Best Sedative for Farrier Work

[DerHundistlos]

Dear Friends,

Please Help!!

We have a small donkey that requires a farrier for the first time. Until now, his high-level of activity plus feeding/watering on a concrete surface precluded the need; however, now that he’s older this method no longer works. There is no time to train him as he needs his hooves trimmed now. I recall a former neighbor who had a similar problem and she used an injectable medication (tranquilizer or sedative) that was amazingly effective in calming her donkey for farrier work. I remember she waited about 20 minutes after the injection to begin work. The problem is I don’t remember the name of the medication!!!

Friends, I would be most grateful for any assistance you may provide.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

[kashmere]

We use dormosedan gel if sedation is needed for farrier work. It’s a sub-lingual gel that comes in a tube similar to a dewormer. You must wear gloves when administering and you wait about 30-45 mins for full effectiveness.

Worked very well for my previously unmanageable mare, and we were able to work up to smaller and smaller amounts of sedation. Now she does not require anything to be safely trimmed and shod.

[Simkie]

Guessing your friend used injectible dormosedan. It can go IM, it’s very effective, and it takes about that amount of time to kick in. It’s not the cheapest thing in the world, and some vets are reluctant to dispense the injectible to clients, but it does work.

You can get it in a sublingual gel, too, as kashmere describes. Handle carefully, and read the directions well–it MUST go under the tongue to work, which can be a little tricky. I find the injectible mucho easier.

I’ve also used a combo of ace/xylazine for farrier work, and that’s also fine. But I give that IV. Ace can go IM, honestly unsure about xylazine.

Since you’re going to have to contact your vet regardless, best to just describe the situation to them and ask their advice

[IPEsq]

Considering my horse is kind of a jerk for the farrier on a good day, I asked my vet to mix him up a cocktail for the next visit since he’s on stall rest and likely to be even more of a spazz. We discussed the Dorm gel but also discussed how long I need the drugs to last–horse historically is the most rude about his front feet (I think with having the farrier being too close to his busy mouth), but since we have a mystery stifle thing going on, I’m also concerned about his comfort level with doing the back feet.

In the past, I’ve done Dorm/Torb, but it only lasts about long enough to just get the front feet done if my farrier hustles. Vet mixed that up with a little Ace for this time, dose appropriate for IM injection, in the hopes that the Ace will make it last a little longer. According to my farrier and my vets, Torb (butorphanol) is the component that helps “quiet the feet” the most, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen it given without Dorm or other sedative except maybe in a colic situation if you don’t want the horse so sedate.

[OverandOnward]

Ditto the vet pre-mix. With advice on how much to administer and when, and how to start small and go up as necessary. Talk to the vet about dosage options and how to implement them as the farrier work is in progress. Sometimes the farrier is also pretty well versed and can help with the dosage thing.

Even though there isn’t time to train your donkey, I’ve found that whatever you can do ahead of time to help the equine be a bit more understanding, even if it isn’t very much and is only 1 to a few days before the event, can help on the day.

I was going to say “a glass of wine 30 minutes before the farrier arrives” but you were asking about the equine. Just kidding, I hold the wine on farrier day until it’s all over and I’m home. :winkgrin:

[BigMama1]

Hard to know until you know how difficult he’s going to be. For a first time I would have the vet out to do it, so that he can top up if need be. Otherwise it’s a wasted trip for the farrier and you’ll have to bring him back. Once you know how much or little the donkey needs needs, you’ll know if you can get away with some oral Ace or Dorm gel, of if you need something more heavy duty.

My guy has shivers and requires pretty heavy sedation to get his hind feet trimmed. I have tried every oral and IM option under the sun, but the only thing that works is an IV cocktail of Dorm, Torb and Xylazine. We now know exactly how much of each he needs and the vet provides it to me in a premixed syringe.

Chances are your donk won’t need anything that hard core, but expect a little trial and error at first.

[IPEsq]

@OverandOnward

Ditto the vet pre-mix. With advice on how much to administer and when, and how to start small and go up as necessary. Talk to the vet about dosage options and how to implement them as the farrier work is in progress. Sometimes the farrier is also pretty well versed and can help with the dosage thing.

Even though there isn’t time to train your donkey, I’ve found that whatever you can do ahead of time to help the equine be a bit more understanding, even if it isn’t very much and is only 1 to a few days before the event, can help on the day.

I was going to say “a glass of wine 30 minutes before the farrier arrives” but you were asking about the equine. Just kidding, I hold the wine on farrier day until it’s all over and I’m home. :winkgrin:

I am probably also bringing a 6-pack for the farrier

[TheHunterKid90]

In terms of, no time to train…i can teach weanlings and yearlings that have barely been handled to be adequate for the farrier in a couple small lessons…provided he isn’t totally feral and you can halter and lead him…take a rope and loop it around his ankle…use it to gently ask the donk to pick his foot up…with mine I will use the rope, pick up the foot with it and then use my hand to take over. The rope keeps you out of range of a kick or quick snatch when you get his foot off the ground.

some farriers loathe xylazine for shoeing and demand dorm which van get expensive quick…i have used both interchangeably and honestly…my farrier doesn’t even know the difference. 🤷”â™€ï¸

[TWH_Girl]

@OverandOnward

Ditto the vet pre-mix. With advice on how much to administer and when, and how to start small and go up as necessary. Talk to the vet about dosage options and how to implement them as the farrier work is in progress. Sometimes the farrier is also pretty well versed and can help with the dosage thing.

Even though there isn’t time to train your donkey, I’ve found that whatever you can do ahead of time to help the equine be a bit more understanding, even if it isn’t very much and is only 1 to a few days before the event, can help on the day.

I was going to say “a glass of wine 30 minutes before the farrier arrives” but you were asking about the equine. Just kidding, I hold the wine on farrier day until it’s all over and I’m home. :winkgrin:

My boys are generally pretty good but I went through a farrier funk with my older guy a few years ago. He’d tremble and poop when he heard the farriers truck pull up! We did use Dorm for a while and it helped.

Last visit was a bit reminiscent of that being horse was shod two days after moving to new barn. I hope next visit is better or we will be needing wine and Dorm!!

[DerHundistlos]

Wow, what a lovely membership. Thank YOU all very much for taking time away from your busy schedules to help a person in need. I wish I could repay you each the favor…

[OverandOnward]

Well you know, I’d bet that every thread helps at least a dozen other people in addition to the OP! :lol: So you’ve already paid it forward, OP.

Everyone who contributes something useful in any thread is giving back to those who gave … if that makes sense. I think people enjoy participating and suggesting things, so that in itself is a reward.

(If you find the spot that shows how many people have visited a thread, it is far far more than ever post in it. So a large audience is benefiting from all the good info. :yes: )

[Xanthoria]

I use Dormosedan IM on my shivers horse for shoeing and it’s magic.

Ace is just alright, and Rompun is a joke (or as I call it “Romp On!”)