Please understand donkeys are not horses with long ears. Donkeys have a unique biological system that needs to be treated by a veterinarian experienced with donkeys. Please be sure and ask your veterinarian to do his/her research before treating a donkey with drugs and surgery. Please ask your veterinarian to check all lumps you find quickly.
What causes sarcoids?
No one knows for sure what causes sarcoids, but we do know that:
they are infectious and linked to a virus called ‘bovine papilloma virus’
flies play a role in their spread so insect control is important, particularly during the summer months.
certain animals are more susceptible than others. All equine can get a sarcoid.
Where are sarcoids found?
Sarcoids are most often found on the head, legs and trunk. Male donkeys sadly can develop sarcoids on their pennis or sheath.
Sarcoids may develop at sites of wounds and areas where trauma or injury has occurred.
Use your hands to check your donkey for any new lumps regularly. Include this in your daily grooming routine.
Drug Metabolism In Donkeys:
Donkeys digest drugs different from a horse. Donkeys process drugs much faster than the horse. As a result, practitioners should prescribe drugs carefully less is more with donkeys to ensure the donkey does not over dose and die from the drug. Each donkey is a unique individual some donkeys need far less drugs for pain or sedation so again its best to treat each donkey with extreme caution to drugs and sedation.
Watch our six donkeys one standard, two formerly wild burro’s and three miniature donkeys running and playing on our mares (horses) track. Enjoy!
How can I create a track for my equine?
Read the book Paddock Paradise, Jaimie Jackson for some ideas. We have three tracks on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®, one connected to our mares (horses) shelter, one to the standard and burro’s shelter and one connected to the miniature donkeys shelter. Due to the diet of the miniature donkeys they need their own shelter and paddock. After meals we let them go out with the larger donkeys on the track.
Do I feed our equine on the track? No. The equine love to try and find food on the track and love to walk, run and play. I want them to walk or run back to the shelter to get water and salt. Please understand in the wild horses and donkeys walk fifteen to twenty five miles a day. The track keeps them fit, prevents obesity, laminitis, stops cribbing for horses and well its a paddock paradise.
What size is the track?
Twelve feet wide corners are twenty one feet to run and lay on. We drive the A.T.V with the cart behind to pick up the poop once a day. Remember to mow and bag the grass before letting the equine on the track. The track is for exercise, mental and emotional enrichment. Meals are fed in the shelter with portion control.
I am happy to share sixteen years of experience with donkeys. Very few donkeys make great livestock guarding donkeys. Donkeys are intelligent and emotional beings that prefer to live with their own species, eat, drink, play, groom and sleep together along with grabbing the neck, biting, playing tag and tug with a jolly ball. Always get two donkeys geldings with gelding’s jennies with jennies (female), jacks (stallions) must become geldings. Very few donkeys make great guardian donkeys. Why? Donkeys evolved from the desert their diet is strict. Donkeys metabolize food and drugs different than a horse as this is one of their gifts to survive living in the desert forging for food. Please stop and think about what kind of food is in the desert, this is what we are trying to create for donkeys living on the farm.
Donkeys can kill smaller animals quickly by grabbing the neck or stomping to death. Can donkeys live with livestock? Yes and no. Donkeys need a large space and another donkey as listed above and it depends on the donkey as each has a personality and life experience. Miniature donkeys cannot guard anything they need protection. Donkeys need to live on desert pastures to prevent obesity. When livestock babies are born they must be moved away from the donkeys to avoid death by the donkey grabbing and killing the baby by the neck. I highly recommend a Great Pyrenees dog to live with your livestock they are the best and will cost less to care for.
Donkey care is extensive, donkeys need a farrier visit every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven weeks in the fall and winter. Donkeys need vet checks at least once a year, dental teeth, and gums yearly, shots in the spring, west Nile, rabies, and tetanus. Donkeys need tested hay 10% or lower ins sugar and protein with portion control. Salt with minerals, no alfalfa, no grains, oats, breads, cookies, vitamins or sweet feed. Do not let donkeys graze on rich grass or brush 24 x 7 as they will become obese and have life threatening side effects, hoof abscesses, fat on the neck, fat pockets, fat in the blood, laminitis, insulin resistance and white line disease of the hoof. Donkeys need shelter, clean water, warm in the winter and some donkeys need a blanket in the winter as they cannot handle the cold as good a horse. Donkeys need exercise, create a hot wire track if you do not live in the desert as the track will turn to dirt or have very little grass on it. https://blog.donkeywhisperer.com/what-a-donkey-needs/
Here is my free video Bringing Your Donkey Home How do I exercise my donkey?
