DONKEYS

INTRODUCTION
	Donkeys are amongst the oldest companions of man. They are the most simple and unselfish members of the equine family. It is a very hardy animal and can work incessantly, with little rest and on poor forage. It is mainly used as a pack animal and is particularly known for its sure footedness. Donkeys do well in hot and semi arid areas. While people come into contact with horses and bullocks everyday, few people realise the importance of donkeys in India. Our houses are built with their help, all our mining is done with their help, our clothes are washed with their help. They transport people and goods across rugged and hostile terrains. They are even used by the armed forces. They are seen carrying people to religious spots or working in brick kilns and quarrys. These are just some of the ways in which the donkeys are a major asset to human lives. However we ignore their physical needs. A donkey works the whole day. But at night, his owner hobbles him by tying his legs together painfully, tightly and then leaves him in the city to find his own food. Most donkeys lead short lives of 3-4 years even though their natural life span is over 30 years. This is because they are not fed, watered or properly treated for their injuries. They are overloaded and made to work long hours under very stressful conditions. Vets are not trained to treat donkeys, which require a very specialised form of medicine. Instead they are treated – if at all – with horse medicine. India’s first donkey treatment centres have been opened only recently in Gurgaon and Vadodara. It has been realised that a working animal becomes a far more useful resource if it is treated humanely and its needs are attended to. Indian Donkeys The type of donkey to be found in India and Nepal is the Kiang (shoulder height about 150 cm, weight 300 – 500 kg). Rajasthan has the maximum number of donkeys . Uttar Pradesh comes next, followed by Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Haryana. The two types of donkeys, small grey and large white, are common. The small grey donkey is found in most parts of the country. Its colour is dark grey with zebra stripings on the limbs, neck and quarters. The large white type is mostly found in the Kathiawar region of Gujarat State. It is generally light grey to almost white in colour. The Indian wild ass population is mainly confined to the little Rann of Kutchh, a unique salt desert – wetland ecosystem in the state of Gujarat. Very little is known about these Indian wild asses which are locally called Khur and Ghorkar. The Rann of Kutch is the only habitat of the Indian Wild Ass and is commonly known as the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, which is the largest wildlife for donkeys sanctuary in the world. The Indian Wild Ass is one of most endangered species in the world. Interesting Facts about Donkeys Here are some interesting bits of information The placement of a donkey's eyes allows them to see in an arc of 350 degrees. Their blind spot is the 10 degrees directly behind them. They are very far-sighted and cannot focus on objects 15 feet or closer to them. To see the ground directly beneath their nose they must tilt their head down and tuck their nose toward their chest. Because their vision is motion oriented, they cannot see a predator if it is standing still, but they can see an object move 1/2 mile away. They have very keen hearing, and can hear several octaves higher and lower than a human. It has been documented that donkeys “rumble” to each other in tones too low for the human ear to detect. Donkeys also have a very keen sense of smell. They can smell odours on your hands and clothes so it is not recommended to pet a dog on your way to the barn. They can also detect the scent of treats if you carry them in your pocket. They smell their food before they eat it and if it has a peculiar odour they will not eat it. Because nature did not design a donkey for speed, his survival depends on trusting the other herd members to be alert to any danger of predator. It is this instinct to be co-dependent that allows donkeys to adjust so quickly to captivity and to training. The various uses of Donkeys Donkeys love people. The best reason of all to have donkeys is for pets. They love attention and they want to be part of the family. • Donkeys will protect other livestock. Once a donkey has bonded with a herd of sheep, goats, cattle, etc., the donkey will chase predators (dogs, etc.) that may bother the herd. In fact, donkeys are such good protectors of stock that they are used to protect stock from leopards and cheetahs. Just one bray from a guard donkey is usually enough to send would-be predators or intruders heading away. • Donkeys can assist with halter training other animals. You can use a donkey to teach cattle, horses, other donkeys, etc., to be lead with a halter and rope. Attach a rope between the animal to be taught and the donkey by using a special extra collar for the donkey. The donkey is so strong he can lead the other animal easily. It is not recommended to leave the animals tied together for very long periods of time, and NEVER leave them unsupervised. • Donkeys can be ridden or be used to pull carts. Many donkeys can be ridden under saddle or trained to pull a cart in harness. (Note: No donkey under 3-years of age should be used to carry weight. Their bones need to be fully developed and grown before they can carry a weight load. Moreover a donkey should not be made to carry more than 50 kg at a time.) • Companion Animals. A donkey makes a good companion animal for nervous animals or young horses or cattle that are being weaned. The donkey’s kind and calm disposition seems to settle down the nervous animal and take their mind off an unpleasant situation. • Cross Breeding. Donkey jacks can be bred to horse mares and the resulting offspring is a mule. Donkeys can also be crossed with zebras. • Pack Animals. Even though they are smaller than horses, adult donkeys can carry a large amount of cargo for their size due to their build and bone structure. However please note the word of caution in the point that donkeys can be ridden above. • Therapeutic Riding Programs. The gentle disposition of a well-trained donkey makes them excellent for use in therapeutic or riding programs for the handicapped. Donkeys seem to make friends with people easily, and therapeutic riding programs can really help in the treatment of muscular diseases or disorders, back injuries, or riding programs for physically or mentally handicapped persons. Though these riding programs have started abroad, they are yet to begin in India. How are Donkeys ill - treated Donkeys in India are misused or ill-treated and worked in the most appalling conditions. The work that the donkeys are made to do varies depending on the terrain. It dictates whether they are mainly used as pack animals, draught animals or more recently as animals for tourists. Overloading of pack animals is a common problem in India and very tempting to a poverty stricken owner, often undernourished himself, hoping that the donkey can take a load in one trip rather than two. Donkeys are so willing and biddable that they patiently accept crate after crate, shovel after shovel of sand, brick after brick until their legs actually buckle or they are forced to their knees. This load constantly rubs on the donkey’s spine and ribs causing cuts, sores and bruises. Since the donkeys are usually the only source of income for their owners, they never manage to get adequate rest even after they are sick or maimed, as this means a loss of income for the owner for that period. Their sickness and wounds are treated by the owners themselves, in spite of them having very little knowledge about medicines. Donkeys that work in quarries often fall from cliffs because they are overloaded and unbalanced. Many hurt their spines and break their legs but are made to continue working. In many parts of India the donkey is used as a draught animal i.e. it is used to pull a cart or some kind of ploughing equipment. This is done because a donkey’s pulling power is much greater than it’s drawing power. But this is true only when the harness fits and when the cart is balanced correctly. Unfortunately these conditions rarely occur and the common thing is that a far too heavy cart and a tack that is more suitable for a horse or an ox, is adapted with pieces of wire to fit the donkey. This causes extreme distress to the donkey. Sometimes, especially while going uphill, the donkeys even die as excessive weight is taken by them on the band around their neck. This is because the strain cuts off the air supply of the donkey and chokes him to death. In rural areas, the donkeys are even used for ploughing. Donkeys are also used in the tourist trade to carry tourists to religious spots. No effort is made to match the rider's weight with the size of the donkeys. As a result it is a common sight to see a bulky man riding a small donkey. Apart from this, since the donkey owners themselves live in slums and crammed colonies, they have no place for keeping their donkeys. Most of the time they are kept by the roadside under the open sky, exposed to the sun, rain and vagaries of the nature. Under these conditions, the donkeys have no option other than to sleep in the mud and the slush. Moreover, the feet of the donkeys are hobbled by the neighbourhood blacksmith who does not know the difference between a living creatures legs and a log of wood. The instruments used are crude and the iron nails used are never sterilised. The entire process of fixing it is unscientific and can cause infection. Even after a donkey completes its day’s work, it is not fed by his owner. To prevent him from straying too far, its legs are tied together and then it is left to hop across roads and barren lands looking for its own food. No wonder most of the donkeys die before they are 5 years old without any questioning as to the cause of death. What happens to a donkey which becomes unfit for pulling the cart because of injury, ill health? They are sold to the butchers. All these are only a few of the ways in which donkeys are being ill - treated. Prevention of Ill– treatment of Donkeys You must have seen donkeys often being ill-treated by their owners. But as the common man is often himself oblivious of the laws protecting these animals, he is able to do little to help the poor distressed donkey. Hence it is very important for everybody to have a basic knowledge about the laws protecting donkeys. If you come across anyone who ill- treats his donkey by overloading and does not give him proper food, you can take severe action as under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, beating, kicking, overriding, torturing or causing any animal pain or suffering, using any animal for work when it is wounded or unfit, by any other person or the owner, is a punishable offence. The penalty is a fine that may extend to Rs. 1000/- or imprisonment for a term which may extend for a term of three months or both Moreover there are some general conditions which have to be followed for the use of draught and pack animals – No person shall use or cause to be used any animal for drawing any vehicle or carrying any load :- i) For more than nine hours in a day. ii) For more than five hours in a day continuously without a break for the rest of the animal. iii) In any area where the temperature exceeds 37 deg. C (99 deg F) during the period between 12.00 noon and 3.00 p.m. iv) Animals should be disengaged after work – No person should continue to keep or cause to be kept in harness any animal used for the purpose of drawing vehicles, after it is no longer needed for this purpose. v) Use of spiked bits prohibited – No person shall, for the purpose of driving or riding an animal or causing it to draw any vehicle or for otherwise controlling it, use any spiked stick or bit, harness or yoke with spikes, knobs or projections or any other sharp tackle or equipment that causes or is likely to cause bruises, swellings, abrasions, or severe pain to the animal. vi) A donkey should not be made to carry more than 50 kg. 50 kg would be approximately 25 – 30 bricks of standard size. vii) Hobbling the legs of donkeys is illegal. Now whenever you see a donkey being ill – treated, you can stop him right there and inform the owner about the rights of the animal and the laws framed for its protection. If the owner still does not adhere to the laws, you can get a policeman to help.
