Facing Euthanasia: Vets at a loss  (Sedona, USA)

Eyore was rescued from severe neglect, carrying the long-term consequences of hardship. He had reached a point where conventional veterinary care could no longer offer explanations, only management, decline, and difficult conversations about euthanasia. 

This is the story of a donkey whose body was no longer responding predictably to treatment, whose appetite had almost disappeared, and whose days were increasingly defined by pain, lethargy, and uncertainty. It is also the story of what happened when Eyore was given the opportunity to choose for himself. 

What followed was a profound example of innate self-medication in action, revealing how an animal, even late in life and under severe physiological stress, can communicate precise needs when offered the right choices. Eyore’s recovery challenged assumptions about ageing, irreversible decline, and the limits of healing, leaving both guardians and veterinarians re-examining what is possible when the animal is allowed to lead.