Donkeys can safely carry 20% of their body weight including the saddle and rider. Please be sure your donkey is prepared to work, meaning be an adult and in condition to work. This means that a miniature donkey weighing 300 pounds can carry 60 pounds great for a small child. Donkeys should be full-grown before attempting to do any form of heavy work. Percentage calculator.Donkeys that are sick or geriatric cannot do heavy work without causing serious harm to the animal.
What age is my donkey full-grown?
Miniature donkey age three.
Standard/burro age four.
Mammoth donkey six or seven depending on the height of the donkey
Donkeys evolved from the desert. Donkeys’ fur and hooves do not like to stay wet.
Donkeys can get bald patches any time of the year. Donkeys love to grab (bite) the neck, hip and nip at the legs sometimes pulling large chunks of fur out. When you see this put a little neosporin on the skin. Then there is lice the most common in donkeys due to the birds pooping, immune system and the long fur coat on the donkey. Check for lice, ticks, and mites. ULTRA BOSS oil based work much better than powders due to the donkey’s thick and long fur coat. Pour down the top of the neck to the end of the tale, (do not get in the eyes) rub in deep with a brush to get past all the thick donkey fur. Repeat in seven days as this will kill the lice but not the lice eggs. The second dose kills the eggs. Please check your donkeys body every day.
Bald patches on donkeys normally develop in the spring, late winter and fall but can occur any time of the year. Donkeys have longer hair than a horse. Donkeys are more susceptible to rain rot than horses. Make sure your donkey has access to shelter as clumps of hair fall out and bald patches develop.
Fungus and rain rot can grow on donkeys, making flakey skin and clumps of hair coming out to raw skin. As soon as the weather is 70 degrees I give all our donkeys and horses a good bath with antiseptic fungus shampoo and cream rinse. Tie up the donkeys next to their donkey buddy. I never spray water in my donkeys or horses’ faces. I wash gently wash their face with a wash cloth. Get the donkeys body wet before adding the medicated shampoo. Select Virbac medicated shampoo leave on for fifteen minutes use conditioner. In severe cases use betadine as a shampoo do not dilute it, will not foam up on the skin, leave on for fifteen minutes before rinsing and add the conditioner.
If after doing all of the above your donkey has not healed and started growing their hair back please call your vet as your donkey may have allergies. Donkeys can have allergies in the spring and summer just like people needing Antihistamines and in some case the dog pill apoquel will work.
Donkeys evolved from the desert meaning one of their gifts is to survive and thrive on low sugar/protein forage. When donkeys are fed the wrong foods and given the ability to graze twenty-four seven on pasture and brush along with fruits, cereal treats, oats and even vitamins they can gain weight quickly and become obese.
What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) do horses get it?
Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a disorder causing the blood insulin levels to become too high along with fat on the body and in the blood. Making it very difficult for equine (horses, donkeys, ponies) to lose weight. Donkeys with EMS produce higher than normal levels of insulin and are slow to return to a normal value.
Donkey side effects:
A fat donkey, cresty neck, fat pockets on the body, diarrhea, drinking more water, chronic hoof abscesses, laminitis, white line disease, cushing’s, laminitis.
How Can I Prevent EMS?
Watch the diet closely, work with your vet to do preventive care such a blood work and Thyro-Lfor a short amount of time along with diet and exercise.
What Can I Do To Help My Donkey or Horse that has EMS?
Do not starve your equine. Test your hay before you purchase it for the year. A great place to send off hay samples is Equine Analytical Lab. Use a slow feeder we use the Hay Pillow using 1 1/4 holes. Last but most importantly portion control you may need to weigh your hay. If you have a thin donkey needing to gain weight you may have to create another eating arrangement for the obese donkey. Do not let this equine graze on grass or brush ever as the sugar is too high.
Weigh your donkey regularly
Create a track for your equine to walk and run keep moving but not eat fresh grass. A great book is Paddock Paradise.
If you need help selecting a blanket I am here to help you. Order in our store at Donkey Whisperer Farm ®.
Donkeys evolved from the desert their thick fur makes it very difficult to stay wet and cold in freezing and below-freezing weather. Donkeys are prone to hypothermia much faster than a horse and can get frostbite, laminitis, and sadly death.
“A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we have it ready to go before the emergency hits. Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®.”
How can I keep my donkey healthy during freezing weather?
Provide shelter with a door during high winds and freezing weather. Warm clean water, lose salt and a slow feeder with hay. A blanket that fits a donkey is vital as when a donkey is shaking, shivering and blowing diarrhea we need to get the blanket on quickly. This is not the time to measure for a blanket. The blanket should be measured and ordered way ahead of time.
The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® is a dealer for Kensington Protective Products we are excited to share that Kensington is now making custom donkey blankets made to fit a donkey. When you order from the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® store you will get custom donkey blankets, sold with a lifetime warranty.
