Blueberry back in the pink after cancer op

JOY: Donkey mum and foal have spring in their step after pregnancy forced delay in lifesaving operation

A “bray-ve” pet donkey is lucky to be alive after giving birth while suffering from a potentially deadly form of skin cancer.

Blueberry, a miniature Mediterranean donkey, was pregnant when her owners at Aylswood Rare Breeds farm in Perthshire discovered a tumour on her leg.

Vets could not operate until she had given birth and her foal was weaned, meaning a six-month wait from June until November, during which the tumour ballooned dangerously to the size of a fist.

After the birth, foal Sioux became unwell while Blueberry underwent risky surgery but now both animals have fully recovered and are thriving under the care of Dundee’s Parkside Vets.

Rather than being put out to pasture, Blueberry will continue to have foals if her health stays good.

Aylswood breeder Ailene Charlton, 57, said: “When I was giving Blueberry a pat one day, I discovered she had a lump on her right leg.

“The vet said it was a sarcoid, which is a common type of tumour in donkeys.

“We were concerned for the sake of

“

We were concerned for the sake of the baby and decided to leave it until she had had the foal and it had been weaned

the baby and decided to leave it until she had had the foal and it had been weaned. But there are different types of sarcoids and this one turned out to be an aggressive form of skin cancer, so it grew really fast.”

Aileen added: “When the foal was born it was poorly so it had to be rushed to a vet in Edinburgh.

“They examined Blueberry too and eventually they were able to operate to remove the sarcoid.

“It was an unusual procedure because on that part of her leg there wasn’t enough skin to close up the wound so she had to have an open wound for weeks.

“Parkside Vets took over her care and were coming every other day to clean the wound.”

Blueberry is now back to her old self and is enjoying life on the farm along with the alpacas and pygmy goats.

All of the animals are either pets or therapy animals that are brought into care homes and schools for visits.

Aileen added: “I can’t thank the vets in Edinburgh and at Parkside enough,.

“They were so good and without them Blueberry and Sioux might not be here.”

Pictures: Steve Macdougall. Stable condition: Ailene Charlton of Aylswood Rare Breeds farm is delighted with the progress of miniature donkey Blueberry and her new foal Sioux.