A Year-Round Health Checklist

A consistent health routine prevents the most common issues we see in miniature donkeys.

Dental Care

Have teeth checked annually. Donkeys can develop sharp points that interfere with chewing and lead to weight loss.

Parasite Control

Use fecal egg counts to guide a targeted deworming program with your vet rather than deworming blindly.  Deworming programs for adult donkeys and foals are different.     

 Foals should be dewormed like a high egg shedding equine would, but only using fenbendazole (2x the weight dosage) and alternating with oxybendazole or pyrantel pamoate. Do not use ivermectin until they are at least 6 months old. Do not use moxidectin on any immature donkey.     

 Adults should be dewormed twice a year regardless of fecal egg counts. They should be treated for bots and tapeworms after the first hard frost using Equimax (ivermectin + praziquantel). Neither of these worms are detectible in a fecal egg count. They also need to be treated for encysted strongyles in late winter/early spring using either moxidectin (Quest) or a consecutive 5 day double the weight dose of fenbendazole (SafeGuard or Panacur 'power pack'). Moxidectin is extremely weight sensitive. Over dosages exceeding 10% can result in neurotoxicity. It should also never be used in immature, weak, thin equines, or high worm load equines.     

Deworming programs should be coordinated with your vet as they can vary based on your animal housing situation, donkeys ages and conditions, and area of the country.

Vaccinations

Work with your vet on a regional vaccination schedule covering core diseases for your area.  Vaccination schedules for adults and foals are different.  

The core vaccines for adults are EEE/WEE/Tetanus, and Rabies.  Some areas also need to include West Nile.  

The risk-based vaccines that are commonly used are Flu and Rhino.  These are important if your donkeys will be exposed to other equines from off your farm at events or in transport or newly added to your farm.  

Foals need the same vaccines, but they need an initial shot and a booster shot for them to be effective.  Some vaccines can be given at 4 months of age and some should wait until they are 6 months or 12 months old to start.   

The American Association of Equine Practitionors (AAEP) is a great resource available online for detailed information about deworming and vaccinating.