Skip to main content
menu sluit menu
Home Home
Login
Main navigation
  • Library
  • Calendar
  • e-Learning
  • News
    • Veterinary News In this section you find veterinary news
    • Recent Additions All content that was recently added to the IVIS library
  • Get involved
    • Donate Support IVIS, make a donation today
    • Media kit Promote your e-learning & events on IVIS
    • Add your e-learning & events to the IVIS calendar
    • Publish on IVIS Publish your work with us
  • About
    • Mission Our Mission Statement
    • What we do More info about IVIS and what we do
    • Who we are More info about the IVIS team
    • Authors See list of all IVIS authors and editors
  • Contact
User tools menu
User tools menu
Main navigation
  • Library
  • Calendar
  • e-Learning
  • News
    • Veterinary News In this section you find veterinary news
    • Recent Additions All content that was recently added to the IVIS library
  • Get involved
    • Donate Support IVIS, make a donation today
    • Media kit Promote your e-learning & events on IVIS
    • Add your e-learning & events to the IVIS calendar
    • Publish on IVIS Publish your work with us
  • About
    • Mission Our Mission Statement
    • What we do More info about IVIS and what we do
    • Who we are More info about the IVIS team
    • Authors See list of all IVIS authors and editors
  • Contact
Follow IVIS
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Support IVIS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Library
  3. The Clinical Companion of Donkey Dentistry
  4. Behaviour
The Clinical Companion of Donkey Dentistry
Back to Table of Contents
Add to My Library
Close
Would you like to add this to your library?

Get access to all handy features included in the IVIS website

  • Get unlimited access to books, proceedings and journals.
  • Get access to a global catalogue of meetings, on-site and online courses, webinars and educational videos.
  • Bookmark your favorite articles in My Library for future reading.
  • Save future meetings and courses in My Calendar and My e-Learning.
  • Ask authors questions and read what others have to say.
Sign in Register
Comments
Print this article
Share:
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Twitter

Behaviour

Author(s):
The Donkey Sanctuary
In: The Clinical Companion of Donkey Dentistry by Lilly G. and Evans L.
Updated:
JUL 15, 2021
Languages:
  • EN
Back to Table of Contents
Add to My Library
Close
Would you like to add this to your library?

Get access to all handy features included in the IVIS website

  • Get unlimited access to books, proceedings and journals.
  • Get access to a global catalogue of meetings, on-site and online courses, webinars and educational videos.
  • Bookmark your favorite articles in My Library for future reading.
  • Save future meetings and courses in My Calendar and My e-Learning.
  • Ask authors questions and read what others have to say.
Sign in Register
Print this article
SHARE:
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Twitter
    Read

    INTRODUCTION

    An understanding of the behaviour of the donkey can help to improve the safety of the animal, the professionals and the owner. It can help to create a calm animal ready and able to be treated effectively, and to improve the animal’s experience so that future treatment becomes easier.

    A knowledge and understanding of the unique characteristics of the donkey are valuable when handling, examining and/or carrying out any dental procedure on donkeys, and two terms often associated with donkeys are 'stoic' and 'stubborn'.

    Stoicism is typical predator-avoidance behaviour in a prey species such as the donkey. Appearing strong and normal reduces the chances of predation, as predators are likely to select weaker, easier targets, and it may also have benefited the donkey during the effective defence of breeding territories.

    This stoical behaviour does not lessen the donkey’s ability to experience pain or distress but does mean that it is much less likely to show the clear signals that horses and ponies display when they are in pain or distress. The stubbornness much attributed to donkey behaviour is actually a misunderstanding of the donkey’s stoic nature and the minimal signals of pain and distress that donkeys give out in comparison to horses. Donkeys have a good sense of self-preservation and are unwilling to do things that they perceive as dangerous. Their stoic nature, combined with the donkey’s reluctance to cooperate is often mis-labelled as stubbornness rather than fear.

    Understanding the clear behavioural differences between donkeys and the horse and pony, and using correct behavioural principles while taking the necessary time will pay long-term dividends when treating these animals.

    This chapter will cover the following subjects:

    • Normal Behaviour in the Donkey
    • Learning to be Fearful
    • Preparing for Examination and Treatment
    • A Shaping Plan for the Fearful Donkey

    Key points

    • Donkeys are intelligent and very capable of rapid learning.

    • Donkeys are extremely stoic, and subtle behaviour changes can indicate severe disease.

    • Donkeys show subtle flight responses and they may freeze or show defensive behaviours more readily than horses and ponies.

    • Donkeys’ behaviour can escalate quickly so it is advisable to avoid conflict and, where possible, carry out a programme of retraining.

