Donkey

Hyperlipemia

SignsReduced appetite, listlessness, standing vacantly. Common after obesity, pregnancy or stress; fatal within days if untreated

PreventionNever let it go off feed. If appetite drops, see the vet within half a day. Avoid crash diets and separation from companions

Laminitis

SignsReluctant to walk, stands with weight shifted back, hot hooves, lies down. Common after spring grass or grain

PreventionPrevent obesity. Limit time on lush pasture; no grain or sugary treats. Regular hoof trimming

Colic (abdominal pain)

SignsUnlike horses, does not roll; quiet changes such as not eating, lying down, dullness, no droppings

PreventionNo sudden feed changes. Never let water run out. Do not feed on sandy ground. Deworm regularly

Dental disease

SignsQuidding (dropping chewed hay), chewing on one side, bad breath, weight loss, facial swelling

PreventionVet dental check once a year; twice a year for seniors. Watch how it eats every day

Hoof abscess / white line disease

SignsSudden severe lameness, hot hoof, swelling at the coronet. Common on wet ground

PreventionTrim hooves every 6–10 weeks. Avoid mud and provide dry footing. Pick up and check hooves daily

Lungworm

SignsThe donkey itself is often symptom-free, but a horse kept with it develops a persistent cough. Young or weak donkeys may cough

PreventionIf kept with horses, plan fecal testing and deworming with your vet. Remove droppings from pasture daily

Barbed-wire lacerations

PreventionNever use barbed wire. Fence with wooden rails or electric fencing; check weekly for protruding nails and fittings

First aidRinse with clean water and press with a clean cloth. Deep wounds or wounds near a joint need suturing and tetanus prevention; see the vet the same day

Stepping on a nail or foreign object

PreventionPick up nails, glass and wire from the pasture. Always collect tools after work

First aidDo not pull out the object; photograph its position and keep the donkey still. If it has already come out, wash and bandage the hoof and see the vet immediately

Corneal injury (eye)

PreventionRemove protruding objects and branches from the stall. Protect the eyes with a fly mask; keep it stabled on dusty days

First aidSquinting, tearing or a swollen eyelid: see the vet the same day. Do not use human eye drops; prevent rubbing

Falls and leg sprains

PreventionAvoid steep slopes, ditches and frozen ground; lay rubber mats on slippery stall floors

First aidDo not walk it; wait on level ground. If the leg is deformed or cannot bear weight, suspect a fracture and request a farm call

Ringworm (dermatophytosis)

RouteContact with bald patches or shared tack and brushes

PreventionHandle any round bald patch with gloves. Keep brushes and tack separate per animal and disinfect

Salmonellosis

RouteFeces, dirty hands and boots, contact with diarrhea

PreventionAlways wash hands after care. Isolate any animal with diarrhea and disinfect boots

Leptospirosis

RouteContact with water or mud contaminated by infected animals' urine

PreventionControl rodents. Clean puddles and urine-soiled floors with gloves. Do not touch with cut hands

Cryptosporidiosis

RouteIngestion of protozoa in diarrheic feces

PreventionTake special care with foal diarrhea. Children and immunocompromised people must wash hands thoroughly after contact

Food

• Staple is low-nutrient forage such as barley straw and timothy hay. Let it eat small amounts all day
• Amount: 1.3–1.8% of body weight per day in dry matter. About 2–2.5 kg for a 150 kg miniature
• Keep a mineral salt block available. Grain and compound feed are generally unnecessary

Water

• Clean water available at all times. Drinks 15–30 L a day, double in summer
• In winter, break ice and offer water that is not too cold. A drop in water intake is an early sign of colic

Toys & play

• Slow feeders and hay nets to extend eating time
• Logs, large balls and hanging brushes to satisfy curiosity
• A sand pit or dry dirt area for rolling. Dust bathing relieves stress

Nest, bed & hideout

• A shelter with three walls and a roof. Protection from rain and wind and a dry floor are essential
• Large enough for two to enter at once. Wide entrance so a weaker animal cannot be driven out