Watch my Free YouTube Video Measure A Donkey For A Blanket.
Donkey Lovers, Please learn the facts not the myths about donkeys. Order Donkey Blankets, tack and E-training in our store at Donkeywhisperer.com
Did you know that Donkeys are more likely to be hypother-mic than horses? Sadly donkeys can move quickly intoHypothermia. Meaning their body temperature drops and can not go back to a normal temperature.
What happens if a donkey survives hypothermia? Laminitis, the hoof turning soft rotting off to the point the donkey needs prosthetic.
Thinking your fat donkey is safe? Metabolic health issues can cause the donkey to not be able to regulate the extreme cold. Please be prepared for severe cold and wind chills.
Signs a donkey needs a blanket;
Shivering, shaking and blowing diarrhea.
Preventative care for the winter:
Shelter, slow feeder, warm clean water, salt and blankets (2).
Blanketing:
A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we are prepared before the trauma hits. Measuring for a blanket, selecting the correct weight of a blanket, finding a donkey blanket that fits, taming the donkey to wear a blanket and finally waiting for shipping.
The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® has had donkeys and horses in our life since 2007, all of our donkeys and horses live in their forever home. We have experienced bringing home a baby donkey to sadly caring for the elderly donkeys and burying donkeys humanely. I am going to explain the truth about donkeys not the myth or the incorrect information shared on the internet and social media.
Watch my Free Youtube Video Bringing Your Donkey Home
Donkeys evolved from the desert the diet is one of the most important considerations in owning donkeys. Why? Donkeys were given the git to survive in the desert, over grazing, feeding the wrong foods will cause life threatening health issues for donkeys. Donkeys hooves are pointy unlike the horse as they were created to live in the desert. Donkeys cannot stand in urine, feces and mud without having hoof issues their thick fur coat needs to stay dry you must have a shelter. Think about what the donkey has to eat in the desert and you will have a clear understanding of why the donkey cannot graze on brush and grass and eat human breads, cookies, grains and oats without becoming obese and dying a painful death. Give lose free salt with minerals never vitamins. Please remember all hay or straw must be tested to come in at ten percent or lower in sugar and protein along with portion control. We can not look at hay by the color or the brand i.e., orchard, timothy or teff and know it is low in sugar and protein. Do not feed beet pulp or Alfalfa to a donkey. Low sugar/protein hay starts with the farmer making sure his soil has all the nutrients needed nitrogen and more. Cutting the field when the hay seeds have popped, and cutting on a gray day or early in the morning helps to ensure low Sugar and protein.
How can I find low sugar/protein hay?
Send hay samples off to Equine Analytical Lab before purchasing hay for the year. We use a slow feeder Hay Pillow fed inside the shelter locked inside of the High Country Plastic Slow Feeder. Feed two two meals a day morning and night is sufficient. When winter comes donkeys will need more meals to keep warm. Provide warm clean water using a heated bucket or bring warm water to your donkeys within 2 hours of feeding during freezing temperatures. Read Donkey Winter Care.
Mario and Luca
Donkey Shelter Big Enough For All Of Your Donkeys:
Donkeys need shelter to get out of the hot sun, wind, rain and snow. Make sure your shelter has a door that can open and close. Donkeys love to go in and out of the shelter when their food, water and lose salt is inside the shelter. Closing the door during fireworks, high winds and for teaching Donkey 101 & 102 video on demandis needed.
Quality fences and gates:
Donkeys are smart, they can watch us do something and repeat it. We use electro-braid hot wire for the paddocks and hot wire tracks. The exterior of our farm to keep neighborhood dogs and coyotes etc., out is Red Brand horse woven fence.
Storage for hay for one year:
After you test and find low sugar/protein hay testing 10% or lower in sugar and protein purchase enough hay to last one year.
Donkey Training:
I train the owner or caretaker how to tame and train the donkey via Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand with my E-book to print out. Sold with lifetime access. If you require personal consulting and coaching hire me under Donkey Trainer.
Hoof Care:
Hooves need to be trimmed by a farrier or trimmer every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven weeks in the fall and winter.
Shots and Veterinarian Care Required:
All donkeys need a veterinarian to come to the farm at least once a year. If you do not have a vet doing preventative care you will not be able to call a vet in an emergency. Vets do not come to farms that are not their customers. In the spring the vet will come to give shots and dental care. The minimum shots given to our donkeys as they do not travel to shows or other farms are Rabies, West Nile and Tetanus. All donkeys need the vet to check their teeth, jaw and gums once a year. Do not skip this as this is one of the most important preventive care medical procedures needed. Why? Donkeys are stoic they will not show us pain or suffering until in most cases it is too late. Colic is preventable.