    • Donkeys can form strong bonds so keeping bonded donkeys close together can reduce stress and improve compliance during procedures.

    NORMAL BEHAVIOUR IN THE DONKEY

    The donkey evolved to live in an environment with sparse food supply and limited access to water, which has not only affected its dental structure but also its behavioural repertoire. The sparse, arid environments of the domesticated donkey’s ancestors have created behaviour that is significantly different from that of horses or ponies. A common mistake when working with donkeys is to treat them as though they are small horses and look for similar body language cues to try and assess their levels of fear and distress.

    The donkey’s body language is subtler and its coat length may prevent a clear reading of many aspects of communication such as muscular tension, eye wrinkling or muzzle tension that are clearly visible in horses and ponies. For this reason, it is important to view the animal as a whole, looking for signs of tension and fear across the body, ear position, tail clamping, tail swishing, and general speed of movement in order to make an accurate assessment of the animal’s experience.

    Donkey demonstrating defensive behaviour.

    Donkey demonstrating defensive behaviour.

    Donkey demonstrating resource guarding.

    Donkey demonstrating resource guarding.

    The donkey has both the flight and fight instincts of horses. However, because in the wild, donkeys often live on their own, in pairs or in small groups, fleeing is often not the best defence mechanism, meaning fight behaviours are more strongly established. This leads to the donkey showing more territorial behaviour towards other donkeys and livestock and potentially more defensive behaviour towards human handlers.

    ⚠ ALERT

    Signs of fear and stress may be subtle and are easily overlooked.

    Donkey demonstrating signs of discontent.

    Donkey demonstrating signs of discontent.


    LEARNING TO BE FEARFUL

    When the differences in behaviour between donkeys and other equines are misunderstood it can lead to donkeys becoming extremely averse to procedures, including dental examinations and treatment. In much the same way as any equine, donkeys can be classically conditioned to pain and fear. This means that once they experience painful or fearful treatment they immediately recognise the conditions that predict that treatment in the future, and their bodies will prepare for the fight-flight response at the sight, sound or smell of the professional that was previously involved with the painful or fearful experience.

    If the donkey is in a fearful state it will become defensive and try to use its natural problem-solving abilities to avoid this threatening situation. The donkey will naturally use avoidance and try to escape from a fearful situation. When escape is prevented by a headcollar or physical restraint, the donkey will escalate its flight attempts. If these escape responses don’t succeed then its defence mechanism is engaged, resulting in increasing levels of fight response combined, possibly, with rearing, kicking, bucking and even biting.

    Through the escalation of its natural flight or fight behaviours, the donkey often succeeds in preventing treatment and so reduces its perceived threat and fear levels. This ‘escape’ from fear and discomfort reinforces the donkey’s behaviour through the process of negative reinforcement, which in turn leads to increasing escape and avoidance behaviours during future treatments.

    While it is not the professional’s job to train a donkey, mule or horse, it is important to recognise that the best way to provide effective, calm, and safe dental treatment is to engage in a course of specific training combining counterconditioning and systematic desensitisation with positive reinforcement to ensure the donkey is best prepared for future treatments. Wherever practical, strong recommendations should be made to the owners to engage the services of accredited behavioural professionals to provide support and detailed training programmes to prepare donkeys for future treatments.

    ⚠ ALERT

    Problem behaviours are commonly normal behaviour responses that serve a purpose for the individual animal, which the animal has found to be effective in certain situations, but may be undesirable for the owner.


    PREPARING FOR EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT

    As an equine professional it can become easy to focus purely on an area of expertise and on giving successful treatment in just that area. Focusing purely on the treatment may result in completing the treatment, but may result in an animal that is traumatised and extremely reluctant to receive treatment in the future. If this is the case then we could not consider that treatment to have been truly successful, as the animal’s ability to receive future successful treatments has been compromised.

    If we consider the concept of ‘giving the donkey a good experience’ as a guiding principle of all treatments, all those involved can become focused on treatment and the experience of the animal, ensuring that everybody is working to the same outcome.

    There are three separate elements to giving a good experience during treatment and all need to be considered as much as possible during interactions with donkeys.

    The environment

    Ensure the environment is calm, safe and familiar to the animal. Give the donkey time to settle into the environment and ensure that there are other familiar equines present. Environments that contain a lot of noise and distractions may already be producing a fear response in the animal before treatment commences.