Bedding & litter

• Deep bedding of barley straw or low-dust wood shavings
• Remove droppings and wet patches daily; replace fully once a week and let the floor dry
• Wet floors cause hoof abscesses and skin disease. Choose a well-drained site

Cage / housing material

Wooden rails, electric fencing or wire mesh. No barbed wire. Shelter of wood or metal

Size & space

Stall at least 3 m × 3 m per animal. Pasture: at least 0.2 ha for two as a guide

Layout

• Keep feeding and watering areas apart, on gravel or paving that does not turn to mud
• Fence at least 1.2 m high. Gates with a double lock the donkey cannot open
• Several shade and windbreak spots within the pasture. Remove toxic plants beforehand

Placement notes

• Avoid low-lying, poorly drained sites; never on land that floods
• A site with little noise or dog intrusion. Consider neighbors regarding braying

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Free movement in a large pasture all day is the basis. Always with a companion
• To prevent obesity, 30 minutes of in-hand walking daily. Use slopes and hard ground to work the hooves
• Limit grazing on green grass to 1–2 hours a day in spring and fall. Morning grass is high in sugar

Temperature & humidity

TemperatureIf dry, tolerates −5 to 30°C. Vulnerable to rain combined with cold wind

HumidityPrefers dry conditions. Damp environments cause hoof and skin disease

Summer & winter

• Summer: shade, fly control, fresh water. Exercise in the cool hours
• Winter: shelter from rain and snow. Dry a wet body; consider a waterproof rug

Nail trimming

Farrier trimming every 6–10 weeks. Pick up the hooves daily and check for stones, heat and odor

Brushing, skin & coat care

Daily brushing to find skin problems. Dry the coat after rain

Other care

Vet dental check once a year. Fly protection for ears and eyes. Plan deworming by fecal testing

Protection from predators

• Fencing to keep out dogs and wild boar. Donkeys treat dogs as enemies and will kick
• Masks and shelter against flies, horseflies and mosquitoes. Prevents dermatitis and eye disease
• Store feed in sealed containers to control rodents. Prevents leptospirosis and salmonellosis

Foreign-body ingestion

Remove plastic, string, netting and nails from the pasture. No edible fence paint. Keep ropes short enough not to tangle around the neck

Being stepped on

Heavy enough to break a human foot. Do not stand at its feet; children only with an adult. Wear safety boots when working

Getting pinched

Heads and legs often get trapped in gaps in gates and fences. Make gaps 5 cm or less, or 20 cm or more. Remove the halter when turned out

Falls

Falls in ditches, on steep slopes and frozen ground. Use non-slip mats in the trailer and drive slowly. Keep ramps low

Escape

Opens gate latches with its nose. Double lock and patrol. If it escapes, contact the police and the Livestock Hygiene Service Center; lure it back with a companion's braying

Safe release procedure

1. Call its name in a calm voice, relax and stop moving
2. With your free hand, press lightly on the muzzle or show favorite hay to distract it
3. Once released, immediately move out of kicking range and stand beside the shoulder
4. Consider why it bit (pain, fear, food) and remove the cause

After the release

Rinse under running water and apply pressure. The person needs tetanus prevention and medical care. If pain in the donkey was the cause, see the vet

What to tell the vet & what to bring

When it stopped eating, time of last droppings, temperature and heart rate, any feed changes, whether pregnant or obese

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Normal temperature 36.5–37.8°C (rectal). Above 38°C is a fever
• Heart rate 36–52/min, felt behind the left elbow; breathing 12–28/min
• Press the gum: color should return within 2 seconds. Purple or white is dangerous

Stopping bleeding

• Press hard on the wound with a clean towel and do not release for 5 minutes
• On a leg, bandage over it to keep pressure. Do not use a tourniquet
• For spurting arterial bleeding, keep pressing while waiting for the vet

Transport

• Lay non-slip matting in the horse trailer and load it together with a companion
• If it cannot stand, do not force loading; request a farm call. Keep warm and do not let the head hang low