Two-year old Burt arrived into the care of international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary recently with a skin tumour on his elbow the size of a large grapefruit.

The tumour, known as a sarcoid, was literally hanging off by threads of tissue. It had been bleeding constantly and had rubbed against Burt's other leg which was causing him great discomfort.

The sarcoid progressed at an alarming rate, which was very distressing for Burt, and his owners, who told the Sanctuary: "Burt’s sar- coid first appeared in December but it was very small and didn't bleed. It didn’t appear to affect him either but after a few weeks it suddenly became the size of a golf ball, then a small orange – it bled and it just continued to grow.

"With Burt’s sarcoid growing rapidly out of control, and our forthcoming house move to a property with no land, we made the heart breaking decision to hand Burt and his lovely friend, Jacko, over to The Donkey Sanctuary, where they would both be given expert care and Burt’s sarcoid could be treated by the experienced veterinary team."

Elena Barrio who has been a veterinary surgeon at the Sanctuary for five years says: "This is a very large sarcoid and it is seems fairly aggressive, as it has grown at such a fast pace.

"The treatment will be ongoing for some- time but we are hopeful that Burt will make a full recovery and will enjoy spending the rest of his life in our care with Jacko. "If you own a donkey and suspect it has a sarcoid, it is important to consult your vet as soon as it appears. Please do not attempt to treat it yourself as the most suitable treatment required will depend on the type of sarcoid and this decision should be made by a vet".

To view the full interview with Elena log onto The Donkey Sanctuary’s website at www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/burt If you own a donkey or are thinking of owning a pair of donkeys and would like further information and advice please telephone The Donkey Sanctuary on 01395 578222 or visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

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