Donkey: Colic

The term ‘colic’ describes the symptoms displayed when a horse or donkey is suffering from abdominal pain. Donkeys are very stoical by nature and therefore rarely display the same clinical signs as horses; instead they tend to present as dull and off their feed. Monitoring a donkey’s demeanour and normal bowel habits can be helpful in identifying those affected before the condition deteriorates. The causes of colic in donkeys are very varied and commonly include blockage with partially digested food material (impaction), muscle cramps of bowel wall (spasmodic) or a build of gas within the bowel. Investigation of colic is aimed at identifying the patient’s physical status and the cause of the colic so that medical or surgical treatment can be tailored accordingly.