The skin

While the majority of skin conditions seen in donkeys are similar to those found in horses and ponies, there are some characteristics and skin adaptations in the donkey that need to be considered.

Skin conditions tend to be in the advanced stages before they are presented because a thorough examination of the donkey is rarely carried out on a regular basis and the thick coat may hide early problems. Conditions in working donkeys tend to be caused by tack-related issues such as pressure sores due to ill-fitting harnesses or bits.

Poor detection of skin disease is exacerbated by the donkey’s stoic nature and reluctance to display signs of discomfort until lesions are advanced.