SHELTERS FOR DONKEYS
	A donkey can not handle extreme cold as well as horses can. Donkeys need to be able to escape from harsh elements - cold as well as heat. An adequate shelter goes a long way in making sure your donkey stays comfortable in any condition. It is a good idea to ensure that your shelter faces away from the prevailing wind and not directly into the sun which might cause it to heat up in the summer. Also make sure you do not locate it in a low spot that would become impassable with mud during certain times of the year. Use wood shavings if locally available to keep the shelter and the surrounding area a dry and comfortable place for the donkey to be in. Donkeys do not seem to mind sharing their space with each other on most occasions. Picking up manure from the shelters and pens is important. If you cannot haul it away daily, pick an out of the way spot for your manure pile, and either spread it in the hottest part of summer or advertise it for fertilizer. Urine spots must also be cleaned as the build up of the smell of amonia can harm the lungs of the equine. Picking up faecal matter regularly means less smell, flies, and parasite contamination. You and your donkey will be much happier if his home is clean and neat. A shelter is necessary for the comfort and health of any donkey. They dislike water, whether it is under their feet or falling from the sky and most do their best to avoid it. This is because their desert coat seems to soak up moisture rather than repel it. A damp coat that is never able to dry encourages fungus and other skin infections. A donkey needs to be kept in a clean, dry, and prote-cted condition. It should be kept in a healthy environment and needs to be carefully managed and handled. All these points are facilitated with good stabling. A list of principle essentials for stables are as under : – A reasonably uniform temperature, eliminating extremes as far as possible. – A dry atmosphere and freedom from condensation on the surfaces of the building. – Generous air movement and ventilation without draughts. – Sound, dry flooring. – Good drainage. – Adequate lighting, both natural and artificial. – Good feeding and water arrangements. Environmental requirements In order to provide the correct climatic environment in the donkey’s shelter and reduce the likelihood of disease, it is essential to have a basic understanding of the donkey’s physiological needs. The principle elements of the climatic environment which affect the donkeys are ambient temperature, relative humidity, ventilation rate and air movement. Ambient temperature A donkey can easily tolerate a wide range of ambient temperatures, e.g. 0 – 30 degrees C without harm, depending on the degree to which the individual animal has been allowed to acclimatize, and provided the atmosphere is free from damp and draught. Relative humidity The burden on the donkey, especially on the respiratory system, is intensified if the air is damp (i.e. the relative humidity is near saturation). The worst conditions are those of low temperature and high humidity. Ventilation rate and air movement Ventilation rates are based primarily on two points – the maximum rate to keep the shelter cool in hot weather, and the minimum rates to eliminate from the environment, even in the coldest weather, the humidity arising from the animals’ exhalation and the evaporation of their excreta. Provided the minimum requirements are observed, there will be no problems with gaseous exchange. The following table summarizes the range of climatic environmental requirements for stabled donkeys:   Metric Imperial Ambient temperature 0 – 30deg. C 32 – 85 deg. F Relative humidity 30 – 70 % 30 – 70 % Air movement 0.15-0.5 m/s 30 – 100 ft/min Ventilation rate 0.2-2.0m cube/h/kg BWt 0.05-0.5 ft cube/min/lb BWt Outlet ventilation area 0.1m square/donkey 1ft square/donkey Inlet ventilation area 0.3 m square/ donkey 3 ft square/ donkey Building and Ventilation It is essential that the buildings are well insulated to ensure ventilation. The simplest ventilation technique, used since animals were first housed, relies on three natural forces: 1) Stack effect i.e rising warm and stale air. 2) Aspiration i.e wind force across the roof of the building sucking air out. 3) Perflation i.e.air blown from side to side and end to end of the building. A roof extracting trunk or chimney provides the stack effect. Fresh air inlets replace the stale air and should be situated near the wall to give a uniform in - flow of the air. The chimney may be designed in such a way that the air is allowed to flow freely across the top. Such a chimney encourages the aspiration effect. The perflation effect is ensured if there are inlets on both sides of the building to give a thorough draught when required. Each stable should have its quota of half doors and windows, preferably of double glass, which can be opened for extra air flow during hotter weather. Alternatively, the donkeys can also be kept in covered yards. These yards can have gaps of about 17 mm in the roof to provide good ventilation. The approximate size of the box in which the donkeys are to be kept is 3.3 m x 3.3 m (10 ft x 10 ft). The additional facilities that must be a part of the layout of the stable are: Isolation box It is advisable to have at least one isolation box for sick animals of suitable size. Such a box is essential if any animal is suffering from any contagious disease, but is also useful for donkeys requiring special treatment. The box or boxes must be quite separate from the rest of the establishment. The box should be readily accessible and the donkeys should not only be able to see people, and be seen, but should also be in the sight of other animals. It is also preferable to have the isolation room built larger than the size of ordinary boxes. The feed room The feed room is used for storing fodder which is for immediate use, as opposed to the feed store, where the long term supplies are kept. Its dimensions and that of the store will depend on the size of the establishment. Daily feeds are prepared in this room and it will contain separate bins for individual feeds e.g. oats, bran, barley etc. There should also be a sink with hot and cold water and a tap to supply drinking water. In large establishments there, there should be chaff cutters and other machinery for the preparation of the feed. The feed store The feed store usually adjoins the feed room and is also close to the storage areas for hay and straw. The store will contain feed in bulk bins, sacks and bags. A convenient arrangement is to build a store above the feed room so that the large quantities of feed can be moved down as and when needed. The movement of the food up to the store will only be done occasionally. Hay and straw stores A totally dry building with hard, dry floors and free ventilation throughout is required for the storage of all bedding and feeds. Wet, damp and dusty bedding must be avoided at all costs in order to keep the risk of respiratory diseases and allergies to the minimum. The hay and straw barn must ideally be in close proximity to the feed room and the feed store, but also situated in a place suitable for offloading bales from delivery vehicles. Besides as well as storing hay and straw, this barn may be required for other forms of litter storage, such as peat, wood shavings, saw dust or shredded paper. Being in a position to cope with bulk storage on site allows the purchase of good hay and straw at a time when the prices are low and supplies are readily available – essentials for good stable management. Tack room and washing and cleaning facilities The tack room is the most important service room in a group of stables. The room must be fitted with brackets, shelves and cupboards to take all the equipment. Closed cupboards and/ or chests are useful for storing blankets and other clothing. This room should also incorporate washing and cleaning facilities. Manure storage This must be within easy access to the boxes but also with good road access for offloading. If it is too close to the boxes, it may create an unpleasant smell and increase the fly menace. The manure store should have a concrete base with a fairly steep fall to ensure better drainage. The more frequent the manure disposal, the better it is. Fences and gates The whole establishment will require good fencing for the protection and safety of the donkeys and the staff. Fittings and fixtures Mangers Mangers for feeding are usually placed about 0.7 m (2 ft) above the floor. They can be made from vitreous enamel, galvanized steel, stainless steel or timber with salt glazed channels and can be fitted either along the face of the wall or in the corner. Stainless steel may be a little expensive but it lasts longer and is easy to clean. A manger may be combined with a hay rack or a water trough but the latter combination is not recommended as the food tends to foul the water trough. A manger should usually be fitted on the wall of the box opposite the door. It is the best position for the animal and also for the safety of the operator. Hay racks Hay racks can either be combined with a manger or be entirely separate. The hay rack must be securely fixed to the wall. If the rack is positioned at a lower level, the donkey is able to eat in a normal position. But if the rack. is placed higher, say about 1.3 m (4 ft) from the floor, there is danger of dust and seeds entering the donkeys eyes. Water containers Every stall or box requires fittings for clean, fresh water. The water may be provided in a bucket or an automatic water trough may be fitted. If buckets are used, there should be a proper bucket holder secured to the wall. Troughs containing 2- 3 gallons are made of stainless steel or galvanized steel and incorporate a ball valve, drain tap and overflow. Rings Rings are required in boxes and stalls for tying up donkeys. Two or three rings per stall or box are usually adequate. One ring should be placed at around 1m (3 ft) from the floor for tying the donkey to the manger. Another ring should be put at 1.5-1.55m (5- 5.5 ft) from the floor for general tying up purposes. Electrical points and lighting At least one electrical point is needed in each box and two points are needed for two lights at each side of the box. The best lights are those with watertight, bulkhead covers, firmly secured to the wall and fitted with heavy prism glass or strong grilles. They should be placed at 1.6 – 1.9 m (5 to 6 ft) from the ground. Hygiene To ensure good health for the donkeys, a regular programme for cleaning and disinfecting must be followed in the shed. Five principal procedures need to be followed in this regard: • The accommodation should be emptied of all the donkeys. • All the dirt should be cleared out and removed from the premises. • Wash the shed with a heavy duty detergent sanitizer. • Soak in a safe disinfectant. A safe disinfectant is one that is based on iodophors, chlorine, organic acids and aldehydes. • Dry out before replacing beddings and the donkeys. The principal failure in cleaning and disinfecting techniques is to leave organic materials in cracks and crevices. This is where bacteria and parasites persist. Also rodents and insects act as serious carriers of infection and must be exterminated. Moreover an attempt should be made to prevent flies in the shelter as they are not only major irritants but can even cause disease in the donkey. Here are some helpful hints to prevent flies in the shelter: • Put up tarpaulin (water proof sheets made of canvas) at your barn or shelter doors to darken the interior. Flies like sunshine and avoid darkness. The tarpaulin should be just above ground level • Garlic does help make the donkeys distasteful to most flies , but does not repel flies. It can be applied on the donkey as a paste. • Place a fan to blow above their heads or just above ground level in areas of the barn that you can not darken. Flies avoid fast moving air currents. • Manure should be regularly picked up and removed from in and around the barn and in areas where donkeys congregate. • A water-based fly spray is less irritating to the donkey's skin. Coat their hair but do not saturate. • Recipes for homemade fly sprays: (i) 1 cup of fabric softener juice of one lemon (or 2 tablespoons of real lemon concentrate) 4 tablespoons of Listerine 5 cups of water Spray or wipe on. (ii) 1 cup of fabric softener 1/4 cup of lemon-scented dish detergent 1/4 cup of white vinegar 5 cups of water Spray or wipe on However, some of these repellents may turn out to be a costly affair. Hence, especially in India, most of the donkey owners use neem oil or burn cow dung to repel flies. However, burning cow dung is not recommended as the smoke can fill up the shed and cause suffocation. Donkey Shelter check list Ensure that your donkey shelter has the following: • Equine Worming Paste • Wound Dressings - Bandages, swabs, gauze etc. • Animal Medicines - Tetanus Toxoid Vaccine, antiseptics, lice control preparations • Grooming Tools - brushes, hoof picks • Donkey rugs, fly veils • Vitamin/mineral supplements - Sulphur, Dolomite, seaweed, molasses • Rakes, wheelbarrows and manure scoops • Bales of hay .
