Colic in Donkeys

Colic is a broad term that refers to any condition causing abdominal pain. Because donkeys can be less expressive than ponies and horses, many people think that they must therefore be less sensitive. In reality, donkeys are very susceptible to physical ailments such as colic, which can prove fatal if left untreated.

  1. Distribution

    • Researchers at the University of Liverpool in England studied a population of 4,596 donkeys between January 1, 2000, and March 31, 2005. They found that the yearly incidence rate of colic in the animals was 5.9 episodes per 100 donkeys. This is similar to the incidence rate found in horses.

    Symptoms

    • Donkeys are stoic creatures by nature. As such, they have to be watched closely for signs that they may be ill. Identifying colic is tricky as the only signs that a donkey is suffering may be that it refuses food or its behavior is a little duller. Other symptoms may include pawing at, or rolling on, the ground, a lack of droppings, fast breathing, excessive sweating and discoloration of the gums or the inside of the eyelids.

    Causes

    • Colic can have a variety of causes, many of which can interact with each other. These include sudden changes to the donkey’s diet, low-quality feed, dental problems, eating foreign objects or sandy soil, lack of access to water, worms and parasites, poisonous plants and exposure to stressful situations.

    Risk

    • Factors that increase the risk of colic in donkeys include old age, low body weight, musculoskeletal problems, dental disease and exposure to other diseases. Researchers from the University of Liverpool, writing in the BMC Veterinary Research journal, found that in the donkeys they studied, those that had previously suffered from colic and those that had been fed extra rations were more likely to contract colic.

    Mortality

    • Diagnosing colic promptly is important because by the time a donkey lets you know it has colic, it may be too late to save it. The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, U.K., has sheltered more than 11,000 animals since 1968. Of the animals found to have colic, more than 45 percent never recovered.