Donkeys are large, strong animals that can pull any kind of load. They were originally used as horses, but due to their size and temperament, they were jettisoned as replacements for the horse.
Because of this, donkeys have become the new horse. They are more versatile and can carry many loads such as crops, hay, pellets, or even groceries! They are an extremely social animal so having a good relationship with other donkeys is a priority.
If you are looking to acquire a new donkey for your farm, there are a few issues that may need to be addressed. The first issue that needs to be addressed is whether or not the donkey is outgoing. If not, then there may be issues with getting it adjusted to humans and property!
There are two main issues that need to be addressed on a donkey: health issues and behavioral issues.
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Skin irritation
Skin irritation can occur in several ways. Some issues are preventable, like using a donkey shampoo and bedding. If your donkey is not allergic, then either one canaffa mattress pad or dust mite block may help prevent skin irritation.
If a donkey does experience skin irritation, such as with open wounds or dried blood, it is important to pay attention. Sometimes damp towels or covers will help prevent dryness of the skin.
Another issue that happens more commonly is hair loss. Sometimes it is natural hair growth coming out, sometimes it is stress causing hair loss. Either way, it is important to pay attention to this as it may be a sign of something else happening.
Worrying about whether your donkey has enough water or food can become an issue when hair loss continues! It is important to check in with your community members every few days to make sure they are taking care of themselves and you are noticing signs of hair loss.
Fly strikes
Fly strikes are a common issue for donkeys. These marks on the face and/or neck are caused by flying dust, hair, and debris being placed on the donkey’s sensitive nose or mouth.
A fly hit hard will flail its body around and try to get back on its paper target. Once it does, it will continue to hunt for food and shelter until conditions change and it has to start over.
To prevent fly strikes, keep a notebook or phone app where you can record flies that attack your donkey, the hut, or anything else in your care. Don’t assume that any one fly is to blame for all flies striking your donkey, as they may be mixed with others.
It is also important to keep an eye out for other signs of Fly strike such as blackenedarea around the nose or mouth area.
Obesity
Being over 200 pounds can make a common donkey fat. obesity is a health issue that concerns both the nervous system and cardiovascular system.
Donkeys are considered obese by most veterinary professionals. This is due to their heavy coat and overall size. A large-sized donkey has a higher risk of health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
It is recommended that donkeys be put on a diet with half the amount of food they were eating before. This helps keep an eye on their weight and keeps any issues regulated in their diet. Luckily, donkeys are less sensitive to changes in diet than other horses!
One issue that comes up more often than the rest is diabetes. If your donk has a bit of sugar or carbohydrate intake that seems out of control, it is time to put them on a diet.
dehydration
When your donkeys are very thirsty, they may be dehydrated. This can happen when you do not give them enough water or food or if they do not get enough water during hot weather.
Dehydration can happen quickly, especially if it is a problem with the season such as winter when there is limited water availability. This occurs when the donkey does not eat enough food to maintain a healthy body weight.
To prevent dehydration, two important steps are to provide enough water and to let your donkey drink enough. Water intake can be tricky as some people think of it as just drinking something that looks like water. But even with this taken into account, don’t allow your donkey to become thirsty if there is no food or water available.
Problems giving birth
When a donkey is about to give birth, the vagina begins to swell and become thickened. This is called pubertal development.
When this happens, it can be tricky for some. The new mother is likely uncomfortable at this time and will probably back away from birth attempt. This is totally fine!
If the new mother does not take the baby out of her vagina right away, she will prepare herself by working her tail up and down, shifting it side to side, pulling it up and down, or just plain handling her baby. This is normal behavior and nothing to be concerned about.
Foot problems
The most common foot problem in donkeys is navicular disease. This condition can lead to foot malpositioning or crowding.
Also known as equine spaltofola, this disease occurs when the horse’s navicular bone is not developed or thickened.
This condition occurs most frequently in calves just after their birth, when the navicular bone is still thin and short. As it grows, the bone becomes more developed and thickens. This happens more often with horses two years of age, so check with your vet if your donkey is older.
To fix the problem, the vet may use either a device or a procedure to remove the diseased bone and put in new bone during surgery.
Worms
Occasionally, donkeys will be attacked by worms. These can be transferred from other donkeys in the herd or contracted from the donkey itself.
Worms are typically spread through feeding on hay or grass. Though not recommended, it is possible for a donkey to get worms every few months as it raids its food supply.
Traditionally, people would check up on the donkey by looking for white spots on its skin. If seen, this was a sign of worm infection.
nowadays, there are many ways to treat a donkey with worm infections. The most common way is with castor oil, which is often available at local vets offices and veterinary hospitals.
Hair pulling
Hair pulling is a pretty common issue for donkeys. It can happen regularly, or it can be an occasional issue. Either way, it is critical to know what hair pulling looks and feels like so you can help!
Hair pulling can be tough to spot as it is sometimes very subtle. Sometimes a Wellingtonian will look at their Donkey and say, “Hmm, looks like he’s got his hair pulled.” But with enough attention, donkeys will realize that something is wrong.
If a donkey gets hair pulled often, the pasture may be spending too much time in the shade or the horse may be being overworked. Both of these situations are harmful and should not occur when a donkey is struggling with this issue.
Once a donkey has hair pulling it can be hard to identify. Sometimes it just seems like one side of their face pulls more than the other does. Or one side of their body may look worse than the other.