FEEDING
	Donkeys require a highly nutritious diet containing carbohydrates and fibre. While carbohydrates provide the donkey with essential energy, fibres are responsible for stimulating muscle contractions in the gut and preventing impactions by breaking up of mass gut contents. Fibre also serves to dilute the more readily fermentable material, and encourages the donkey to eat more slowly, which helps to prevent digestive disorders such as colic. The donkeys feed must also contain proteins, vitamins and minerals. The excess intake of some minerals is as harmful as their deficiency. But perhaps the most important nutritional requirement for donkeys is that of water. An adequate supply of clean, fresh water is required to replace the water lost from the body in the form of urine, faeces, sweat, evaporation from the lungs and the skin and in productive secretions such as milk. Water intake may be reduced if the grazing is lush but the most important factors that increase water intake are lactation (by 50 – 70 % at peak lactation), environmental temperature and exercise (20 – 300 % depending on the level of activity). Feedstuffs There are two main types of feedstuffs available for donkeys, forages and concentrates. Forage such as grass or hay provide both nutrients and roughage. However this may not be sufficient to meet the demands of most working donkeys. These donkeys require additional concentrates or “hard feeds”. Apart from working donkeys, pregnant, lactating, growing and elderly donkeys also require concentrates in their food. Forage Grass is the natural feedstuffs for donkeys . Hay is usually produced from forage(usually grass) crops by cutting, drying in the field and baling. It should not usually be fed before six months after fermenting. This is because new hay is still green and fermenting and can cause colic in donkeys. However very old hay may become mouldy and its nutritional content may also deteriorate overtime. This type of hay should be strictly avoided. The hay used for feeding should also be free of any toxic weeds that may grow locally. Straw is produced from the stem of the cereal after the grain has been removed. It has a high fibre content and a lower nutritive value than hay. Good clean oat and barley feeding straws are useful feeds for the donkeys and can be used to increase the fibre content of the rations. However, straw as the only forage source is unlikely to meet the donkey’s nutritional requirements without some sort of supplement. Chaff is chopped hay or straw and may be used to add bulk to the donkey’s feed. Molasses is often added to produce molassed chaff, which increases the palatability and fibre of the diet, and reduces the dust. Cereals Oats are the traditional and the most widely used cereal that may be fed whole or after processing (crimped or rolled). Processed oats improve digestibility and can be used to feed young donkeys with dental problems. However the nutritional value of oats is reduced during processing. Oats have a higher fibre and lower digestible energy content than other cereals. Hence it is considered to be a relatively safe feed. But oats may cause a stimulant effect called “hotting up” in some donkeys and this may make them less suitable for riding. Barley has a thick fibrous hull which is relatively indigestible and hence it has to be cooked or processed to rupture the seed case before feeding. The energy content of barley is slightly higher than oats but less than that of maize. Maize (corn) is a high energy feed which may be fed whole or after processing (e.g. flaking). If fed whole, however, the grains are hard and the donkeys with poor teeth may find them difficult to crack. Maize is higher in digestible energy but lower in proteins than oats. Since maize is energy dense, it is more useful for feeding thin donkeys or those in hard work , but only small quantities may be required. Wheat has small , dense grains with a high gluten content, which tends to form an indigestible pasty mess in the stomach if fed whole. For this reason, wheat is not commonly used for feeding donkeys. Bran is a milling by product of wheat, which has a relatively low nutritive value but a high fibre content. Bran is relatively deficient in calcium and rich in phosphorous. Excessive feeding may cause skeletal deformities due to nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (big head, bran disease, Miller’s disease). These problems may further lead to laminitis as well. Supplementary feeds The salt requirements of the donkeys varies according to their physical activity, and it is recommended that all donkeys should have free access to a salt lick ( either as a block or in loose granular form). Trace mineralised salts, containing added iodine, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc and sometimes selenium may be useful in areas where these elements are deficient in the soil. Vitamin and mineral supplements are added to the feed of the donkeys to increase the amount of a specific nutrient or nutrients in the diet. Amount of Feed The amount of feed should be determined by the weight of the donkey. Youngsters under the age of two and older donkeys that are more than 20-years-old have beenfound to do well on rolled oats or a 50 per cent rolled oat and 50 per cent rolled barley mix. Adult donkeys over the age of two years do well on good quality, clean whole oats. Adult donkeys in good condition will eat the same amount of hay, plus the ration of concentrates mentioned above. Naturally the amounts fed will vary with the size and condition of the donkeys. A rough guideline is to feed a total weight (hay plus grain ration) of 1 kg of feed per 50 kg of body weight (two pounds of feed per hundred pounds of body weight). For example: A 450 lb donkey • at rest - approximately 4 kg (9 lb) total feed (hay plus grain) daily. • at work-approximately 5kg(11.25 lb) total feed daily The more hard work required, the greater is the amount of grain usually given providing the donkey does not become too energetic and hard to handle. For example: A 450 lb donkey • at rest - 0 to 1 lb grain plus 7-8 lb hay daily. • at work - 1 to 2 lb grain plus 9-10 lb hay daily. General guidelines for feeding donkeys are 1) Donkeys should be fed at least twice a day, at regular intervals, since the digestive system and the hormonal systems of the donkey are adapted to the frequent intake of small amounts of food. 2) Changes in the feeding regime for donkeys ( such as the changes in or the introduction of concentrates in the diet) must always be carried out gradually. A sudden change in the feed can lead to serious nutritional disorders. 3) The amount of feed should be determined by weight and not by volume, since energy density varies between feeds and even between batches of the same feed. 4) Avoid dusty or mouldy feeds which can give rise to respiratory disease or intestinal disorders. 5) Access to salt or mineral licks is advisable to account for variations in individual requirements. 6) Clean water should be available at all times. However when the donkey is hot after exercise the donkey should not be allowed to drink water immediately. 7) Regular worming and dental checkups are necessary to enable the donkey to make efficient use of food.
GENERAL HEALTH CARE
	If the donkey is thin, its ribs, spine and tuber coxae are very prominent and its coat is dull then the donkey is very sick and needs to be taken for treatment at once. If its spine is prominent and its coat is dull then his condition is serious but not an emergency. The ideal situation is when the spine is not protruding and its coat and skin is supple and shiny. Its stomach should not protrude and its muscles should be firm. Grooming Donkeys enjoy being groomed. Brush them with a fairly stiff brush in the direction in which the hair grows. Be gentle with the ears, do not twist or hold them tightly. The following is the method for grooming a donkey: 1) Fit the head collar and the leadrope. The harness should be one which does not harm the donkey by rubbing against the skin. An ideal harness is shown in the diagram above. 2) Tie your donkey up using the quick release knot. 3) An assistant should stand at its head during the first grooming sessions. 4) Always start from the near (left) side and go in sequence to pick out the feet and the area by the hoof pick Hoof pick A hoof pick should have a bunt end. If the point is sharp, it could cut the sole of the foot, or puncture the sole if the horse steps on it. A hoof pick is a vital grooming tool. Keep it where you will find it. 5) Start with the dandy brush to brush the coat in the direction of the hair from the near side and brushing towards the tail. 6) Use a body brush for the face, legs, belly and the tail. 7) A plastic curry comb to clean the body brush can also be used to clean the coat as the dandy brush. A metal curry comb. This brush should be kept free of hair to maintain its effectiveness. 8) A rubber curry comb is useful if the donkey is moulting- use it in a circular way to remove any lose hair from the coat. Curry combs Plastic and rubber curry combs are used for removing dirt, especially dried mud. They can be used directly on horses that can tolerate them, al-though care should be taken when using them on hor-ses with a thin coat or sensitive skin Ensure that you remove all prickly thorns, seeds which are stuck in the donkey's hair. They can result in injuring the donkey and creating of body sores Watch for the donkey that rubs its coat, especially at the tail head - it may have lice. Lice It is important to keep the donkey free of lice so that it can have a good skin and is free from itching. Lice seems to build up through the winter and makes the donkey very itchy and uncomfortable. If he starts scratching himself against trees or gate posts, or biting constantly at his rump, you can be sure that he is lousy. If you find that the louse powder designed for horses does not work, wait for a warm day and give your donkey a good wash down with Asuntol. This can be purchased from the local chemist. You will need to do this towards the end of winter in February/March. Teeth Care After a donkey reaches about 10 years of age (or sooner if you observe chewing difficulties or misalignment), they should have their teeth checked and possibly floated (filed down) by your veterinarian. An equines teeth continue to grow throughout their lives (actually the teeth emerge from the gum continuously, but the teeth themselves finish growing upon reaching adulthood). The teeth sometimes need help by having the rough edges filed down as hooks and waves can develop and inhibit the ability for the donkey to properly masticate his feed. General Since donkeys enjoy rolling, you can provide them with a bare area or a sand heap. Work a donkey only after it is three years old..