Worming Donkeys, Mules and Horses:
I collect poop samples from all of my equine and give them to my vet twice a year spring and fall. My vet tells me which wormer to give my donkeys based on the fecal count and the part of the world we each live in. Over worming causes resistant parasites and can make the immune system suffer. Do not over worm your equine.
Exercise is vital to your donkeys health. Create a track made out of hot wire connected back to the shelter and sacrifice paddock. Donkeys love to run and play on their track browsing and exploring.
Freezing Weather With A Horrific Wind Chill Is An Emergency For Most Farm Animals.
“A blanket is like a fire extinguisher, we are prepared before the emergency hits” Melody Johnson. Some equine (donkeys, horses and mules) need a blanket until the freezing temps leave. Shivering, shaking and blowing diarrhea means they need a blanket. As hypothermia begins to set in, the core body temperature begins to drop.
Basic Care Needed:
Provide a slow feeder with hay, clean warm water and free lose salt. If you do not have an electric bucket to plug in bring your equine warm clean water within two hours of each meal.
Shut the door in the shelter if you have high winds with below 0 freezing temperatures. Frost bite can be prevented. Ordering a blanket at the last minute is almost impossible due to shipping and roads etc., plan ahead. Frostbite is also more common in donkeys and mules that have longer ears.
Providing shelter from wind and moisture is the single most important thing you can do.
Watch the footing for ice. Ice accidents can become a serious medical emergency.
Where Can I Find A Blanket for my donkey?
The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® is a dealer for Kensington we can sell any thing they sell using their MAP price always lower than the MSRP. Order Miniature donkey blankets, standard, burro, baby donkeys or Mammoth directly from me. I will help you find the best fitting blanket and weight for the cold with a life time warranty from Kensington. Send me an e-mail at Melody@donkeywhisperer.com asking for support. We have had donkeys in our life since 2007, if you need consulting sign up under Donkey Trainer for anything you need help with.
Owning a donkey is challenging as well most halters are made to fit a horse. I make custom adjustable soft yacht rope halters made to fit aminiature or standard/burro size donkey with a matching lead line, stainless steel twist safety snap and a real black leather end. Baby donkeys, mammoth donkeys, mules and horses can choose build a halter/lead line. I teach you how to measure the head for a perfect custom fit.
mini donkey halter
A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we have it ready to go in case of an emergency. Please remember (2) blankets for each donkey is important as there is no blanket 100% waterproof the entire winter season. Leaving a wet blanket on any equine will cause laminitis can contribute to colic and death. Please understand donkeys are stoic will never show any sign of sickness or pain until in most cases it is too late.
How Do I Measure A Donkey For A Blanket?
Did you know that blankets are made for horses, ponies and foals? Yes! Due to the donkey having a small chest, not having any withers and the round belly it can be a challenge to get a good fitting blanket that is quality for a donkey. Again it is very important we measure and find quality blankets before the emergency hits. I attach the leg straps as donkeys love to grab the blanket in play the straps keep the blanket on. I am excited to share Kensington Protective Products is making custom donkey blankets made to fit a donkey not a horse. Sales will begin in the fall of 2023.
Blanketing Donkeys In The Rain: No blanket is 100% waterproof in the rain. I do not blanket in the rain. I provide shelter for my donkeys in all seasons. Place hay, water and salt into the shelter so the donkeys are not afraid of the shelter. Watch for a donkey bully kicking the donkeys out. You may need more than one shelter depending on the size of shelter, herd size and donkey bully.
Taming the donkey to accept the cloth measurement tape can be for some donkeys a challenge. I always take my donkeys out with the halter/lead line on and let the donkey smell the cloth tape or anything new. If they are afraid of it wont touch it with their mouth I put it on my head and wrap it around my body. Soon I am able to touch my donkey with the tape. 🙂
I am a dealer for Kensington Protective Products I can sell any blanket any size or any product they have at a cheaper price than the MSRP. Why I like Kensington? They sell quality products and offer a lifetime warranty and will send another blanket if the blanket does not fit.
The miniature horse blankets are what I am selling for mini donkeys. Order miniature donkey blanket using the velcro on the chest and under the belly works so much better than the metal clasps as it fits better.
If you need help trying to find a blanket just ask I will do my best to find the best fitting blanket available from Kensington for miniature, standard/burro, mammoth donkeys, mules and of course horses.
