mulesuk

Malaga was booked into the dentist today.My backs a lot better but I was a bit apprehensive about walking into the village with him to Claire's Donkey Dentist Day.
The weather was foul and it was a long time since I'd been to a group that wasn't Parelli people,especially donkey people who tend to panic if there is something big and bouncy around which is why I had been asked to go in the afternoon when most of them had been done.
Well Malaga walked down the road in the wind and the rain like a trooper,despite the horseboxes and lorries speeding passed and spraying us (Think there was a Riding club do up the road...you'd've thought they'd've slowed down wouldn't you.I couldn't walk very fast but managed to keep "focused" on the job and he only spooked slightly once at a huge "something behind a tall hedge that rustled loudly
When we got there they were breaking up for lunch anmd as there was nowhere to leave him I had to stand in the porch for an hour and stand him in the driveway so I could drink my coffee in peace
He stood quietly and then walked up to the yard to have his teeth rasped when everyone came out.He didn't bat an eyelid and stood on the loose lead while he had that tooth harness thing put on and things stuck down his throat.I gave the toothman a Polo Mint to give him when he'd finished.Afterwoods I wrapped his rope round the fence and went and stood out of the pouring rain,he just stood with his ears lolloped and rain dripping off them!
Then he walked calmly home at MY pace.He's sooo much better now
Sarah took some lovely photo's for Claire and as soon as I get hold of them I'll post them

Honestly JJ.... surely you are not encouraging the dentist to give your mule sweets??? LOL i hope they were the sugarfree variety LOL.... but seriously well done both of you another brilliant thing to put down and behind as positive experience to build the confidence between you... excellent

I am always impressed that some equines will tolerate the gag etc without being sedated, neither of mine will. I could probably persuade Moon but Jack - forget it......

We had the dentist this week. Charcoal is okay with the gag. Her thing is to walk a circle every time the dentist changes rasp or takes a break.
Next time she will be sedated as some extra work with the Dremel planned!

This is probably a dumb question and I am sure my ignorance will out, again, but do donkeys and mules just need a normal horse dentist rasping or is there special other things to consider?
When the time comes, is the normal horse dentist the person I ring?

Can't really answer that as I have always taken my lot to the Donkey sanctuary vet when he visits to give a talk at Claires.
Interesting question,I'll try and find the answer

Contacted the Donkey Sanctuary and got this reply



We've recently funded a project looking at donkey and mule dentistry in collaboration with Nicole du Toit at the University of Edinburgh. Nicole compared mule, donkey and horse teeth and they were essentially the same. Although many people have thought in the past that donkey and mule teeth would be harder (due to their more fibrous diet) when tested they were the same as horses. Mules have also been shown to suffer from the same range of dental problems as donkeys and horses so require the same preventative treatment as other equids.



I hope this helps, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you want any further info.



Best wishes,

Faith





Dr Faith Burden

Veterinary Projects and Development Manager

The Donkey Sanctuary

Sidmouth

Devon

EX10 0NU

01395 573017

Thanks for that JJ