DONKEY DISEASES AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
	The most common diseases donkeys suffer from are: Colic This refers to bulge pain or abdominal pain. This is basically an illness of the stomach and can occur at anytime. The most common symptoms of this disease are- sweating, restlessness, lying down, kicking, rolling or assuming a dog sitting position. It may be caused due to sudden change in the feed or spoiled feed, worm infestation or sand impaction. This is an emergency situation. The donkey should be kept warm till a vet reaches for treatment. Colic is a major cause of illness and often death in donkeys. It is a condition that owners and managers would do anything to prevent. Two recent studies present evidence that in many ways they can! Detailed data was collected on management of donkeys and factors including age, sex, size of farm, stabling conditions, history of changes in housing, diet, history of changes in feed, dental care, parasite control, vaccination programs, performance level, history of changes in activity level, history of recent transport, previous colic history, method of diagnosis, treatment and outcome. The researchers found that a recent change of diet, stabling conditions or level of activity could be associated with a donkey developing colic. A significant finding was that donkeys with a history of colic or abdominal surgery were more likely to suffer another occurrence of colic. Large colon impaction is an important cause of colic in donkeys and is due to feed material blocking up part of the large intestine. Research has showed that in more than 50% of the cases there was an increase in stall confinement within the 2 weeks prior to the development of large colon impaction. Stall confinement could be linked to large colon impaction because of a reduction in water intake and changes in feeding patterns. It appears that changes in feed type together with adequate exercise may be important in maintaining normal function of the large intestine in donkeys. This study shows that care should be taken to ensure a gradual change in feed when donkeys are confined to the stall and careful observation of donkeys should be made under these conditions. Sarcoids What is a sarcoid? A sarcoid is a tumour involving connective tissue (ie. muscle, sub-cutaneous tissue, etc.). A tumour which may appear outwardly similar is the Lymphoma (cutaneous lymphosarcoma), which involves the Lymphatic system (glandular system). Both these tumours are distinct from epithelial tumours (carcinomas and melanomas). The sarcoid begins as a small wart-like growth, but may progress, through stages of rapid growth, to be the size of a tennis ball. Generally being dry scaly masses that may ulcerate and bleed, the main problems with a true sarcoid are those of secondary infection and physical interference e.g. with tack. The key difference between sarcoids and lymphomas is that sarcoids are benign, lymphomas are malignant. Sarcoids exist in several forms, (see below for details). What causes Sarcoids? Sarcoids are believed to be caused by a virus. It has also been shown that Sarcoids occur more often in the older donkeys and on sites of previous trauma. Sarcoid growth appears mostly in spring and early summer; obviously there are many factors that could precipitate this: dietary change, increased ultraviolet light, fly strike, changing routine / stress levels to name but a few. Are there different types of Sarcoid? Yes, sarcoids can be split into several types which are mentioned below. Verrucous Sarcoids Typically these are dry golf ball size lumps, though size may vary considerably. They most often occur on the head, chest, shoulder and under-leg. As they normally lack hair, they are not difficult to spot.tennis ball. Generally being dry scaly masses that may ulcerate and bleed, the main problems with a true sarcoid are those of secondary infection and physical interference e.g. with tack. The key difference between sarcoids and lymphomas is that sarcoids are benign, lymphomas are malignant. Sarcoids exist in several forms, (see below for details). What causes Sarcoids? Sarcoids are believed to be caused by a virus. It has also been shown that Sarcoids occur more often in the older donkeys and on sites of previous trauma. Sarcoid growth appears mostly in spring and early summer; obviously there are many factors that could precipitate this: dietary change, increased ultraviolet light, fly strike, changing routine / stress levels to name but a few. Are there different types of Sarcoid? Yes, sarcoids can be split into several types which are mentioned below. Verrucous Sarcoids Typically these are dry golf ball size lumps, though size may vary considerably. They most often occur on the head, chest, shoulder and under-leg. As they normally lack hair, they are not difficult to spot. Fibro Blastic Sarcoids If a verrucous sarcoid grows and splits or is otherwise physically damaged then it may progress to this type. This is the type that tends to cause more problems as it grows and bleeds; some have been known to reach the size of a small football. Ulceration, fly-strike and secondary infection can all be issues to be tackled. Growth rates do vary with these sarcoids sometimes lying dormant for several years. Occult Sarcoids These are a flat form of sarcoid which again may become the fibroblastic type if damaged. Non Sarcoids As previously mentioned, sarcoids can be confused with other growths. Identification is important since many of the other growths are malignant and could therefore spread internally. Biopsy by an expert is the most accurate form of diagnosis, but this has its drawbacks (see under “Treatments”). What treatment is available? Various types of treatment are available : Traditional Surgery Physical removal of the tumour has been the normal practice. However there are multiple drawbacks to this technique: 1) A high percentage of cases recur within several years. 2) Growth can be accelerated by the physical trauma of the surgery. 3) Possibility of “seeding” the tumour elsewhere by cell debris especially if the diagnosis is incorrect and tumour is malignant. 4) Possibility of significant scarring or physical disability due to the site of tumour operation. Cryosurgery This is a technique whereby the area to undergo surgery is repeatedly fast frozen to destroy all tissue before surgical removal. This decreases the likelihood of recurrence and seeding. However the technique is not suitable for use near sensitive tissues such as the eyes. Radiation Therapy This technique is similar to that used to treat human cancer patients; the affected area is irradiated using a localised source. The drawbacks of this treatment are : 1) Localised side effects of radiation 2) Requirement for specially trained staff to administer treatment. However the treatment may be particularly suitable around the eyes, where surgery is impossible. Immunotherapy - eg. Human B.C.G. Vaccine This is a technique to activate the donkey’s own immune system against the tumour cells. Two different methods can be used: – Injection of BCG vaccine - Multiple injections are given in the tumour over a period of some weeks. – Introduction of sarcoid tissue - Deactivated sarcoid cells are introduced under the skin to build the immune system over several months. These treatment are only suitable for small tumours and do take some time to work, however they do have the advantage of being relatively non invasive. Chemotherapy - eg.Liverpool Cream, Cisplatin This is a technique originally developed to treat human cancer patients. A variety of chemical agents are being studied, the main characteristics being: – Application is topical or injected into tumour this minimises the systemic effects of the toxins on the patient. – Typically the chemical agents are toxic heavy metal compounds in an inert carrier base. – A dosage balance must be struck between tumour irradication and toxic side effects. – It is beneficial where surgery is impractical or in conjunction with surgical techniques Other Techniques and remedies A list of miscellaneous other treatments that can be undertaken are: 1) Laser Vapourisation - Use of a hot laser to destroy tumour tissue, typically in conjunction with surgery. 2) Constriction - Application of a band such as a castration ring to remove “hanging” tumours. This was also a practice for traditional wart removal. 3) Eucalyptus oil - Applied topically has apparently been of help in some cases. 4) Thuja - Can be given orally as tablets or applied topically as an oil. Thuja is a Chinese herbal remedy that is sometimes available from natural health stores 5) Hyperthermia (Heat Treatment) - localised intense heating of tumour cells using a special instrument. 6) Dermex - This is a herbal paste that can be applied topically and has been successful on an awkward occult sarcoid. Also useful for reducing fibroblastic size before other treatments. 7) Colloidal Silver Spray or aqueous - applied topically on a daily basis. 8) Indian Mud –Applied topically to ‘burn’ away the sarcoid. 9) Raw Honey –Applied topically, twice daily for 2 to 3 months. 10) Hilton Ditton –Herbs Used in feed as an oral immune booster. This is quite popular and can be used along with other treatments. 11) Actimune –An oral immune booster. 12) Colostrum –Used as an oral immune booster. Are sarcoids contagious? Sarcoids are not considered contagious, however they may be spread by contamination with living tumour cells. In other words any mechanism that might scrape cells off the tumour and then place them back in another site, could lead to the formation of a new tumour. As previously mentioned, physical trauma to a sarcoid may accelerate tumour activity. Hints and Tips This is a list of suggestions that require emphasis for checking and control of cancer in donkeys. – Make regular inspections of any abnormal lumps and bumps on your donkey. – If you discover an abnormality, do not do not panic. Keep a record of any changes, as this will help your vet. – Identification is critical. Make every effort to have a positive identification of the tumour type before taking any decisions for treatment. Be careful of the risk of aggravation from biopsy. – If a sarcoid is identified consider whether or not it requires treatment. These tumours may not trouble your donkey if left alone, yet can become problematic after interference. – Try to minimise any external aggravation of the tumour - A mixture of Gammexane cream and sunblock lotion helps to reduce problems in summer without irritating the sarcoid tissue. – If you do not succeed at first, try again. Keep in touch with developments in research. If your donkey does not respond to a line of treatment, consider a different one. Periodic Ophthalmia or Recurrent Equine Anterior Uveitis This condition is characterised by an inflammation of the iris surrounding the pupil. It can present itself as a one-off problem, or because of residual after-effects within the eye an affected donkey can be prone to bouts of recurrent inflammation and eye discomfort. In the old days, the condition used to be termed “Moon Blindness”, as it was a superstition that the periodical attacks were influenced by the monthly return of the moon. However, these are many suggestions as to the cause of this condition. Uveitis is an immune mediated disease; the inflammatory response has been associated with a multitude of possible causes including responses to viral (such as influenza), bacterial (such as leptospirosis) and parasitic infections (such as onchocerciasis), and an injury to the eye can start off the initial inflammation within the iris. Evidence suggestive of an association with leptospirosis includes affected donkeys being more likely to have detectable leptospira antigens on a blood test, when compared to unaffected donkeys. Experimental infection of donkeys with leptospira was found to induce recurrent equine anterior uveitis in infected animals. Symptoms include inflamed conjunctiva, a tightly constricted pupil and cloudiness of the cornea and contents of the front part of the eye. This initial bout of inflammation may set up a series of events that makes the eye more likely to succumb to a further episode. If this situation goes unrecognised or untreated it can lead to more long term damaging problems which involve the iris becoming attached to the lens of the eye, which it immediately overlies. This unfortunately can lead to cataract formation and partial or complete blindness in the affected eye. Occasionally the eye itself can deteriorate and become shrunken and sightless; in these circumstances the eye can be removed under general anaesthesia to remove the source of the chronic irritation. However it is contraindicated to consider removal of the cataratous lens in a previously inflamed eye as this can lead to a profound inflammatory reaction and a worse problem than you started with. The condition is not congenital or hereditary. