engleski

Istrian donkeys health control program

Donkeys are traditionally used working animals for heavily accessed areas, especially in the southern parts of the Croatia. They are very modest considering food and shelter needs and hard, enduring workers. The number of donkeys in Croatia have been in constant rise in the last two decades, and count around 3 000 animals at the moment. There is very little information on health issues of donkeys in Croatia. Although there is a tendency of population increase, they do not tend to be used as working animals, but more often in milk production or as companion animals. The most common health issues found within a health control program in Istrian donkeys were found to be a consequence of poor hygiene of animal shelters and pastures. Their pastures are usually not as securely fenced as for other equines and chaining their forelimbs disables them to leave the pasture. Clinical examination of the animals often revealed poor coating, cachexia and acute or chronic skin erosions due to the chain injuries on their limbs. Overgrowth of the hooves was a common finding, especially in chained animals. Marked leukocytosis and anemia were a common finding in laboratory blood work changes, together with hypoproteinemia and increased bilirubin concentration as a result of malnutrition and starvation. Heavy parasite burdens were a common finding including parascarid and lungworms fecal eggs. Improving hygiene conditions of animals’ stables and pastures and food quality, regular hooves trimming, free movement without limb chaining and regular deworming program should be a priority in healthcare of Istrian donkeys.

istrian donkey; health control program

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