Demographics, management and health of donkeys in the UK

Cox, R.; Burden, Faith; Proudman, C. J.; Trawford, A.; Pinchbeck, Gina

doi:10.1136/vr.b4800

Cited by 33 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Foot disorders and arthritis are common in aged donkeys in the UK (Cox et al 2010;Morrow et al 2011). Therefore, unsurprisingly, lameness represented the highest proportion of veterinary surgeons' donkey caseload in the current study and a high proportion of donkey owner respondents had owned a donkey with foot and limb problems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Investigating the opinions of donkey owners and veterinary surgeons towards pain and analgesia in donkeys

Grint

Murrell

Whay

2015

Equine Veterinary Education

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Summary The aim of this questionnaire‐based study was to identify which analgesics are currently prescribed to donkeys in clinical practice and to collect opinions from veterinary surgeons and donkey owners on the importance of different pain‐related behaviours in donkeys. Questionnaires were completed by 143 veterinary surgeons and 93 donkey owners. Phenylbutazone, flunixin, detomidine and butorphanol were reported as the most frequently used analgesics in donkeys. Most veterinary surgeons reported administering these drugs at the horse dose rate and dosing interval, which may be inappropriate in the donkey. Four pain‐related behaviours were identified as very important by veterinary surgeons and owners: dullness for colic‐associated pain, keeping the foot lifted, and lameness for foot and limb pain and inability to chew properly for head and dental pain. This is a more limited behavioural repertoire than has recently been identified to be associated with pain in the donkey and suggests that the respondents were reporting perceived wisdom as to what people think are the behavioural signs associated with pain or were not interpreting pain‐related behaviours correctly.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Investigating the opinions of donkey owners and veterinary surgeons towards pain and analgesia in donkeys

Grint

Murrell

Whay

2015

Equine Veterinary Education

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“…It is estimated that there are currently about 8900 donkeys ( Equus asinus ) 1, an unknown number of mules ( E . asinus × caballus ) and just under 1 million horses ( Equus caballus ) 2 in the UK.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hair coat properties of donkeys, mules and horses in a temperate climate

Osthaus

Proops

Long

et al. 2017

Equine Veterinary Journal

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SummaryBackgroundThere are clear differences between donkeys and horses in their evolutionary history, physiology, behaviour and husbandry needs. Donkeys are often kept in climates that they are not adapted to and as such may suffer impaired welfare unless protection from the elements is provided.ObjectivesTo compare some of the hair coat properties of donkeys, mules and horses living outside, throughout the year, in the temperate climate of the UK.Study designLongitudinal study.MethodsHair samples were taken from 42 animals: 18 donkeys (4 females, 14 males), 16 horses (6 females, 10 males) and eight mules (5 females, 3 males), in March, June, September and December. The weight, length and width of hair were measured, across the four seasons, as indicators of the hair coat insulation properties.ResultsDonkeys’ hair coats do not significantly differ across the seasons. All three measurements of the insulation properties of the hair samples indicate that donkeys do not grow a winter coat and that their hair coat was significantly lighter, shorter and thinner than that of horses and mules in winter. In contrast, the hair coats of horses changed significantly between seasons, growing thicker in winter.Main limitationsThe measurements cover only a limited range of features that contribute to the thermoregulation of an animal. Further research is needed to assess shelter preferences by behavioural measures, and absolute heat loss via thermoimaging.ConclusionsDonkeys, and to a lesser extent mules, appear not to be as adapted to colder, wet climates as horses, and may therefore require additional protection from the elements, such as access to a wind and waterproof shelter, in order for their welfare needs to be met.

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“…The major problems facing donkeys in the UK are obesity (Cox and others 2010) and the health conditions associated with it, including laminitis (Morrow and others 2011), equine metabolic syndrome (Du Toit and Trawford 2010) and a predisposition to hyperlipaemia (Burden and others 2011). Appropriate nutrition is the key to weight control, and recent research has shown that the donkey requires significantly less energy per day for maintenance than a pony of the same size.…”

Section: Nutritional Requirementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrition and dental care of donkeys

Burden¹,

Toit²,

Thiemann³

2013

In Practice

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The domestic donkey is descended from wild asses and has evolved to live in some of the most inhospitable places on earth. Little research has been carried out to address the specific needs of the donkey, which has traditionally been viewed as a small horse. The donkey is different from the horse in many ways; of particular note is its ability to thrive on highly fibrous feeds. This article discusses the nutritional requirements of donkeys and how dental disease may play a role in determining their nutritional requirements.

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Demographics, management and health of donkeys in the UK

Cited by 33 publications

References 24 publications

Investigating the opinions of donkey owners and veterinary surgeons towards pain and analgesia in donkeys

Investigating the opinions of donkey owners and veterinary surgeons towards pain and analgesia in donkeys

Hair coat properties of donkeys, mules and horses in a temperate climate

Nutrition and dental care of donkeys

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