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids, applied both to the eye and by injection, and drugs to dilate the iris so as to reduce the chance of it becoming attached to the lens. It has been noted that the condition has become less common over the past few years and it has been postulated that this may coincide with the use of a wormer containing an ivermectin, as this is known to be effective against the Onchocerca parasite. Therefore it may be wise to ensure that wormers containing ivermectins are part of a worming programme. Equine Influenza Equine influenza is a major virus disease that causes flu like symptoms in donkeys and is from the group of viruses that causes flu in humans. What is the incubation time? Most donkeys exposed to the virus will show signs within a period of 1-5 days. What are the signs of influenza? Equine influenza appears similar to a range of other viral respiratory diseases. Most of the viruses causing it produce rather mild signs which include a discharge from the nose and coughing. Equine influenza produces more severe symptoms with donkeys developing a fever and a dry hacking cough. Donkeys become ill and are reluctant to eat or drink for several days but usually recover in 2 to 3 weeks. How is the influenza virus spread? The virus can be spread easily from donkey to donkey as a result of droplets and also from nasal discharge and from objects like infected brushes and rugs. The disease is very contagious and there is almost 100% infection rate in a population that has been previously unexposed to the virus. Can it be prevented and treated? Because it is a virus, there are no drugs that can influence the progress of the disease. However many donkeys develop secondary infections with bacteria which can lead to pneumonia and other problems. Good nursing care and if necessary, antibiotics to deal with bacterial illness associated with the disease are important parts of treatment. The most important part of dealing with this illness is effective vaccination. Worming Worming of donkeys is essential. Internal parasites can cause a lot of damage as they burrow around inside the animal. You can use paste purge wormers every 2-4 months or a daily pelleted wormer that you can place in their grain. An Ivermection wormer or something similar should be used. Be sure that Ivermectin is used orally, and not injected, as there have been documented cases of donkeys reacting severely and even dying from injected Ivermectin. Oral Ivermectin is safe, either in paste or liquid form. It is recommended that all wormers be rotated so an immunity to one brand will not be created in your animal. A more commonly used medicine is tenbendyzole, which is administered orally in tablet form. However, before giving any medicine please consult your vet. Tetanus Tetanus is a serious disease that can affect many animals including donkeys. Tetanus spores that occur in the ground, enter the tissues of an animal through wounds. The wound can be caused by deep penetration of a splinter or a nail. Crushing wounds are also dangerous. The affected donkey will become stiff in its movements, its tail is held out stiffly and its ears are pricked. Muscle spasms may occur and the paralysis of the breathing muscles causes death. Tetanus is difficult to cure and can be prevented by timely vaccination. Burns Burns and scalds are most painful and must be attended to by a vet. The burnt area must be covered by a clean, dry dressing such as a gauze, a clean handkerchief or a towel and put a bandage to keep it in place. Never apply oil, grease, flour, baking soda, spirit or tincture of iodine to the burn. Remove any loose, charred debris from the burnt area by using gauze soaked in warm, normal saline – 1 teaspoon of salt to 600 ml of warm boiled water. If there is dirt or grease around the affected area, use soap and warm water before swabbing with normal saline. For trivial burns use tannic acid, jellies, or warm and strong tea. If the burn is caused by corrosive acid, bathe the area with an alkaline solution which can be made by adding a teaspoon of baking/washing soda to 600 ml of boiling water. If this is not available, wash the area with plenty of warm water. Dehydration To check for dehydration, pinch and lift a fold of skin directly in front of the shoulder. The skin should immediately return back to its normal position and if it stays in a fold for more than 3 seconds, the donkey is dehydrated. The common causes of dehydration in a donkey are – loosing lots of fluids because of diarrhoea or due to increased sweating in working donkeys. To prevent dehydration, give electrolyte mix in the donkeys water everyday. If the donkey does not take electrolyte, add a sweetener such as molasses. Vesicular Stomatitis What Is Vesicular Stomatitis? Vesicular stomatitis is a sporadic, reemerging viral disease characterized by vesicular lesions on the tongue, oral mucosa, teats, or coronary bands of cattle, horse, donkeys and swine. The disease also affects sheep and goats. Many species of wild animals, including deer, bobcats, goats, raccoons, and monkeys, are also susceptible. People who handle infected animals also can become infected with vesicular stomatitis. Vesicular stomatitis is most likely to occur during warm months, particularly along rivers and in valleys. Vesicular stomatitis is a disease that must be reported to the international animal health community when an outbreak is discovered. How is the virus transmitted? How vesicular stomatitis spreads is not fully known; insect vectors, mechanical transmission, and movement of animals may be responsible. Once introduced onto a premises, the disease apparently moves from animal to animal by contact or exposure to saliva or fluid from ruptured blisters. What are the clinical signs? The incubation period for vesicular stomatitis ranges from 2 to 8 days. Infected donkeys suffer from blister-like lesions in the mouth and on the lips, nostrils, teats and coronary bands. When blisters break open, they leave painful ulcers that cause donkeys to drool or froth at the mouth, the most common clinical sign of the disease. This sign can sometimes be confused with biting problems, dental problems or colic. Infected animals generally suffer weight loss because they refuse to eat or drink. Mild lameness can occur if lesions develop along the coronary bands. However, cases have been reported where lameness is severe enough to cause sloughing of the hoof. Vesicular stomatitis does not generally cause donkeys to die. What is the risk to human health ? People who handle an infected donkey can contract vesicular stomatitis if they fail to follow proper biosafety methods. In humans, vesicular stomatitis causes an acute influenza –like illness with symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, headaches, and malaise. Vesicular lesions are rare in humans. Donkey-hauling trucks etc. should be cleaned and disinfected. Drivers of these vehicles should change contaminated clothing before returning to their home base. For footbaths and disinfection of facilities and equipment, phenolic- and halogen-based disinfectants work best. Sunlight and heat also destroy the virus quickly. Effective disinfectants The following list shows disinfectants found to be effective in deactivating the vesicular stomatitis virus when used for 10 minutes. – Disinfectant Concentration – Chlorine bleach 0.645 percent – Wescodyne 4 percent – Cresylic acids 1 percent – Roccal 1:200 – Septisol 1:50 Vaccination Vesicular stomatitis vaccines for donkeys have been available intermittently during years when outbreak of the disease has occurred. However, little information is known about their efficacy in preventing infection, reducing clinical signs associated with infection, or lessening the economic impact of infection. How can you treat infected animals? Treatment for donkeys infected with vesicular stomatitis is primarily supportive, such as the use of soft feed. Antibiotics may be required if secondary infections develop. Infected animals recover in 1 to 2 weeks if there are no complications. Vesicular stomatitis is diagnosed by isolating the virus from epithelium around vesicles or from vesicular fluid. Laboratory tests using serum are also available for detecting the virus. Producers need to differentiate between vesicles in the mouth caused by vesicular stomatitis and vesicles caused by photosensitization or trauma due to rough feed. Report suspicious cases Implementing appropriate, recommended management practices and working closely with your veterinarian can reduce losses. Veterinarians and livestock owners who suspect that an animal may have vesicular. stomatitis or any other vesicular disease should immediately contact the animal health authorities. Strangles “Strangles” is a term used by most lay people to describe the clinical syndrome produced by the bacterium Streptococcus equi. Although the symptoms of strangles vary from case to case, the classic description includes swelling and infection of the throat region. There is usually a fever in the beginning. The donkey may be depressed and unwilling to eat. There is often a nasal discharge, which may be serous or mucoid initially but quite purulent (containing pus) as the disease advances. Affected animals usually cough. Many affected animals may resist palpation of the submandibular and retropharyngeal area (this is between and just behind the jaw bones). In most individuals the organism spreads to cause abscesses in the retropharyngeal or mandibular lymph nodes. The disease is most commonly transmitted through infective secretions. Once the disease establishes itself on a farm, it often becomes a persistent, recurrent problem even though there may be long periods when no resident donkeys have clinical signs of the disease. Once the organism establishes itself in a susceptible population, the percentage of animals affected is generally quite high and often approaches 100%. However, mortality in most uncomplicated cases is low. Listlessness and rapid spread of the disease are also common. Most uncomplicated cases are confined to the upper respiratory tract; however, involvement of the lower respiratory tract can cause pneumonia. In some donkeys the organism localizes in the guttural pouch or paranasal sinuses and is a constant source of purulent discharge from the nostrils. Persistent drainage from the submandibular or pharyngeal areas occurs in some cases. Cranial nerve dysfunction may occur in cases of retropharyngeal abscesses affecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In donkeys with the most severe form of strangles, any part of the body or viscera may be affected, including the heart. Streptococcus equi is quite susceptible to penicillin and it is often the preferred treatment. Some vets believe that the use of penicillin only retards the growth of the bacteria and makes the infection last longer or may cause the infection to spread internally where it is much more difficult to assess and treat. Penicillin is not necessary if the donkey is alert and has a reasonably good appetite. Good