How to Wash and Care for your Donkey, pony, horse or mule Blanket:
Remember that no blanket is 100% waterproof for the entire winter. Once you start putting the blanket on your equine you must check for rubs and dampness daily. I keep two blankets ready to go for all of our eight equine, six donkeys and two horses. Why? As I stated above the blanket can get wet and I need to add a dry blanket until the weather breaks and we move back into rain. I remove the blanket as soon as we are out of the 20’s and move back to rain weather. I never blanket my equine during the rain as they all have shelters to move into and no blanket is 100% waterproof though the rainy season.
How often do I wash my blankets?
DO NOT OVER WASH YOUR BLANKETS. Scrape the poop of the blanket, before washing. I wash all of our blankets once a year in the summer, this way I can hang them out to dry. DO NOT PUT A WATER PROOF BLANKET IN THE DRYER. After they are dry I spray a water repellant on each blanket. Now I am ready for winter.
Are you looking to purchase a blanket for your donkey, horse, pony, mule or Zonk?
The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® is a dealer for Kensington Protective Products. You can order a miniature horse, pony or Donkey blanket in my store under Miniature Donkey Blanket. Send me an e-mail at Melody@donkeywhisperer.com to place an order that is not in my store as I can order anything from Kensington for a cheaper price than the MSRP price.
We are deeply saddened to share that Tuba our rescue donkey age is estimated to be in his thirties has passed away. God in Jesus Christ precious name has brought home another precious donkey to heaven.
Tuba was healthy no signs of illness and than boom he started to have grand mal seizures. Our veterinarian came quickly and was able to administer medication to help him for a few hours. Early in the morning the grand mal seizures returned with a furry, we made the decision to have our vet humanely euthanize him. No more pain and suffering Tuba you are in heaven now.
Tuba & Oboe playing hours before seizure.
What does donkeys are stoic mean?Donkeys unlike the horse will never show us pain until in most cases it is way too late making keeping donkeys healthy truly more challenging. We had absolutely no warning sign that Tuba was not feeling well, he ate his breakfast and dinner like normal. Tuba went out on the big paradise paddock track and proceeded to run and play with Oboe his bonded companion while the miniature donkeys grazed on the track. That evening Tuba had grand mal seizers, our vet promptly came and tried to stop the seizures within hours we made the decision to euthanize him. Tuba was truly a special donkey and the leader of Oboe his bonded companion. We miss him deeply and thank God he did not suffer.
What We Must Do When A Donkey Dies?
Donkeys are emotional beings and have excellent memories. It is vital that you put the halter/lead line on and walk the living donkeys buddies up to the body to say goodbye. This step is really important to give closure. Next it is vital that this donkey is not living alone get another donkey asap. Donkeys can die from grief and colic stress. Donkeys can go into a depression stop eating and drinking, have a glazed look in their eyes. Spend as much time as you can with your living donkey and help him/her through the grief.
Tuba (3rd donkey) with the mammoth donkeys
I met Tuba and Oboe bonded pair of standard donkeys (Tuba 3rd donkey to the right Oboe butt) for the first time in 2008 as I was called asked to try and help the owners who were not able to halter or catch the donkeys. I went to the farm with the intention of teaching the owners how to tame and train Oboe & Tuba so they could stay in their forever home. Sadly they had tried horse methods on the donkeys that clearly did not work and the owners were frustrated with donkey behavior. I began working with the boys and was making great progress with them but sadly the owners did not want to learn as they had small children and a business leaving no time for the donkeys. I helped to get these two boys into a donkey sanctuary as our farm at the time was not big enough to take more equine. In 2014 we moved to our property in Sequim, WA I promptly brought Oboe and Tuba home to live with us in their forever home with Rio our Mammoth donkey on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®. I always said God has a sense of humor as their names Oboe and Tuba fit Melody. 🙂
Tuba & Melody 2009
After Tuba passed we moved Oboe in with our miniature donkeys to help him. Luckily the miniature donkeys and our standard donkeys Oboe and Tuba have been spending lots of time together on the paradise paddock track. Please remember when a bonded pair of donkeys lose their companion it is vital to move the donkey in with another donkey quickly. Donkeys are very emotional and can stop eating, drinking and next is colic. Spend as much time with your donkey helping them move past the loss of the beloved companion. It is very important that all of the donkeys in the herd are able to smell the deceased donkey before burying the donkey. Why? Donkeys will cry out for a donkey that disappears if they do not know what happened and can stop eating and drinking. Its truly one of the hardest things to do loose a donkey, mule or horse. We thank God for his peace and strength to handle this pain and suffering. Tuba is in no more pain, we believe he is in heaven with Rio our mammoth donkey.
God bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Why is it important to have your donkeys teeth checked by a vet once a year?
The role of routine dental care is to improve chewing, relieve pain, to treat and cure infection and to promote the general health, productivity and longevity of the donkey, horse or mule. It is important to remember that dentistry includes not only the teeth and mouth but the sinuses, bones of the jaw and the temporomandibular joint.
