPID can contribute to rapid weight loss especially during winter. Joey’s body is emaciated, he used all his fat and much of his muscle trying to stay warm this past winter.
Joey’s recovery is going to take a long time and may require several visits by our veterinarian to ensure that his teeth are floated and that he is vaccinate and dewormed. He will need supplements and special food as well.
We have already spent over $1000 on Joey's recovery on blood work, dental care, medicine, deworming, and food. His monthly bills for medicine and food will be approximately $175. He is on Prascend (pergolide) for Cushings (PPID). He is on a special weight gaining diet for older ponies. As Joey's teeth were so neglected he drops hay, even with veterinarian care. This means that he will need to be fed a diet of soaked feed every day. Right now Joey is receiving 4 meals each day with the professional help of an equine nutritionist. When Joey is strong enough, he will be vaccinated, and we will need to test his manure and deworm him again with the appropriate dewormer. Joey will always be a special needs pony.
Please help us help Joey. No pony should be cold and hungry. No pony should be neglected. And no pony's suffering should go 'unseen'. He may be small, but his spirit is great. I will post updated pictures of his recovery.
Organizer
Paola Di Paolo
Organizer
Woodville, ON