nursing care and minimization of stress are important in all cases. A palatable diet and dry, comfortable surroundings should be provided. If warranted and practical, application of hotpacks helps promote maturation of abscesses.The name strangles comes from the effect that can come about when the throat abscesses grow so large that they cut of the trachea (wind pipe) and actually strangle the donkey. Severely affected donkeys may require intensive supportive therapy, including intravenous fluids, feeding by nasogastric tube and tracheotomy (cutting a breathing hole in the wind pipe). The use of penicillin is indicated if the temperature remains high for a long period, the donkey is severely depressed and lethargic, and the pharyngeal and retropharyngeal areas are severely affected. The decision to administer penicillin should be closely evaluated if young animals or many animals on a farm are affected. In some cases the stress of rounding up and restraining affected animals to administer penicillin outweighs the benefits of therapy. Other antibiotics should only be used if indicated by culture and sensitivity tests. If recognized early, an outbreak of strangles can be contained by isolation of affected donkeys and strict hygiene by handlers. Although vaccines have been developed, they are not nearly as effective as other types of vaccines. The donkey owner should take the advice of the veterinarian about vaccination. He has the right knowledge and experience of the disease and the vaccination to be taken. The vaccine may be more effective in one area than in another. To guard the donkeys against strangles, they must be vaccinated. Glanders Nature of the disease Glanders is a serious bacterial disease, principally of equids. It is an important zoonosis i.e. it can be transferred from donkeys to humans. Clinical signs The disease may be acute, chronic or latent. It is usually acute in donkeys and mules. The signs of the disease are the following: Acute form – high fever – coughing – thick nasal discharge – rapidly spreading, deep ulceration of the nasal mucosa – swollen and painful sub-maxillary lymph nodes – death in 1-2 weeks Chronic form Onset is insidious, but slowly progressive and may lead to death. The signs include: – malaise coughing, and intermittent fever – chronic purulent nasal discharge – ulceration of the nasal mucosa – chronic enlargement and induration of lymphatics and lymph nodes – cutaneous lesions (‘ farcy’) — skin nodules, most common on the legs, that rupture and ulcerate – painful oedema of the legs and swelling of joints Latent form Lesions only occur in the lungs. There are a few clinical signs: – occasional laboured breathing – nasal discharge Indications of the disease The following signs of strangles may be looked for during examination of the donkey: – catarrhal bronchopneumonia with enlargement of bronchial lymph nodes (especially in acute form) – nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx and trachea with nodules, ulcers and stellate scars – lungs with miliary, firm, rounded, encapsulated grey nodules resembling tubercles – nodules may also be seen in the liver spleen and kidneys – cutaneous lesions – swollen lymphatics with focal abscesses in lymph nodes Transmission of Infection The infection is transmitted in the following manner:- – Equids generally acquire infection by ingestion. Environmental contamination (especially through food and water troughs and other utensils) by nasal discharge and pus from skin ulcers is a major source of spread. – Animals can also become infected via contamination of skin abrasions e.g. through dirty grooming utensils or harness. – The organism can survive in the environment for up to two months in sheltered conditions. Latently infected donkeys can continue to spread the disease. Human infection results from contact with the discharge of infected animal caused usually by contamination of skin abrasions or cuts. Carnivores become infected by eating infected carcasses. Risk of introduction Glanders could be introduced through the import of infected donkeys or contaminated fodder or equipment. While latent infections can occur, the generally severe clinical picture, together with declining incidence and distribution of this disease, suggest that the risk of introduction is probably low. The mallein test is a reliable, allergic diagnostic test that can be used to screen the animal. This test is performed by injecting 1 ml of the antigen (which is a purified protein ) into the lower eye lid of the donkey. A positive reaction gives extensive oedemia of the eye lid, congestion of the conjunctiva and muco purulent secretion from the eye. Control / vaccines No attempt should be made to treat animals as these can become sub-clinical carriers. Affected animals should be destroyed and carcases burned or buried. Premises should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Animals in contact should be quarantined and tested Equine Viral Abortion Nature of the disease Equine viral abortion is due to infection with equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV1) which causes rhinopneumonitis, abortion, neonatal mortality and occasionally encephalomyelitis in horses and donkeys. Clinical signs Abortions and rhinopneumonitis appear to be caused by slightly different strains of EHV1. The rhinopneumonitis form of EHV1 is usually seen as an outbreak of upper respiratory disease (‘ colds’) in young donkeys during autumn or winter. Affected donkeys have: – a sudden fever lasting 2-5 days – intermittent serous nasal discharge – congestion of the nasal mucosa and conjunctivae – inappetence (loss of appetite) – slight enlargement of the submaxillary lymph nodes, – occasionally oedema of the legs Recovery usually occurs within a week. Occasionally the nasal discharge becomes mucopurulent and continues for 1-3 weeks accompanied by a cough. Adult donkeys seldom show clinical signs, although they may undergo sub-clinical infection. Abortions due to EHV1 usually occur in the last 4 months of gestation, but may occur as early as the fourth month. Infection usually occurs 1– 4 months prior to abortion and infected mares show no signs of respiratory or other illness. There are usually no complications after the abortion. The foetus is expelled dead, with the foetal membranes intact. Occasionally, when infected late in gestation, infected foals are either stillborn or die within a few days of birth. The conception rate, 30 days after abortion, is high. Abortion occurs most commonly during the first pregnancy. Having once aborted, breeding is usually normal in subsequent years, and abortions only rarely occur again. Encephalomyelitis due to EHV1 is rare: Indications of the disease In cases of rhinopneumonitis there is – inflammation of the upper respiratory tract – an initial leucopaenia that is replaced later by a leucocytosis – pulmonary oedema and fibrinous infiltration of interstitial tissues Foetuses aborted before 6 months show widespread necrosis with intranuclear inclusion bodies, especially in the liver and lungs. Those aborted after 6 months show: – jaundice – petechiation of mucous membranes – enlargement of the spleen – white to cream-coloured necrotic foci in the liver – accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity In stillborn foals, or those dying soon after birth the main gross lesions are enlarged, lungs are plum to purple coloured that are oedematous and only partly aerated. There is fluid and froth in the bronchi, and subepicardial and subendocardial haemorrhages. Transmission EHV1 infection spreads mainly by the respiratory route, although infection by ingestion and transmission by fomites is also thought to occur. Aborted foetuses contain large amounts of virus and may be responsible for the introduction of the abortogenic strain to previously uninfected premises. Previously infected adult donkeys may undergo subsequent subclinical infection, although it is unclear whether this is due to re-infection or re-activation of a latent infection. It is not known whether a latent carrier state occurs with EHV1, although this is common with other herpes viruses. Control / vaccines Prevention of disease due to EHV1 is mainly by the use of measures to minimise the risk of introducing the virus, in combination with the use of vaccines, where available. Saddle Sores These are caused due to lack of any type of saddle or protection for the donkey's back from the load. These may also be caused due to poor fitting saddles which cause excessive pressure and/ or frictional rub. The sign of sores is hair that are rubbed of and broken skin on the side of the withers or under the girth that often leaves raw bleeding sores that vary in size and are slow to heal. Treatment Rest the donkey from work and remove the saddle and the girth. Check the saddle and the girth in respect to the size of the donkey and adjust the method of loading to rectify the problem. If rest is not possible, sores on the withers or the back may be protected from further rubbing by surrounding the affected area with a dough shape gauze pad or dressing. Apply zinc cream to the sores twice a day until the signs of drying and healing appear. For advanced wounds, clean the sore with peroxide, dry with clean gauze, dust with antibiotic powder or paint with gentian violet or use an aerosol spray containing antibiotic and gentian violet. Dermobion, a cream containing antibiotic and anti-inflammatory active ingredients, is also useful where the wounds are exposed to self trauma. Quidding This is a condition when the donkey will take food into the mouth, chew it and expel it on the floor. It is usually a result of improper chewing due to pain in the mouth or restricted movements of the jaws. This is usually due to teeth abnormalities, either because they are loose or they have worn down irregularly. Regular examination of the mouth is recommended and rasping of the cheek teeth at least once a year should be carried out in donkeys over five years of age. By the method of teeth rasping, the uneven teeth are filed down by using an instrument called a rasp. During this process, the donkey’s nose can be held with a twitch. This twitch can be of two types, either it can be a metal pincer or it can be a short pole with a circle of rope at the end that can be twisted to hold a donkey’s muzzle very tightly. This helps to keep the donkey’s head steady so that the rasping can be attended to as quickly as possible. The minor pain of the twitch on the muzzle leads to the release of the natural pain– relieving chemicals which also makes the donkey calm and easier to control. Rabies Rabies is a viral infection of mammals transmitted by the saliva of a rabid animal. In most of the cases, the early signs are drooling of saliva, spastic lip movement, hyperexcitability leading to depression and anorexia. Rare cases develop with biting, kicking and self mutilation as overt signs. Paralysis develops primarily affecting the ability to swallow, then spreads to the hind quarters, with collapse or death in 2 – 7 days after the initial signs. Treatment Rabies is invariably fatal. Isolate the donkey from other animals and people. In confirmed cases, treatment is not advised and euthanasia is recommended. COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is also known as Broken Wind , Heaves, dust allergy or Emphysema. This disease is similar to asthma in humans and is usually caused by an allergy, usually to fungal spores in the dust in hay or straw. The temperature of the affected donkeys is usually normal although an episode may occur following any respiratory infection. The breathing is very laboured and wheezing can be heard even without the aid of a stethoscope. Affected donkeys may cough. Their condition is improved by stabling them and by reducing their exposure to dust. If they need to be housed then the bedding must be changed from straw to wood shavings or paper as these are less dusty. Hay should be fed by soaking it overnight to keep the dust down.
