Basic HTML Version
7
EQUINE MATTERS
DONKEY HEALTH
Veterinary Surgeon
Nicola Harries
XLEquine Practice
Wright & Morten
Veterinary Surgeons
Nicola Harries BVMS MRCVS,
Wright & Morten Veterinary Surgeons
A.
Average body weight of a donkey
is
170kg and height approximately 11 hands.
There are also miniature donkey breeds as
well as larger donkey breeds such as the
mammoth ass and the rare Poitou donkey.
B.
Bonding
- donkeys are social animals
and like company. They develop strong
bonds to other donkeys and sometimes
other animals, and for this reason should
not be kept alone. If separated from their
companion, even for a short time, this can
be very stressful, leading to depression
and anorexia, which can precipitate
hyperlipaemia.
C.
Colic
is a term for abdominal pain, a
clinical sign that has many causes, most of
which are the same as in horses. However
presenting signs may be different to those
seen in horses; dullness and inappetence may
be the only signs noted, due to the stoic
nature of the donkey.
D.
Dullness and depression
may be the
only symptoms exhibited for many diseases in
the donkey. Reduced appetite may also be
noted. This means that a disease may be at
an advanced stage before it is noticed. A vet
will always treat a call to a dull donkey as an
emergency, as it may potentially be a very
sick donkey.
F.
Foot trimming
should be carried out
every eight weeks. Donkeys' hooves are
smaller, and more upright and boxy than
those of horses; the horn also has a higher
moisture content. As the donkey evolved in an
arid desert environment it will be prone to foot
conditions such as abscesses and seedy toe
in our wetter UK climate.
G.
Gelding
or castration of the male
donkey should be performed under general
anaesthesia using what is known as a closed
castration technique. This also enables a
ligature to be placed around the blood
vessel during surgery, reducing the risk of
postoperative bleeding.
E.
Equus asinus
, the latin name for the donkey.
A
-
Z
of donkey health