One Stubborn Tooth, One Brave Donkey: Darby’s Road to Recovery
By Animals Correspondent
A donkey named Darby, who spent several months at The Donkey Sanctuary’s dedicated donkey hospital following complications with a routine dental extraction, is now back to full health and among his companions on his sanctuary farm in Devon.
In December last year, Equine Dental Technician Kelsey Ham referred Darby to Donkey Sanctuary Veterinary Surgeon, Alice Hodgson, to extract one of his lower cheek teeth.
The tooth had been displaced, and as a result was causing food to pack around it, which if left untreated could cause gum disease.
Darby made the short trip to the charity’s donkey hospital where x-rays were taken so vets could plan his surgical procedure.
The brown gelding wasn’t closely bonded to any particular companion in his resident herd, but was accompanied by a donkey named Gabrial [sic].
On the day of his procedure, surgeons Alice and Curtis Goding successfully extracted Darby’s tooth. In the following weeks, the socket healed well, and Darby returned to his sanctuary farm.
However, grooms later noticed discharge from his lower jaw. Though the socket looked fine, he was treated for an apparent wound infection. When the area failed to heal, Darby, then 15, was readmitted for scans and monitoring.
He spent several months in hospital with Gabrial, receiving daily medication and undergoing extensive diagnostics: blood work, radiographs, ultrasounds, wound flushes, and debridement. Eventually, a scan revealed a small sequestrum—dead bone left from the extraction—preventing the wound from healing.
Alice explained that such fragments can be hard to detect, but thanks to the team’s persistence, it was identified and removed in a short follow-up procedure. With the issue resolved,
Darby returned to his herd, warmly welcomed by brays from his companions. His wound has now healed completely, and he’s enjoying life back at the sanctuary.
The importance of regular dental checks
Regular dental checks (every 12 months) are vital to maintain the health of donkeys’ teeth.
Donkeys have two sets of teeth in their lifetime. The first set are called ‘deciduous teeth’, which appear above the gums in the first few weeks of life, then gradually fall out and are replaced by a permanent set of adult teeth at around five years old.Problems with donkey’s teeth can cause them a lot of pain, as well as an inability to chew properly, graze or eat.
Donkeys have a stoic nature, and this means they are good at hiding pain and illness, and it can be difficult to tell if something is wrong.
The teeth cannot be easily seen, so it is even more important to arrange regular dental checks with an appropriately qualified person who can recognise the signs of dental problems.
To find out more, please visit https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/for-owners/owners-resources/donkey-dental-care
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