FOOT CARE
	All donkey owners must ensure that their donkeys get proper foot care. The feet must be examined by a farrier, regularly and frequently. A period of 6 – 10 weeks between the inspections is recommended. heel quarter toel Trimming the donkey’s foot It is necessary to trim a donkey’s hoof enable the donkey to move with a sound and free action and to ensure the aesthetic shape to the foot and lower limb so that there is no undue stress or pain on the hoof capsule, joints, ligaments and tendons of the lower leg. The theoretical mainstay of achieving this has been the adoption of the principles of maintaining the ideal “hoof pastern axis”(HPA) and "mediolateral hoof balance" (MLHB) 1 Trimming the hoof pastern axis The HPA is given by the line BC in the diagram below. Its reference points are: i) The proximal centre of the 3 rd metacarpal (cannon) bone ii) The distal centre of the 3 rd metacarpal (cannon) bone iii) The centre of the distal phalanx. According to this principle the cannon bone should be perpendicular to the ground and the line BC should intersect the three lower joints so that the proximal, middle and distal phalanges represent a bony column in a straight line with no deviations. This line should make an angle of approximately 55 – 60 degrees and should be parallel to the dorsal wall of the hoof. This cannot be too prescriptive, however, as the age of the donkey and its previous history will dictate what should be achieved. Using these guidelines, the three possible alignments of the HPA are the following: i) The theoretical ideal is aesthetically pleasing and is thought to create the optimal pressure on the hoof capsule, joints, ligaments and tendons of the lower leg. ii) A broken back HPA occurs when the heels are too low and / or the toe has been allowed to grow excessively long. Undue strain is then put on the foot, which, in turn, may encourage abnormal wear of the hoof capsule. iii) Broken forward HPA occurs when the heels are too high and the toe is too short . Excess stress is put on the lower limb joints, and concussion to the joints is believed to be increased. NOTE: The prominent band of soft tissue and hair that often bulges above the coronary band are the distracting features of the donkeys foot. They can lead to the misconception of a broken forward HPA as during the visual assessment, they have the effect of lowering the external angle of the BC. Hence this distracting feature of the donkey’s foot should be ignored during visual assessment. 2 Trimming and medio lateral hoof balance The medio lateral hoof balance indicates that an imaginary line bisecting the lower limb should be perpendicular to the line drawn across the heels. The aim of this aspect of trimming is that, in the ideal and non – disfigured limb, the hoof hits the ground squarely so that comfortable weight transfer from the hoof capsule to the bony column is achieved. But the hoof capsule grows and wears down according to the natural weight distribution and the favour of a particular footfall by the donkey. Hence in time it is unlikely that the bearing border of the hoof capsule will be perfectly perpendicular to the long axis of the cannon bone. This needs to be corrected by trimming. 3 Trimming the donkeys foot It is important to have made a full visual assessment of the donkeys feet before any attempt is made to wield a hoof knife. In general terms, if the hoof appears very upright with strong heels and perhaps a broken forward HPA, then there is likely to be a scope for removing more horn from the heel area. Should the toe be long and the heels low, perhaps with a broken back HPA, then it will be important to retain as much of the heel tissue as possible and concentrate on shortening the toe. If major changes in the shape of the hoof are required then, for the donkey’s comfort, it is worth considering effecting the changes in a series of gradual changes rather than all at once. How to trim the hoof Trimming the sole In order that the distal rim of the hoof wall actually bears the weight of the animal, then the solear material should be trimmed first. This is best taken back in incremental amounts so that the solear surface is concave and all loose or dead tissue is removed, especially near the point of the frog. It is often difficult to judge how far back to trim and care must be taken not to be over zealous and penetrate the sole. Most trained farriers trim back till the sole yields very slightly to “thumb pressure” applied between the dorsal and point of frog. Soles should be made to bear very little weight. Soles that bear large amounts of weight, especially when thinned, can lead to bruising and concussive laminitis. Trimming the wall The wall is trimmed paying attention to medio lateral balance and how much heel needs to be retained to maintain, as closely as possible, the ideal HPA. Trimming the frog The grooves of the frog are potential sites for harbouring dirt, stones and infections. The rubbery horn of the frog will often grow over these cavities and create a trap. These should be completely opened out during trimming so that they do not clog. Trimming of the bars In practical terms, if the donkey is doing road work, then the bars should be retained and should be of the same height as the heel hoof tissue. However if the donkey is on soft ground or deep litter then there is an advantage to trimming the bars back to the sole level so that they do not become, like the frog, a potential harbour for muck, stones and infection. ‘Dressing’ the hoof wall Once the foot is trimmed and cleaned, it is common practice to rasp the distal bearing surface. While doing so, an effort should be made to avoid excessive rasping in an attempt to cosmetically improve the appearance of the HPA. This is because excessive rasping is likely to remove the outer layers of the hoof wall. This could increase the propensity for uncontrolled moisture changes across the wall which may lead to cracking. Seedy Toe There is a considerable debate as to the causes of this condition. It is not clear whether it is an aerobic or anaerobic. The characteristic lesion shows areas of gray, crumbly horn which, in long standing cases , are associated with large, hollow often triangular cavities within the hoof wall with the apex of the cavity towards the coronary band. The hoof ball may also bulge in the affected area. Various fungicidal and bacterial treatments have been advocated for this condition but the common feature of the treatment is that the affected horn must be completely resected. Because of the degeneration of the wall, this is a painless operation. All powdery gray material must be removed on resection, otherwise recurrent pockets of persistence are found on subsequent trimmings. Sometimes the work required to do this is minimal, at other times a complete hoof wall resection may be necessary. The use of fillers is not recommended in case any residual infection is trapped in place. Aftercare is not usually very taxing provided there are no complications. The patient should be kept in a clean dry environment and resected lesions cleaned out regularly. In these cases only the sole is allowed to bear weight and it often responds by becoming thickened while the new hoof walls grows down. The only animals that cannot be treated are laminitics that may have insufficient sole to carry weight. Laminitis Laminitis is a complex systematic disturbance that manifests itself, at the level of the foot, by bounding “digital” pulses, changes in the blood flow and degeneration of the laminar tissue that may result in “rotation” and/or “sinking” of the pedal bone within the hoof capsule. Any combination of feet may be affected at one time. It is usually preventable subsequently by changing management regimes and improving foot trimming and awareness of the owner. The main causes of laminitis is overlong feet, trauma on hard ground, incorrect diet, concurrent diseases, stress and pituitary tumours. Laminitis is a serious condition needing immediate veterinary attention. The donkey should not be made to walk but should be put in a stable with a thick shaving or a paper bed. If the predisposing cause of laminitis is known, it should be removed (e.g. move the donkey from succulent pastures) or treated (e.g. respiratory infection, metritis etc.) Foot bandages , well padded with thick cotton wool pads over the whole of the solar surface, applied to clean, dry foot, often give pain relief while waiting for the veterinarian to arrive. Animals which are “rooted to the ground” and unable to walk should have only roughage and water brought to them. Owners should know how to feel for digital pulses and palpate the coronary bands for ditches and depressions, in order to recognize the first signs of laminitis. Chronic laminitic feet may show diverging laminitic rings in the hoof wall, but these are not very obvious in a donkey. Moreover in donkeys, sole support is the best. The feet are normally X- rayed with the markers on the hoof wall to assess changes in the position of the pedal bone and any loss of bone density. It is imperative that further attacks are prevented so that the pedal bone is not permanently and irretrievably damaged. After a laminitic attack the horn growth is usually rapid. Therefore the feet should be trimmed every 3- 4 weeks. However trimming soles of laminitis can prove problematic due to increased prolapse (moving out of place), pressure and lack of concavity on the laminitic sole. Achieving concavity of the sole is not, therefore, always possible and ‘thumb pressure’ may also be used with care. Long standing cases can have associated deep seated solar abscesses with loss of pedal bone and chronic uncontrollable pain. This inevitably leads to a humane destruction of the animal. White line separation In the absence of other conditions such as laminitis, the usual cause for white line separation is mechanical. If the hooves are neglected and allowed to grow excessively long then the excess leverage at the toe can mean that the white line separates and parts of the wall breaks away. This leaves a cavity in the white line allowing the entry of dust, gravel and potential infective agents. This can lead to the cavity progressing further up the foot. White line separations are also seen at the quarters and the heels. The treatment for this lies in the resection of infected areas while restoring normal foot shape and balance. Thrush Thrush is an infection of the horn which results in the separation of the frog and horny sole from the underlying tissue. There is a foul smelling discharge in the frog grooves and along any other tracks that are undermining the hoof tissue. Many types of bacteria and fungi have been isolated from these infections. Thrush is a result of poor management, lack of foot care and wet conditions underfoot. It can be very severe and very painful if live tissues are penetrated. Long standing cases can lead to time consuming and expensive treatment by the vet and farrier. All dead tissues have to be removed and the remainder kept clean and dry. Abscessation Foot abscesses are a common cause of acute and severe lameness in the donkey. Any penetration of the sole by a foreign object , or penetration of the white line, can lead to a deep seated abscess. A separated white line is more prone to penetration and therefore must be avoided. Infections of the white line may tract up the wall of the foot and burst out at the coronary band. Veterinary advice should therefore be sought if a foot abscess is suspected and especially for a lame donkey. The pus tract will require radical cleaning and all infected areas must be drained. Tetanus antitoxin and antibiotic therapy along with foot cleaning and dressing will be necessary. Sand Crack It affects the hoof wall. It is a crack that can extend down from the coronary band to the base of the hoof. It is usually a consequence of an injury to the coronary band or caused by excessive dryness of the hoof wall. This overdryness is often due to over enthusiastic rasping. The donkey may become lame and evidence of infection is rarely found under the crack. Feet Care Inspect the donkey’s feet regularly, check for stones and trim their shoes after every two months. Moreover the donkey’s feet should be soaked regularly. The following are important tips for foot soaking: • Make sure the water is not hot. Start out with water that is only slightly above body temperature and with each soaking increase the temperature just slightly until it reaches a temperature you find comfortably warm on the fragile skin inside your wrist. • Use a rubber bucket, pail or feed bowl. A thick rubber pail holds the temperature longer than plastic or metal. • The height of the soaking pail should allow the water to cover the fetlock. • Put a folded towel in the bottom of the pail to cushion the foot. • Pick up the foot that you are going to soak and slip the pail under it as you put the foot down. Then go around to the other side of the animal and pick the other foot up and hold it 3 or 4 inches off the ground to discourage the animal from taking her soaking foot out of the pail. • Hang a haybag or feed pan at chest height right in front of the animal and feed her everytime she gets her foot soaked. If they eat their treats fast add it one piece at a time to make it last longer. • On the foot you are holding that is not being soaked, rub a circle with your thumb just above the coronetband in the front center of the pastern. This is a relax-reflex spot and magically mesmerizes them. • After the foot has soaked for the alloted time, remove it from the pail and wrap a warm-from-the-clothes-dryer fluffy towel around it until the towel cools. • Epsom salts can be irritating to the skin so use a warm drippy-wet washcloth to rinse the salts off the foot afterwards and towel dry it. • Choose an area for your soak that is as flat as you can find to avoid the donkey thinking she needs to scramble to keep from falling over when she’s standing on 3 legs. Hoof Care Clean out the hooves regularly. Remember donkey hooves are very elastic and do not wear down like those of other equines. If left untrimmed they grow to astounding proportions and such neglect can cause an animal to be permanently crippled. Ideally hooves should be trimmed every four to eight weeks depending on the age and speed of growth. The hooves of foals generally grow faster than those of adult donkeys. Keep feet short and neat.
