Taking Care of Your Donkey Companion – Part 3

In this last of a three-part series on caring for your donkey, we will focus on providing your donkey with the right type of food.

Avoid Overeating

First, it is important to take steps to ensure your donkey does not overfeed and become overweight. Typically, donkeys only need to eat native grass and barley straw in order to stay healthy. They are, however, natural browsers and enjoy eating bushes, berries, fallen fruit and anything else that they may find in their natural habitat. 

Allowing your donkey to eat too much lush and foreign grass can lead to weight gain as well as a variety of health issues. One potential health issue that can result from overeating is laminitis, which is an inflammation of the laminae in the foot. Therefore, if you allow your donkey to free-range in a lush pasture, you should take steps to control the grazing or give straw or hay instead. 

Nutritional Needs

To keep your donkey as healthy as possible, it should have a diet that is rich in fiber while also being low in starch, sugar and protein. You should avoid giving treats to your donkey on a regular basis, as they have a tendency to put on extra weight very quickly. Too many treats can also lead to a verity of stomach issues. If you do want to give occasional treats, keep it limited to apples, carrots and bananas.

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Taking Care of Your Donkey Companion – Part 2

In this second of a three part series, we will further explore the basics of caring for a donkey. One of the first things you will need to determine is where and how you were shelter your donkey.

Horse v. Donkey

While donkeys may appear similar to horses, there are some very important differences that will affect the type of shelter that they need. For example, while horses have a natural build-up of grease, which helps to make their coat somewhat waterproof, donkeys do not have this same natural protection. In addition, donkeys originate from hotter climates. As such, they should always have access to a shelter or a stable where they can get themselves away from the elements. 

Creating the Proper Cover

In areas where temperatures get on the low side, a shelter that is completed enclosed is recommended. In the heat of Arizona, however, only a three-sided shed is needed. Regardless of the type of structure you choose, you should be sure to provide your donkey with a 4.5 square meters per donkey size ratio of space. 

This Isn’t Eeyore

While the Winnie the Pooh cartoons may have you assuming that donkeys like to be gloomy, the reality is that researchers have found that horses are much better at coping with gloomy weather. Donkeys are more likely to seek shelter when there is a light breeze or if it starts to rain. They are also more likely to seek shelter if the temperature drops below 14 degrees and they always want to have a dry place where they can lay down inside of their shelter.

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Taking Care of Your Donkey Companion – Part 1

Are you considering buying a donkey for your farm? If so, it is helpful to learn a bit more about how to care for donkeys. In this first of a three-part series, we will explore how to properly care for your new donkey companion.

Long-Term Companions

Before purchasing a donkey, it is good to know that they are very loving and affectionate animals that are known to live for 25 years or longer. Therefore, you need to be prepared to take on the commitment of owning a donkey before you make a purchase.

Gender Differences

Learning the proper terminology is also helpful when owning a donkey. For starters, it is important to know that males are called jacks while females are called jennets. Castrated males, on the other hand, are simply called geldings. 

Donkey Socializing

Donkeys typically do not care for being kept alone. Generally speaking, it is recommended to keep either two jennies or one gelding and a jennie when owning donkeys. If you only want to have one donkey, they can also live quite happily along with goats. 

Donkey BehaviorIt is also helpful to know and to understand that donkeys are typically quite strong and may sometimes even be stronger than a horse. They also have incredible memories and will remember you even if a long time has passed since they last saw you. 

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Treating Abscesses on Your Donkey at Home

While it is not desirable, it is possible to treat an abscess at home and without contacting a veterinarian to perform the job. It should be noted, however, that you should only treat an abscess on your own after you have been directly taught by a veterinarian or other animal healthcare expert. Furthermore, it is best to leave treatment of abscesses on the neck or the face to the veterinarian in order to reduce the risk of major bleeding. 

If no veterinarian is available and you absolutely must perform the procedure on your own, here are the general steps involved with treating an abscess:

• Apply a heated, moist cloth (referred to as a poultice) to the site of the abscess
• Trim the hair around the abscess
• Disinfect the surface with an antiseptic
• Make a small, low and vertical incision into the abscess with a sharp, sterilized knife
• While wearing sterile gloves, carefully squeeze the abscess to expel the excess pus 
• Flush the wound with disinfectant
• Sterilize or discard anything that came into contact with the pus

You should then be sure to monitor the wound for up to a month to ensure it is healing properly. You may also want to isolate your donkey depending on the size and location of the abscess. This will help to prevent reinfection while also helping to ensure it does not infect any other animals that you may have.

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Treating Streptococcus equi in Your Donkey

While abscesses to the skin or the hoof may be relatively easy to identify in your donkey, it is possible for your donkey to also develop abscesses to its internal organs. One such example of Streptococcus equi, which is a type of infection that leads to abscesses of internal organs as well as in the lymph nodes that are located below the ear and in the throat. 

Treating the Abscess

Depending on the nature of the abscess and its location, your veterinarian may do one of several things to Treating Streptococcus equi in Your Donkey. For example, the veterinarian may apply a poultice to draw the abscess to the surface. Your veterinarian may also lance the abscess and then irrigate the wound. Or, a combination of these treatment methods may be necessary.When your veterinarian treats the abscess, you should ask that they take a sample of the pus in order to identify the type of bacteria that has caused the infection. This will help to determine the type of antibiotics to use to further treat the abscess, if necessary. It will also help you to determine whether or not you need to isolate the donkey in order to keep it from infecting other animals. Contact your veterinarian to learn more. 

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Recognizing Abscesses in Your Donkey

Did you know that abscesses can be a potential health issue for donkeys? Recognizing abscesses in your donkey and knowing how they are caused is the first step toward helping your donkey recover from this condition.

Where Do Abscesses Occur?

Abscesses may occur anywhere on your donkey’s body or even in its internal organs. They are most commonly found in the hoof or beneath the skin. It is here where the pressure may build up and cause the abscess to rupture. A ruptured abscess can expel a significant amount of pus depending upon its size. 

What Causes Abscesses?

Abscesses are caused when a foreign body or an infection causes the donkey’s body to produce and accumulate white blood cells. This results in the formation of pus as your donkey’s immune system begins to wall off the foreign body or infection. Abscesses to the hoof are most commonly caused by something sharp either puncturing the hoof or getting lodged into the hoof. 

How Can I Recognize and Abscess?

Abscesses on the body are usually easy to recognize due to the sore that develops, particularly after it ruptures and expels ps. If the infection grows deep into the tissues, your donkey may also exhibit signs of lameness. If you suspect an abscess has occurred, it is essential to contact a veterinarian right away in order to prevent the issues from worsening. 

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