b"Long in the . EARSsusceptible to melanoma, despite many being gray, they do get sarcoids, sarco-mas, and other tumors that you might be able to identify by hand. Keep an eye out for any signs of joint pain from osteoarthritis that comes with age. Although it might be hard even for a veterinarian to detect, donkeys could show some signs of the condition. The main sites are in the upper jointship, shoulder, spineunlike competition animals, whose lower joints are more frequently affected due to overuse. And dont forget good deworming programs, including for lungworms. Don-keys dont develop disease in response to PAM MACKENZIE PHOTOSlungworms, our sources say, but they can carry and shed it, making them a source of infection for horses, which are suscep-tible to lungworms effects. Keeping Old Bones (and Ears!) Warm Donkeys grow longer, but not thicker, coats inMany donkeys and mules are highly social Donkeys arent meant for the cold.winter, so you might want to blanket your oldanimals, so give them plenty of attention and They come from hotter climates andlongear during cold snaps. interaction.dont grow woolly coats, so they do feel colder, Thiemann says. Researchers havetheir bodies generate heat, McLean adds. on my vet rounds, Thiemann says. If shown that donkeys grow a longerbutAs for those ears, theyre more suscep- theyve had a positive relationship with not thickerhair coat in winter. And theytible to frostbite, McLean says. Con- humans all their life, theyll follow you definitely seek shelter more frequentlysider putting bonnets on long ears in thearound the field. But if theyve had nega-than ponies do. Their hair coat hasntwinter, and keep them indoors when thetive emotions with humans, they can be developed to be as cozy for them in coldweather's both cold and wet. challenging and feisty. Whatever mistakes winters as horses and ponies have, sheyouve made in that animals emotional says. And they feel the freeze all the moreLong Ears, Big Hearts upbringing will come home to roost when as they grow older.Donkeys and mules are highly socialtheyre old.Blanketing is a good idea but, givenanimals that need lots of attention. AndMcLean agrees. Theyre researchers, their particular shape (longer backs, thin- those needs continue into old age. Theyshe says. They really do like interaction ner build), custom-made blankets workneed stable companionship, familiar en- and are very social. Of all equids, the don-best and cause less rubbing, our sourcesvironments, and, if theyve learned to likekeys are like big dogs; theres just some-say. Heat lamps in barns can also helppeople, human interaction. thing about their souls. The mules, as keep them warm, Thiemann says. And aOld donkeys are very sweet, often verywell. Ive found a really unique bond with good supply of low-calorie forage helpsinquisitive, and they want to help memules that Ive yet to find with a horse.So get out there in that field with them regularly, and give them plenty of atten-Saying Goodbye tion and activity.Donkeys might suffer in silence a long time, and its up to us to make the difficultTake-Home Messagedecision to let them go in peace. But while euthanasia might ease one donkeys suffering,The beloved donkey or mule can make it might increase anothers. Donkeys and mules bond so closely with their buddies thata delightful companion or even sporting losing one can be especially hardenough, in fact, that they might stop eating.animal. If hes learned to feel safe around Its quite a high-risk period for the donkey left behind, says Alex Thiemann, MA, VetMB,humans, he can be a true and trusted Cert EP, MRCVS, veterinary surgeon at The Donkey Sanctuary. Its important for him tofriend well into old age. But his stoic dis-come to terms with the loss.position might mask the effects of age. Its At The Donkey Sanctuary, handlers often keep the friend present while the companion istime to get past the idea that donkeys and euthanized. We offer him a feed and let him stay with the body for a half an hour or so, so theyre not just braying and trying to understand what happened, she says. Afterward, wemules dont need scrupulous care because ensure he gets lots of attention, and we find another companion for him very quickly. theyre tough and, instead, provide them Christa Lest-Lasserre, MA with the treatment, warmth, companion-ship, and attention they need, throughout their golden years. h20TheHorse.comTHE HORSE March 2018"