After being alerted to a small mass in Joe’s ear our Veterinary Department stepped in to remove it.
Joe came into our care with his companion, Dinni, and he is a very sweet member of our New Arrivals unit at Hannigan’s farm in Liscarroll.
New Arrivals Supervisor, Dawn O’Connor, says: “Both donkeys are very friendly, and Joe will always follow us around the paddocks.”
One day, New Arrivals Groom, Kathleen Lenihan, noticed a small mass in Joe’s ear.
Kathleen says: “We were concerned it was a sarcoid, and this type of skin tumour can spread rapidly to other parts of the donkey's skin.”
Sarcoids are a type of skin tumour and are a serious health issue. The tumours often appear suddenly and, depending on the type, can grow quickly. However, they are strictly limited to the skin and the tissue directly under it; they do not spread from the skin to internal organs.
Shortly after, the mass was removed by laser under general anaesthetic. It was then sent to an external lab for further investigation and was diagnosed as fibropapilloma, a benign mass.
This was great news for Joe who was recovering well from his surgery.
Although Joe will always have a hole in his ear, he is free of any discomfort thanks to the care provided by our dedicated team of experts.
