A nine-year-old mule and Donkey Sanctuary favourite is back fighting fit following a bout of colic, thanks to the quick actions of charity staff.
Elmo, a popular resident at Axnoller Farm in Dorset, had shown a change in behaviour, standing and lying down more often, so the yard’s veterinary team investigated.
“Despite being very bright, it was obvious Elmo was not quite his usual self,” said Jamie Forrest, Intern Veterinary Surgeon at The Donkey Sanctuary.
“The grooms acted very quickly and brought him inside to be examined. Recent changes in the weather can be enough to trigger episodes of colic in donkeys and mules, so he needed to be seen quickly to assess how unwell he was.”
Elmo was given a sedative to ensure the veterinary team could safely examine him.
The clinical exam found him to be well hydrated and to have a normal heart rate, and after checking Elmo for any stomach problems, the team took a blood sample.
The examinations helped the team diagnose Elmo was with colic. After he had come round from his sedation, his grooms fed him wet food to help lubricate his stomach before letting him back out to his field for further monitoring under their watchful eyes.
“Thanks to the quick-acting grooms and the veterinary team, Elmo has since made a full recovery and is back to his usual self, with no further signs of colic,” said a spokesman for The Donkey Sanctuary.
