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Donkey care
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CARE OF YOUR DONKEY HAY:
Feed a good quality grass hay morning and night, even if you have pasture,
donkeys like to have their hay twice a day. The minis only need a small flake at a time.
GRAIN: We currently feed a 12% oat base grain mix. (You can also use a 12% corn base). During the summer when you have plenty of grass your donkeys may not require any grain at all, just watch their weight. Like people every donkey requires a different amount of food to maintain their weight. SUPPLEMENTS: There are a multitude of supplements on the market these days. Depending on the area and conditions each hay and grain contains varying amounts of vitamins and minerals. Unless you have your feed tested you don’t know what your animals are getting. For this reason we supplement vitamins with our animals grain, especially our bred jenny’s. You may find a brand you prefer but we have had good luck with “Horse Sho Glow”. Donkeys also require a salt block and a salt mineral block. The salt block is white; the salt mineral block is brown. WORMING: Worming can be done in a variety of ways but is essential for your animals health. The first method involves your veterinarian inserting a long tube in the nostril of your animal and passing the tube down the esophagus into the stomach. The vet then instills the medicine into the animals stomach. The second method involves using paste wormers. Paste wormers come in a small tube usually marked in increments of 250lbs. The paste is then squirted into the animals mouth. Paste worming should be done every 8 weeks and worming products rotated. And example of a worming rotation is: January February Strongid March April May Zimectrin June July August Panacur or Safeguard September October November Zimectrin December Another wormer to add to the rotation is Quest, this is a new wormer and some horse owner’s animals have had severe reactions to this product, do not use more than twice a year. Discuss your worming rotation with your vet. Some people prefer to have their vet tube the animal once a year and use the paste wormer for the remainder of the year. Most mini donkeys weight ranges from 250 to 350 lbs when full grown. VACCINATIONS: Donkeys require annual vaccinations. Always check with your vet for his/her recommendations in your area. Different parts of the country require different vaccinations. We currently give: 1. Encephalomyelitis, Influenza, Eastern, Western, Tetanus Toxoid. 2. Equine Rhinopneumonitis a. For pregnant jenny’s Rhino during months 5, 7, 9, and 11 to prevent equine abortion. Newer vaccinations i.e. West Nile just came out fall of 2001. Check with your vet in regards to vaccinations. Vaccinations in animals (like people) may cause reactions. These can range from mild to severe, examples are: 1. Mild: temperature, acting listless or generally don’t feel good, swelling at the site of injection. 2. Moderate: delayed infection at injection site with abscess formation. Large lump at or near injection site. May feel warm or hot to touch. Site painful to animal. Animal may have temperature, generally listless; refuse to eat grain, etc. 3. Severe: Anaphylaxis usually occurs within first 30 minutes after shot. Can involve Hives, Generalized swelling of face, neck, airways. Animal may have difficulty breathing. Or circulatory collapse. Animal may lie down and appear listless due to low blood pressure. a. YOUR VET WILL ADMINISTER EPINEPHRINE AT THIS POINT b. * If your vet has taught you to administer your own shots always keep epinephrine on hand for this medical emergency. c. Even though animals can have reactions it is extremely important to have your animal vaccinated. d. Animals may require boosters if they are to be exposed to other animals (Show situations) HOOF CARE: Your animal will require hoof trimming several times a year. It is best to schedule times with your Ferrier. Your Ferrier will also expect you to be there to help with your animals. Animals tend to have growth spurts at different times of the year, usually in the spring. They should be trimmed at least every 3 months. Many people like to learn how to file and trim their own animals. Many Ferriers’ are willing to teach their clients how to correctly trim their animal’s hooves. Donkeys should be on a more upright angle than horses. If your Ferrier has not trimmed donkeys, gently remind him/her not to take off to much heel. *Pick out your animals feet routinely, rocks can imbed in the frog and hoof wall and cause damage. (Imagine walking around with a rock in your show. *Thrush and Fungus: Equine can develop thrush and or fungus in their hooves. There are multiple products on the market. Thrush stop is one good product available. Be careful when you use these products not to get the product on your animals skin. Your Ferrier can make recommendations on products that are effective. LAMENESS: If you notice that your animal seems to be limping try to 1. Notice which extremity is injured. 2. Inspect that extremity for any obvious injury 3. Feel hooves, joints, and soft tissue. 4. Notice if one hoof is hotter than another. 5. Note any swelling in the affected extremity. Contact your vet and give him or her as much information as possible, especially with hoof injuries the problem may not be obvious, i.e. abscess with in the hoof. EYE INJURIES: Eye injuries can range from minor to severe. A watering eye can indicate something as minor as a grain of sand in the eye or something as major as an abrasion or laceration. 1. When minor the animal usually can still open their eye and there is just excessive watering. Usually an eye ointment like lacrilube can help sooth the eye and help get the “ sand” out. 2. Corneal abrasions. Usually the animal holds the eye closed and it may be difficult to open the eye to examine it. There may or may not be swelling of the eyelid. Call your vet to evaluate these eye injuries. Your animals’ eyesight is at steak. 3. (With abrasions your vet will recommend a treatment plan, this usually involves covering the eye to protect if from the light. Eye patches can be difficult to keep on so the most effective way we have found is to use the fly masks that are available on the market and tape a gauze patch in the fly mask on the affected side) CUTS AND SCRAPES: Just like children, donkeys tend to get cuts and scrapes. Antibiotic ointments are available at feed stores or thru equine catalogues. Ointments tend to stay on better than creams, also keeping the area moist with an ointment helps the hair grow back in and reduces scarring. Furason and Nolvasen are good products, also the triple antibiotic ointments. During fly season “Swat” is a great product. Anything large in the way of a cut CALL YOUR VET. FLY SEASON: We all dread it but we have to deal with it. There are sprays, shampoos, and ointments all to help deter flys. You may want to use a combination or settle on a favorite product. There are also products such as fly masks and fly leg wraps if you are trying to avoid chemicals. Pay particular attention to your animals’ eyes, ears and legs. The flys really go after these areas. They now have roll on fly products that are great for the eye area, they also work great on ears, just roll on inside and out on the ears. Provided a shaded area or shelter for your animals to get away from the flies. COLD WEATHER: Donkeys evolved to hot, arid climates and tend to tolerate heat better than cold. Provide a shelter for your animal that ensures a good windbreak. Make sure your animals have plenty of ice-free water to drink. Donkeys do not like to break ice to drink. A simple solution is keeping a tank with a tank heater in it. If you don’t think your animal is drinking enough add a little table salt to their grain. On extremely cold days try a warm bran mash to warm them up. Mix small amount bran with grain and boiling hot water, add a little molasses, you can also add little bits of carrots. *If you body clip your animal be sure to give them plenty of time to grow back their winter coat. Don’t clip late in the year otherwise you may find yourself looking for a blanket that will fit your animal. BEDDING: Possibles are Shavings or Straw either can be used. Straw provides more warmth in the winter. SUPPLYS: Hoof pick Stiff brush Mane comb Water bucket Grain bowls Water tank Winter/Tank heater Shavings or Straw bedding Grain: 12% Oat or 12% corn base. We currently feed oat base Hay Hay Rack Lead Straps Halters (Your animal will come with a halter) |
