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AUTUMN 2015 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
8
DONKEY HEALTH
Figure 3 – An x-ray of a donkey's foot showing rotation of the pedal bone due to laminitis
Figure 4 – Intra-oral view of a neglected donkey‘s mouth
Another complication of obese donkeys is
laminitis
(Figure 3)
. This painful condition
can be caused by poor foot management,
trauma, hyperlipaemia and colic. Laminitis
is a painful condition of the feet; signs
generally include lameness, weight shifting
from foot to foot, a laminitic stance where
the donkey will rock back on its heels to
try to take the weight off the front of its
hoof, lying down and sweating. A
common sign exclusive to the donkey is
that they will hold alternate forelimbs off
the ground; this trait is not seen in other
equines. Again, the stoic nature of the
donkey means that early signs may often
go unnoticed. Nursing of these patients
requires them to be confined to a box or
stable on a deep soft bed. Make sure
food and water are within reach as they
are often reluctant to move around. As a
first aid measure before the vet arrives
homemade foot pads can be applied to
the feet using pads of cotton wool or
gamgee held in place with a cohesive
bandage or duct tape. As discussed
previously, ensure his/her companions
are close by and can be seen.
Dental examination and treatment in
donkeys is often neglected
(Figure 4)
as
they do not regularly wear a bit, so it is
easy to forget that their teeth require
attention the same as horses do. Sharp
enamel overgrowths which may dig in
and lacerate the cheeks and tongue can
lead to ulceration and a reduced appetite.
Quidding can occur where the food is not
chewed properly and falls from the mouth
and can be found on the floor of the
stable. Donkeys with enamel overgrowths
can also retain food in their cheeks and
develop a 'hamster like' appearance.
Older donkeys with poor dentition may
find it difficult to eat long fibre forage like
hay and straw so chaff can be fed along
with other concentrates. These feedstuffs
should be dampened to prevent choke.
Nursing the sick donkey can be a time
consuming and frustrating task. When
feeding try to tempt them with their
favourite treats whether this be apples,
carrots, bread or even biscuits. Be patient,
tie up companions when feeding so you
can monitor feed intake. Remove any
uneaten food and prepare the next feed
with fresh ingredients. Quiet or ‘off colour’
donkeys should be treated as a veterinary
emergency.