Facts:
1. Domesticated donkeys can develop high points on their teeth pushing on the gums making them sore and difficult to chew. Eating hay that is not chewed causes colic and can contribute directly to death in donkeys, mules and horses.
2. The gums can become inflamed and need a vet to do oral surgery. Most of the time these donkeys need to go to a hay mash and can no longer eat hay.
3. Sinus health issues are addressed by annual vet exam of the mouth.
If we do not do regular dental care we risk loosing our donkeys early in life. Eating hay that is not chewed properly will cause colic. Senior donkeys can be moved to a hay mash with restrictions to eating hay or straw 100%, these donkeys can graze on fresh grass for limited amounts of time to avoid obesity.
Please find a veterinarian that has experience with donkeys as donkeys digest drugs differently than a horse. Most vet’s in the U.S.A. give a mild sedative before opening the mouth, as it is safer for the donkey and the human.
Thank you for investing in your donkeys.
donkey dentist
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Donkeys evolved from the desert. The donkeys gift is to survive on low sugar and protein forage and use every calorie. Donkeys are stronger than a horse the same size. Donkeys have pointy hooves made to survive in the dry climates with rocks. Donkeys long ears are made to hear their donkey buddy up to 60 miles away in the desert and to cool them down in the desert heat.
Donkeys living in the U.S.A. are being overfed and fed the wrong foods. Once the neck crest (fat) breaks over nothing can be done to repair the neck. Insulin resistance, laminitis, hoof abscesses, white line disease, hyperlipidemia (fat in the blood) and soon death. The good news is with diet and exercise the donkey can live a healthy life.
Do not starve a donkey trying to loose weight. Tested hay in a slow feeder with portion control works best @haypillowinc
What can I do to help my obese donkey? Just like humans diet and exercise changes everything in most cases. Test all of your hay, equine analytical lab in the USA to ensure 10% or lower in sugar and protein. No grain, no sweet feed, no oats, no vitamins give salt with minerals, no breads, beet pulp or human snacks. Limit time grazing on pastures and brush. Diarrhea is on sign of too rich foods along with stress. A safe treat is a bite of a carrot. If you cant find low sugar/protein hay remember you can soak it to remove sugar.
Exercise & Diet: Create a donkey track connected to the shelter and dry paddock for clean water, salt, and portion control with a slow feeder. Remember portion control is important no big round bales of hay eating on full-time 24×7. Do not let your donkey graze on pasture and brush.
If you would like to learn how to setup your farm for the desert equine sign up in my store under Donkey Trainer for a consultation.
• Provide shade with fans located up high in the shelter.
Provide cool fresh water several times a day.
Dental should be done once a year by a veterinarian.
Worm twice a year, spring and fall. Provide your vet with a fecal sample and worm after the fecal count proves parasites. Tape worms do not show up in fecal sample. Worm with ivermectrin after the first frost in the fall.
• Lose salt and clean cool water (change out the water several times a day) to prevent heat stress colic.
• Use the Hay Pillow 1 1/4 holes work best to slow down hay consumption, stop wasted hay and prevent colic from fecal impactation.
• Never work any equine in extreme heat. Avoid surgeries or sedation during extreme heat.
Clip a donkey, horse or mule if medically needed.
Signs of heat stress in a donkey, horse or mule:
• Lethargic
Hot skin to the touch
• Rapid breathing with flared nostrils
• Laying down wont get up
• “Glassy” eyes
• Staggering or weak gait
• High core body temperature. The rectal temperature is the last to increase so internal temperatures of the muscles will be even higher.
For more mild cases:
Call the vet
• Bathe the donkey, horse or mule in cool water and repeat as necessary. Allow to air dry. Do not scrape keep in shade under the fan.
*Check the body temperature using a rectal thermometer normal is 99 to 101.
•For more severe cases:
Call the vet.
• Hose the donkey, mule or horse using cold water for at least 5 minutes. If using a bucket, apply cold water every minute (a person on each side) for at least 5 minutes. After this time the rectal temperature should be near normal but check to make sure. Allow to air dry do not scrape. Put back into a shaded space.
Veterinarian may need to sedate add intravenous fluids to save a life.
For both situations:
• Once your equine is acting more comfortable can walk again, move to a shaded area.
Check the body temperature using a rectal thermometer.
• Give cool clean water. Equine that refuse to drink may require intravenous fluid therapy. Discuss with your veterinarian.
• Bathing may need to be repeated as core temperatures can sometimes increase again as heat stored in muscle is released.
• Monitor your donkey, mule or horse carefully do not leave their side until the vet says you can to ensure they are eating and drinking normally, look for normal urine and manure in both appearance and amount during the next 24 hours. Please talk to your vet for guidance as heat colic can be a life threatening issue for all equine.
