Detailed Explanation of Donkey Disease Diagnosis Methods and Prevention and Treatment Techniques

In terms of habits, meat donkeys are more tolerant of coarse feed than horses, cattle and other livestock, and have stronger disease resistance, but this does not mean they do not get sick. Donkeys have a strong tolerance for general diseases, so when diagnosing and treating them, attention must be paid to prevent the occurrence of epidemic diseases.

I. Observation and Diagnosis of Donkey Diseases

A healthy donkey always holds its head and neck high, with both ears erect, moves freely, and chews powerfully with a "ge ge" sound when eating grass. The mouth color is fresh and moist, the nose and ears are warm, and the dung balls are moderate in hardness, moist and shiny on the outside. If a donkey lowers its head and droops its ears, lacks spirit, and its nose and ears become cold or overly hot, the feces are dry and hard with a small amount of mucus on the outside, and although it eats grass, it drinks little or no water, this indicates that the donkey is about to fall ill or already is ill. If a donkey lies on the ground unable to rise, is listless, and clings to the keeper unwilling to leave, special attention should be paid, as this is a sign of serious illness.

II. Prevention and Treatment of Common Diseases in Meat Donkeys

1. Acute Gastric Dilation

The donkey accidentally eats too much concentrate or eats feed that ferments easily, causing restlessness, obvious abdominal pain, rapid breathing, sometimes a sitting-like-dog posture, and weakened or absent intestinal sounds.

Treatment: First use a stomach tube to expel gas and fluid from the stomach, and repeatedly lavage the stomach with normal saline, then orally administer 15-25 grams of chloral hydrate, 50-70 milliliters of alcohol, 15 milliliters of formalin, add 500 milliliters of warm water, and give as a single drench. It can also be given as a drench with 0.5-1 kilogram of edible vinegar or 1-2 kilograms of sauerkraut water. Alternatively, 500-1000 milliliters of liquid paraffin, 15-20 milliliters of dilute hydrochloric acid, 3-4 grams of procaine powder, 500 milliliters of ordinary water, can be given as a single drench.

2. Stomatitis

Mainly characterized by drooling and oral mucosa becoming red, swollen, or ulcerated.

Treatment: First check whether there are foreign bodies in the oral cavity, replace with soft feed, and rinse the oral cavity with 1% saline, 2%-3% boric acid, 2%-3% baking soda or 0.1% potassium permanganate or 1% alum, etc.

3. Gastroenteritis

Feeding moldy or spoiled feed or unclean drinking water, or eating toxic plants, sudden climate changes, etc., cause decreased appetite, a heavy tongue coating, diarrhea, feces thin and porridge-like or watery, foul-smelling, with mucus, blood and shed necrotic tissue mixed in the feces, and some with pus.

Treatment: First, inhibit bacteria and reduce inflammation. Give as a drench 2000-3000 milliliters of 0.1% potassium permanganate solution or 20-30 grams of sulfaguanidine. Second, stop diarrhea. Orally administer 500-1000 milliliters of liquid paraffin, 10-30 grams of ichthammol, 50 milliliters of alcohol: it can also be given as a drench with 0.5-1 kilogram of roasted flour and 1000-2000 milliliters of strong tea. Third, fluid replacement and cardiac support. Intravenous potassium chloride not exceeding 0.3%, 10-20 milliliters of Qiang'erxin liquid, subcutaneous injection or intravenous injection.

4. Intestinal Obstruction

Sudden weather changes, eating coarse, hard, difficult-to-digest forage, sudden changes in feed and overeating, and insufficient drinking water and insufficient salt cause standing uneasily, abdominal pain and lying down and getting up, dry and foul mouth, weakened intestinal sounds, increased abdominal circumference, and hard fecal masses can be felt in the intestines.

Treatment: First, relieve pain. Use 100-200 milliliters of 5% chloral hydrate and alcohol injection, 20-40 milliliters of 30% analgin injection; second, orally administer phosphate buffer or use 300-500 grams of vinegar starter, 500 grams of yeast powder, 1000-2000 milliliters of warm water; third, fluid replacement and cardiac support. Compound sodium chloride injection and 5% glucose injection, 5% sodium bicarbonate injection are suitable.

5. Donkey Stomach Botfly

Due to a large number of donkey stomach botflies parasitizing in the stomach, stimulating local inflammation and ulcers, the donkey's appetite decreases, digestion is poor, abdominal pain occurs, and it becomes emaciated.

Treatment: Orally administer 30-50 milliliters of trichlorfon or use 15-18 milliliters of carbon disulfide; fast for 18-24 hours before administration, with only water provided.

6. Frogs of the Hoof Rot

Due to unclean donkey sheds, damp ground, insufficient exercise, and improper hoof trimming, frog rot of the hoof occurs.

Treatment: Thoroughly trim away the rotten horn and dirt, clean with 3% lysol or 1% potassium permanganate solution, apply 5% iodine tincture at the frog of the hoof, then pour in hot pine tar oil, bandage or plug tightly with cotton balls.