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Date Posted: 17:48:58 11/30/02 Sat
Author: Cheri
Subject: Saturday's horse fact..
In reply to: Cheri 's message, "A New Week. Daily Inspirations, and Horse Facts.." on 18:21:58 11/25/02 Mon



Health concerns of Mules and Donkeys..


Part 11..


Health Concerns..


When it comes to health concerns, mules are more like horses than are donkeys. Donkeys have more special health concerns.

One of these concerns involves lungworms. The equine lungworm (Dictyocaulus arnfield) is a major parasite of donkeys and a minor parasite of horses. Donkeys generally show no clinical signs of infection, but do pass larvae in their feces. The donkey is the natural host for the mature worm. Horses are considered abnormal hosts.

Many donkeys are infected early in life while grazing.
Ingested larvae move through the intestinal wall and are carried to the lung, where they develop into adult worms up to four inches in length. The process takes two to four months, after which time eggs are laid. The eggs are carried to the throat by normal mucus production, then are swallowed and passed in the feces. Once deposited on the ground, they quickly hatch into larvae which, when ingested, begin the whole infective process again.

Surveys have shown that up to 70% of all donkeys are infected. One study at Texas A&M University found that 86% of the donkeys tested had lungworms.

Infected donkeys might not show outward signs of lungworm presence, but considerable damage can be done to lungs. Diagnosis of lungworm infection in donkeys can be done by fecal exam. However, special techniques usually are required. Horses pastured with donkeys are more at risk of being infected with lungworms than those pastured separately.

The good news is that lungworms can be treated effectively with certain dewormers (the one mentioned most frequently is ivermectin). It is advisable to treat donkeys every six to eight months with ivermectin, advises Frederick Harper, DVM, of the University of Tennessee. He also advises that, "If you get a donkey, have your veterinarian treat it with ivermectrin before placing it on your farm with horses."


Tomorrows fact .. In addition to lungworms

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