Donkeys evolved from the desert their gift is to survive on low sugar, low protein forage:
Equus asinus (Donkey) evolved in the desert regions of our world. Donkeys have been been given the gift to survive in the desert, a part of our world where very few other creatures can survive. Donkeys can survive and thrive on very low sugar, and protein diet. The donkey has one of the most efficient digestive systems seriously better than the horse helping the donkey metabolize low nutritional value shrubs and trees, grasses for survival. Donkeys digest foods much slower than the horse and this gift helps the donkey to absorb more nutrients from lower-quality forage. Drugs in donkeys are not the same as with a horse. Most vets must learn the hard way about giving far fewer drugs to a donkey as their bodies absorb drugs differently from the horse per weight and size.
Please remember donkeys are healthiest emotionally and physically when getting to live with another donkey. Never make a donkey live without another donkey in isolation. Can a horse work out? It depends, most donkeys prefer another donkey over a horse but will take any animal in lieu of being forced to live in isolation. If you decide to place your donkeys into a pasture environment with cows, horses, sheep, lama, etc. you will have to watch the diet of your donkeys as they cant eat foods the other animals eat without becoming obese. Obesity in donkeys is a life-threatening health concern as laminitis, hoof abscesses, insulin resistance, fat in the blood, and kidney failure are all due to a rich diet. Additionally, donkeys grab the neck in play with their pasture donkey buddy, and in battle, they can kill another small animal quickly.
How Do I Keep My Donkeys Happy and Healthy?
Tested low sugar/protein hay with portion control. Test hay atEquine Analytical Lab before purchasing enough hay for the year. Do not feed free-choice hay twenty-four hours a day or your donkey will become obese. No grain, oats, grazing full-time, eating brush as even brush can be high in sugar in the Pacific Northwest. Create a hot wire track (dry) but safe for exercise and enjoyment.
Geld jacks as jacks (stallions) are never a safe option for the farm. Only experienced donkey breeders should be keeping a jack.
Provide excellent fences, gates, and locks. Donkeys are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet they are capable of opening gates and doors that are not secure.
Shelter, donkeys need to get out of the rain, snow, and sun.
Clean Water and warm clean water in the winter.
Salt with minerals, add selenium if your hay does not have it, and remove if hay has selenium.
Vet care is needed for a donkey; spring shots, fecal samples (spring and fall) health checkups, and dental exams once a year.
Farrier visits schedule every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven in the fall and winter to trim and balance the hooves preventing white line disorder, seedy toe, and more.
Check for lice and rain rot in the winter months and spring.
Watch my free youtube video Bringing Your Donkey Home
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Donkeys make life better. Owning a couple donkeys is a truly wonderful blessed life but with it, we must learn as much as we can to keep our donkeys healthy and happy. Please never make a donkey live without another donkey. Donkeys have thick fur, slanted long eyes pushing back further into their head enabling the donkey to see behind them without turning their head giving the donkey peripheral vision. Donkeys have pointy hooves made to walk on rocks and dry hard ground. Donkeys are born with unique personalities, introverts, and extroverts just like humans. The extrovert donkey can sing, and bray definitely has more go than whoa, the introvert donkey will never bray or sing, never and has more whoa than go. The introvert donkey is a deep, deep thinker. Donkeys are truly the most sensitive and emotional equine as they become deeply attached to their herd buddies and are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. Meaning a donkey will never forget any experience good or bad and has a memory that is truly comparable to the elephant.
Preparing for any form of haul into the veterinarian’s office that requires more than one afternoon or night at the vet’s office is truly as important as the surgery. Additionally, we must prepare our farm to keep the donkey healthy while recovering from surgery.
Surgery is over, the veterinarian does an outstanding job in surgery and the prognosis is high that your donkey will recover. Day two or three after surgery you will get a call from your vet telling how your donkey is not eating. Most of the time when a donkey stops eating it is directly due to depression and seriously missing his/her heard buddy. Sure sometimes it can be due to the illness and this is a matter the vet can fix but many times the vet is stumped about why the donkey is not eating. After all, the surgery went beautiful and everything looks outstanding.
What does the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® do when a donkey needs surgery that requires more than 24 hours in the vet’s hospital?
I explain to my vet that my donkey needs to go to the vet’s office with his buddy, wake up after surgery and see his donkey buddy in the stall next to his recovery stall. Why? Donkeys will go into surgery less stressed with their buddy in the stall next to them and donkeys will start eating faster and heal faster making the surgery a success. I prepare my farm to have a place for the sick donkey recovering from surgery to be able to see his herd buddies when he arrives home from the vet’s office. Why? Donkeys get depressed when they can’t see their herd buddies and have their life back to the way it was, in fact, they will stop eating and in some cases drinking. It’s truly a form of suicide for the donkey as they simply do not want to live their life like this in insolation. I always put my donkey back into the herd asap as isolation is truly depression for donkeys.