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES FOR WORKING DONKEYS
	In developing countries, like India, most of the donkey owners cannot afford veterinary fees and expensive drugs. Donkeys are frequently sent to the slaughter house because of the cost of veterinary service and treatment. Animals often have to work in conditions when they are not well. Often local remedies are tried which might work or sometimes make the donkey even worse. This is the reason why the efficacy of local remedies and herbs must be tested. The use of honey for curing burns when applied directly over the wound has shown good results. Thermal therapy is useful to cure muscle and tendon problems. Active charcoal is used to cure diarrhoea in foals. Sugardine is very popular in feet infections. Garlic and other herbs have proved to have antibacterial properties. Ethnoveterinary as opposed to modern drugs, seeks natural, ecological and economically viable alternatives that may be readily used by the donkey owner. Honey as a dressing for wounds Wounds are the main health problems in working donkeys. The most common place to find wounds are withers, thorax, back and limbs. The common causes are the use of harness made with inappropriate materials, bad design of carts and heavy loads. Honey has been used for dressing wounds from time immemorial. Honey helps in curing wounds because its thickness provides a protective barrier. Hydrogen peroxide is released from the honey slowly which is a well known bactericide. Amino acids with vitamin C speed the growth of healthy tissue. Procedure Clean the wound . Use surgical soap and additionally some iodine solution to clean it well. Then apply a good dressing of honey. Some experts recommend to not put honey directly into the wound, but to put it on a piece of gauze first and then cover the wound with it. If there is a cavity or a big abscess, it is widely recommended to first debride the abscess and then fill the hole or the cavity with honey and finally cover it with the gauze. This procedure has to be done everyday i.e. every 24 hours. But some people may prefer to do it twice or even three times in the day. It is recommended to do it once in the day if the wound does not get dirty with urine or faeces. If the wound does get dirty, then this procedure may be used twice or three times in a day. Although honey is useful to cure all types of wounds, it is especially effective with cavities. This is because the honey is able to stay longer on the tissue and promote the healthy granulation tissue. Thermal Therapy Thermal medicine has been used in human medicine showing good results. This consists of the application of heat or cold to the site of the injury. This therapy is now recommended by veterinarians for the treatment of muscle– skeletal injuries. This therapy can alleviate both chronic or acute illness. Application of cold therapy to an injury or wound helps in decreasing swellings, pain, oedemia, blood flow and the activity of inflammatory mediators at the sight of the injury within the first 24 – 48 hours. Cold therapy causes vasoconstriction ( constriction in blood vessels) that can reduce oedemia and haemorrhages. It is also believed to be an analgesic after 10 or 15 minutes apparently because it reduces the conduction of the nerves. The term analgesic refers to any drug that causes a temporary loss of the sense of pain without losing consciousness. Heat therapy has been recommended after 72 hours of injury. This reduces pain, increases tissue extensibility and local blood flow. All these events allow to have more metabolic activity which will promote a quicker recovery. Heat is used to reduce the swelling caused by blood or serum. Optimal temperatures for heat therapy are 40 to 45 degrees Celsius Procedure Cold therapy – it has been proved that the best way to get the tissue temperature between 15 to 19 degrees, is by using icy water. This can be prepared using 4 kilos of ice in 15 litres of water. The leg of the donkey can be soaked in the bucket for 30 minutes. Within the first 10 minutes the tissues will reach the optimal temperature for recovery. However in the case of a face injury cool packs or even ice may be used. Cold therapy should not exceed 30 minutes. This is because if the treatment is applied too long there is a possibility of it producing reflex vasodilation (dilation in the blood vessels after cold treatment is removed.) Heat therapy - this therapy is also best done by using water. The water at 40 to 45 degrees Celsius can be taken in a bucket to soak the injured part for 10 to 20 minutes. Active Charcoal Charcoal has the effect of binding gases and toxins through absorption. It is very useful in treatment of diarrhoea in foals. Procedure For foals, take 10 gm of charcoal and mix it with 1 ounce of water. Administer it to the foal through the mouth every 12 hours. For adult donkeys use 20 gm of charcoal mixed with about 2 ounces of water. Sugardine Sugardine is a mixture of sugar with Betadine. Betadine is one of the most effective antiseptics available It is very effective against bacteria, yeast and viruses. The mix of Betadine with sugar seems to make the structures of the feet harder and also keeps them clean. Sugardine is useful in subsolar abscesses, thrush, or any other foot condition that involves infected tissues. Procedure Take a standard size glass and put betadine in it. Betadine is commonly available in India at most of the chemist shops. Now start adding common sugar to it till a thick paste is formed. The surface that has to be cured has to be perfectly clean before the mix is applied on it. Once the sugardine is applied on the recommended area, cover it with gauze and then bandage it. Garlic as an anthelminitic Anthelminitics are substances that are given to expel parasitic worms. Donkeys are vulnerable to an array of diseases of biological origin and parasitism is the common entity leading to ill health, suffering and early demise. Inspite of this, they are not given anthelmintic treatment due to ignorance on the part of the owners. Most of the suffering caused to the donkey is because of parasitism, as under this condition the donkeys are not even able to take full advantage of the little feed given to them. Hence their body condition is generally low and with improper harnessing this may result in sores. Modern anthelmintics are not widely available and due to their expense, they are used infrequently used in the preventive care of the donkey. For many years the medicinal properties of garlic and other herbs have been advocated by herbalists. But only recently the use of garlic as an anthelminitic in donkeys has been promoted. Ground garlic may be a cost effective alternative to commercial products for parasites. Local application of aqueous extract of garlic cream 10 % V/W completely cures the lesions of ring worms, the average time required being 13.08 +/- 0.79 days. Garlic has shown a good antibacterial activity, lipid (fatty substances) lowering effect, anti platelet activity (platelets or thrombocytes reduce loss of blood from injured vessels by the formation of a white clot ) and anti carcinogenic effects. Carcinogins are substances that give rise to cancer. In a recent study on garlic as anthelminitic in donkeys, boiled garlic was found to be totally ineffective in reducing the herd egg count of strongyle spp. It is believed that one of the reasons for this is that a compound of garlic called Allicin is destroyed when the garlic is boiled. Turmeric Powder Turmeric powder is known for its antiseptic properties. It may be sprinkled directly if the wound is wet with blood. However, if the wound is dry, then a turmeric paste needs to be made. This can be done by mixing turmeric powder with cooking oil i.e cooking oil, mustard oil etc. This paste can then be applied on the wound. Neem Oil Neem oil is a popular fly repellant that is used widely in India. It may be sprayed on the donkeys to help keep the flies away. Anona Paste Anona plants are found mostly in south India. The leaves of this plant are ground and the paste formed may be applied to maggot wounds. .
DONKEY BEHAVIOUR
	Donkeys are complex creatures, capable of many moods. They can be friendly, affectionate, independent, patient, and even sad, and there is no questioning their intelligence. But when a donkey would rather not do something, it can be the laziest and most stubborn creature in the world. Donkeys are hardy animals and are remarkably resistant to disease. Hoof care is essential to the well being of these animals. When kept on soft ground the hooves grow rapidly and soon become extra long. This puts great pressure on the pasterns as the animals’ weight is no longer directly over its hooves. A farrier or veterinarian should be consulted for advice. In the wild, donkeys travel in herds of up to 100 animals, usually led by a male. Although they are gregarious by nature, the herd breaks up at foaling time. Donkeys are most active in the evening, but also move about during the day and at night. When threatened, their defense is to run or bite. Donkeys communicate with their human owners and with other donkeys by “braying”. Every donkey has his or her own style of braying with some sounding quite comical. They range from barely being audible to a loud thunderous bray. Donkeys develop schedules and if you are late in feeding, you will hear about it! Jacks pastured apart from their jennets will call to them several times a day. On the whole, donkeys are very quiet animals. As in the case of other animals, the most important donkey behaviours are drinking, eating, urinating, defecating, resting , grooming and mating. Abnormality in any one of these or their absence are very important behavioural signs. In addition there are many other aspects of donkey behaviour that help in understanding donkeys better: • Loud or persistent braying indicates that the donkey is stressed because of fear or loss of contact with other donkeys. • Lethargy and lack of interest in anything, and standing away from other donkeys, may signal ill health. • Limping while walking or trotting indicates leg or hoof problems. • Excessive rolling on the ground and / or repeated rubbing may indicate skin parasites and digestive problems such as colic i.e excessive gas in the digestive system. • Eating things other than grass, such as soil and bushes may indicate a nutritional deficiency or boredom. • Grooming itself or other donkeys, allowing itself to be groomed and investigating new things are all signs of well being or good health. • Aggressiveness is common behaviour in male donkeys although it is something to be prevented at all costs. Based on the appreciation of donkey behaviour, it is possible to list some general guidelines for handling donkeys: • Always speak to the donkey in a gentle tone as you approach it and use its name if you know it. • Always try to approach from the front so that the donkey can see you and always lead it on the left side. The left side is the conventional side for controlling equids and is used worldwide by experienced handlers. • If you need to touch any part of the body, start by checking the neck and then slide your hand gently to the area you wish to touch e.g. a hoof, whilst at the same time reassuring the donkey by speaking to it softly. Avoid grabbing at the legs and the hooves without warning the animal first by prior touching the body. • Most donkeys like the base of their ears to be scratched, but they do not like their ears to be pulled. Reproduction and growth The gestation period for donkeys is approximately 12 months. There is usually just one foal, which is able to stand up within minutes after birth. The foal remains with its mother for about five months. Females achieve puberty at one year. Some important reproductory facts about donkeys are : Parameters Estimated Mean Value Range Birth Weight 25 kg 15 – 30 kg Age of Puberty 1.5 years 1 –2 years Length of estrous 6 days </