b'Long in the . EARS Hes Still Got Some Bite (and Kick)Donkey or mules need regular dental and farrier visits as much as horses at their teeth, says Amy McLean, PhD,do, but the general attitude is, Well its equine lecturer at the University of Cali- a donkey/mule, so I dont have to do fornia, Davis, and board member of thethis, whereas actually they do need it, American Mule Association. Id be curi- McLean says. Both are critical to their ous to know whos aging these animals. health and welfare. Donkeys that do make newspaperDonkeys and mules should see a headlines with their age should, in anydentist every year, then twice a year as case, be considered the exception, saysseniors, and they should get farrier care Alex Thiemann, MA, VetMB, Cert EP,every six to eight weeks, just like a bare-MRCVS, veterinary surgeon at The Don- foot horse. If that care has been neglected key Sanctuary, in Devon, U.K. They mightin the younger years, its all the more live a few years longer than a horse, intoimportant in old age. their mid-30s. But, generally speaking,Unfortunately, because many donkeys owners should start to think of theirarent ridden and dont get bits in their PAM MACKENZIE PHOTOSaverage donkey (or mule) as being agedmouths, owners often neglect their teeth, as of around 20 years, Thiemann says. Thiemann says. So by the time they get Those that have had an active work lifeto old age you see quite pronounced dis-can go into retirement around this age,placement of the molars, big overgrowths she says. However, owners can continueDonkey and mule hooves grow, crack, and getin the back or the front, maybe diastemas to ride or drive many of these animals atdiseased just like horses feet do and require(gaps between teeth) and periodontal lower intensity levels well into retirement.regular trimming. disease. Dental disease is a huge problem because its hidden from the owner.Tough Little Guys have higher fecal egg counts than horsesMany donkeys get overfed and main-Humanity has long considered longearsbut have a better body condition score. tain good body condition, she adds, often hardier than other equids. And they are,That reputation can be a double-edgedmasking the effects of dental issues. when it comes to ailments such as infec- sword, because many people assume theyThey go on eating grass like nothings tious diseases and parasite infections,must be tough no matter the health issue.wrong when actually theres something to which theyre much more resistant,However, donkeys are very susceptiblereally wrong, says McLean.McLean says. There are lot of diseases, to dental issues, hoof ailments, andA good hint that their teeth are suf-like African horse sickness, for whichmetabolic diseases, to name a few. Theirfering? Bad breath. If the donkey wont theyre carriers but never show clinicalapparent hardiness and their tendency tocomplain, the humans around him might signs, she says. And theyre able to livesuffer quietly (see sidebar on next page)because periodontal disease causes a with high levels of parasites. They canmean many owners overlook such issues. particular odor, our sources say. And if it stinks, its probably also really painful, no matter how comfortable the donkey or mule might appear. Pretty much every aging donkey will have severe dental disease, so that has to be managed, Thiemann says. Donkey and mule feet grow, crack, and get diseased just like horse feet do. So dont skip regular farriery. Unfortunately, many farriers would rather not do donkey feet, Thiemann says. Donkeys dont always behave well for farriers because theyre not trained and manipulated on a regular basis like horses often are, so it can be tricky getting a farrier willing to work on them. If thats the case, the feet can grow to extraordinary lengths by old age, she says. Be kind to your farrier: Make sure youre training your donkey or mule to co-operate during regular foot care, she says.Topline TroubleDonkeys, which have longer backs and loins than horses, lose their topline quickly as they age. NoteThe classic image of the aging donkey the characteristic sway back and low belly of 32-year-old "Abby." (or mule) gives him a swayback look, 18TheHorse.comTHE HORSE March 2018'