Please feel free to browse in my store Donkey Whisperer Farm ® I sell premium adjustable soft yacht rope halters made to fit a miniature or standard/burro size donkey with a matching lead line, brass, or stainless steel twist-on snap, and a real black leather end. I teach the owner or caretaker worldwide how to tame and train donkeys using words, timing, voice, energy, never pain via my donkey exercises videos and E-book.
Are you a treat dispenser? What is it about donkeys that make us want to give them treats? Maybe it is because they are so darn adorable, maybe it is because they are so interpersonal, maybe it is because we want to earn their trust and be loved by them. Maybe it is because we don’t want to put a lot of time into them, so we bribe them when we need them to do something. Whatever the reason, most donkey owners and caretakers fall into the trap of becoming treat dispensers.
Here is what you risk when you give your donkey the desert equine treats:
1. Giving treats regularly to your donkey undermines their health and can be dangerous. Apples have a high concentrate of sugar and acid making them dangerous for colic. Horse cookies and treats sold in farm stores, as well as human foods such as cookies and crackers, are made of processed wheat, sugar, salt, and other nasty additives. All of these put your donkey at risk for metabolic disorders, such as Cushing’s Disease and Laminitis. You are also putting your donkey at risk for a choke and/or colic. A donkey’s digestive system is NOT designed for these foods and feeding such treats can lead to impaction, colic, and/or peritonitis.
2. Giving treats regularly to your donkey undermines your authority. Many owners and caretakers often find themselves in a dilemma: They don’t have a lot of time to spend with their donkey but they expect their donkey to come, lead, go through the gate, get their feet trimmed, and stand for the vet. If you haven’t put in the time and training chances are your donkey is not going to listen to you! Under pressure, or in desperation, you resort to bribing your donkey with treats. This completely undermines your leadership and reduces you to a beggar! If this is happening to you, PLEASE find the time to connect with your donkey and teach him/her basic manners and training. I train the owner or caretaker worldwise how to tame and train the donkey via Donkey 101, 102 Video On Demand sold with my E-book.
3. Fear. Donkey owners and caretakers are often afraid of their donkeys; afraid to get kicked, afraid to get pushed through, afraid to get walked on. These are all signs of a donkey in need of a good leader and that leader is YOU! These are normal donkey behaviors in a herd, but not appropriate when living with humans. Bribing your donkey with treats or food to get them to behave is simply dangerous and creates a more demanding and belligerent donkey. Sooner or later you will lose and so will your donkey. REMEMBER: This is about you, not your donkey! To overcome fear you must learn donkey psychology, learn to join up with your donkey, and teach your donkey boundaries, manners, and basic skills. To learn more go to our websiteDonkey Whisperer Farm ®. Giving a treat during training as a reward for a job well done is encouraged. There are times it is very appropriate. Giving treats to show your donkey love, get him/her to mind you or because you are afraid of your donkey is simply dangerous. Learn healthy ways to be with your donkey. If you work all day, instead of coming home and giving your donkey a carrot, spend 15 minutes with your donkey; massage his/her ears, brush him/her or hang out and talk with your donkey. More than anything your donkey wants to be with YOU!
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
1. Most important – Please don’t beat me or punish me for being slow and not moving fast enough, unlike the horse I can think all the time. If I overreact understand I am stressed.
2. I enjoy being talked to, brushed, and loved on when I am sure you will not hurt me. I will not eat if stressed. I am a donkey, donkeys are seriously into self-preservation.
3. I learn differently from the horse I am a visual learner. I learn by watching from an honor horse, mule, or another honor donkey or you doing something with me standing and watching at a safe distance. Please walk away from me with scary new things and let me come to you on my time I am scared of new things and need you to slow down.
4. I prefer clean water, warm water in the winter and low sugar, protein hay as I gain weight fast I was created to live in the desert.
5. I am really smart please do not leave me all alone, give me a companion I prefer a donkey but will take a horse or mule.
6. I need my hooves trimmed just like the horse.
7. I need my teeth taken care of just like the horse. I need a vet check once a year.
8. Please feed me at least two small meals a day when I am on a dry pasture and never feed me alfalfa hay or grass clippings.
9. I like to play with toys, orange traffic cone, feed bowl, or jolly ball I am smart and get bored easy just like you.
10. I am special GOD gave me a cross on my back and I am the only animal in the bible GOD gave the ability to talk.
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