Do you know how to spot if your donkey is unwell? The experts at the Donkey sanctuary explain what to look for
The stoic nature of donkeys is often misunderstood as an ability to endure pain and hardship without suffering. However, this is a misconception, says Liz Hazell-Smith, research assistant at The Donkey Sanctuary.
Donkeys do experience pain, fear, and other negative emotions, but their behavioural responses are typically less expressive than those of horses and ponies. This subtle reaction can lead observers to mistakenly believe that donkeys aren’t in distress when they actually are.
In reality, donkeys feel pain and fear just as acutely as their equine relatives; they simply display their discomfort in more understated ways. This characteristic makes it crucial for caretakers to be particularly attentive to even minor changes in a donkey’s behaviour or demeanour, as these could be significant indicators of distress or illness.
How to tell if your donkey is stressed, ill or in pain
Donkeys display different signs and symptoms of pain and illness compared to horses. Donkey pain behaviour is different, in that donkeys don’t have a higher pain tolerance, or feel less pain, but they do exhibit less pain related behaviours compared to horses.
So, their signs and symptoms of illness can be much more subtle and they can mask the earlier, and even advanced, stages of illness.
Donkeys have different clinical baselines compared to horses, particularly in their temperature, pulse, and respiration rates. It’s important to know the typical baseline for each individual animal, making it easier to identify when one is unwell.
Below is a table comparing donkey and horse temperature, pulse and respiration rate ranges.
| Donkey | Horse | |
| Range temperature (°C, °F) | 36.5-37.7°C, 97.7-99.9°F | 37.5-38.5°C ,99- 01°F |
| Range pulse(beats per minute) | 31 – 53 | 36 – 40 |
| Range respiration rate(breaths per minute) | 13 – 31 | 8 – 15 |
Due to donkeys differing physiology, they also have the need for a different set of blood reference ranges compared to the horse patient. For more information about donkey-specific haematology and biochemistry reference ranges visit The Donkey Sanctuary.
What is Hyperlipaemia?
One condition which is much more prevalent in donkeys than horses is hyperlipaemia:
Hyperlipaemia is a complex metabolic condition, usually seen to develop as a secondary illness or after significant stress. Due to the serious nature of the illness, almost half of all diagnosed cases will result in death, it is important that all donkey carers are aware of the symptoms as well as leading causes as prevention is definitely the key with this condition.
Stress management and maintaining food intake are the key factors, as hyperlipaemia is triggered by a sudden drop in energy intake. Horses are not a as susceptible to this condition as donkeys and so without prior donkey experience it can be easily overlooked.
Symptoms of hyperlipaemia include
- Dullness
- Reduced appetite or just lack of interest in certain foods
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Reduced production of dung or mucus-covered dung
Want to find out more information about donkeys?
Check out our expert answers to questions like do donkeys make good pets, what do donkeys eat?, how long do donkeys live?, why aren’t donkeys waterproof? and should we ride donkeys?