Nursing care of arthritic geriatric donkeys

The definition used for a ‘geriatric’ donkey is one that is aged 20 years or over (Evans and Crane, 2018). Many donkeys living as companions, rather than feral or working individuals, will live far beyond this age and have a long, fulfilling life. Arthritis is common in geriatric donkeys. Veterinary surgeons and Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) working in equine practice should be aware of the individualised care required by arthritic geriatric donkeys, in order to ensure a good quality of life for them in their later years.

Degenerative joint disease is a common form of arthritis found in donkeys, and is not an unusual finding in donkeys with a normal lifespan of 30–40 years old (Barrio et al, 2019). In non-working donkeys, it frequently affects the upper limb joints, primarily the shoulders and the hips (Evans and Crane, 2018). One of the first indications of degenerative joint disease can be seen in a change in the donkey's behaviour during routine farriery. The donkey may be more difficult to handle and may resent having limbs held (Barrio et al, 2019). If this is reported, a full musculoskeletal examination should be carried out by a veterinary surgeon.