    The human

    The attitude of the humans present will contribute hugely to the experience of the animal. Calm, relaxed handlers who take their time and are prepared to use positive reinforcement to shape the behaviour of the animal are much more likely to give the animal a good experience. Handlers that rush the animal and are impatient will create a fearful response, leading to an escalation of the donkey’s behaviour, which will normally be met with increasing levels of restraint and physical strength to control the animal. It is important that the clinician and other professionals are prepared to consider delaying treatment in order to allow some training to take place. This may mean, just delaying the treatment for 30 minutes while some desensitisation and shaping can take place to relax the animal and prepare it for the treatment.

    The training

    The clinician and other professionals should remember that donkeys will learn from every experience and therefore any treatment or examination can be considered to be training. If the animal is in the correct environment and the human is in the correct frame of mind to spend an extra 5 to 10 minutes shaping the desired behaviour, this can be hugely beneficial not only to that treatment but to subsequent treatments as well.

    Shaping is simply the process of breaking down a final desired behaviour, such as that required for an oral examination, into small chunks or steps that stretch the animal’s comfort zones slightly. Shaping is an essential element of any interaction with animals. Accurately observing the animal’s comfort zones is crucial, and these can be identified through the animal’s body language and behaviour. The comfort zone is simply the point at which the animal is taken beyond its threshold for fear and has to engage its flight or fight mechanism. Staying under this threshold by not stretching the comfort zones too far at any point is essential to safety and to ‘giving a good experience’.


    A SHAPING PLAN FOR THE FEARFUL DONKEY

    Taking the concept of ‘giving a good experience’ as a guiding principle of working with equines, the safest and most effective way of providing dental examination and treatment is to follow a routine that works through various stages of the animal’s hierarchy of fear so that its fear can be diminished, often with rapid results.

    It’s important to note the role of relaxation in this process. Time should be taken to allow the animal to relax between each of the steps. Allowing the animal to return to calm before progressing may take a little longer, but it will pay dividends both during the current examination and in future ones. If the clinician rushes the animal and does not allow relaxation to occur between steps, the animal’s flight response will increase until it reaches a threshold, at which point the donkey will engage either its fight or flight mechanism in an attempt to escape from the situation. Ears forward, lowering of the head, softening of muscle tension, still and relaxed tail, soft muzzle and generally relaxed demeanour all combine to signal the animal’s level of relaxation.

    The following approach is recommended:

    1. If possible, establish the animal’s history including previous experiences with veterinary, dental and farrier treatments. Previous bad experiences or extreme reactions would indicate that serious consideration should be given to using sedation as an early intervention if immediate treatment is required. Sedation should be considered before other restraint methods escalate the animal’s fear levels to a point where sedation may be less effective. Treatment can then be given and a training plan implemented before the next treatment is required. If the donkey has no adverse history then treatment preparation can continue.

    2. If the donkey has a bonded companion/s, the companion should be in close proximity to the animal being treated. Ideally, the animal being treated should be able to see its companion. Separation from a bonded companion may lead to an increased stress response before treatment has even begun.

    3. Ensure the environment is safe and familiar to the donkey. Working with the animal within an environment that is already comfortable will reduce the stress response before treatment begins. If the donkey needs to be moved to a different location for treatment, it will need time to settle and become familiar with its new surroundings before treatment takes place.

    4. Take time to approach the animal without any equipment or surgical gloves. This time can be used to make an assessment of the animal’s behaviour and create positive associations towards the professional. Vigorous wither scratches can promote relaxation in the donkey and positive associations towards the human. Food rewards can also be considered if suitable during this assessment of behaviour as they provide a positive association between the handler and animal. During this assessment it is advisable to lift up and stroke the donkey’s head to assess the animal’s acceptance of having its lips and muzzle handled. Positive reinforcement through wither scratches or food rewards can be used to mark the desired behaviour of standing still and calmness.

    5. Practise raising the donkey’s head, while scratching and reassuring them. If the donkey is comfortable having their head raised they are more likely to stand still and accept treatment.

    6. Approach the animal calmly with surgical gloves and equipment. Allow the animal time to relax, before repeating step 4. If the animal remains calm, then the dental gag can be fitted at this stage.

    7. Fitting the dental gag can be broken down into smaller steps and should not be rushed. Pausing to allow relaxation between each step of fitting the gag will reduce the chances of a dangerous reaction in the animal.

    8. Provided the animal is calm, examination and treatment can take place.

    9. Some donkeys may be more relaxed with just one person, especially if their regular handler is tense or nervous. Consider asking the regular handler to step aside during treatment. It may help if the donkey is positioned alongside a wall to reduce its movement options and encourage it to stand still.

    10. During the examination, if the donkey shows signs of escalating fear, be prepared to take regular breaks from examination or treatment. Have a familiar handler provide wither scratches during treatment as a distraction and calming association.

    11. Once examination and treatment are completed, spend time reassuring the donkey with scratches, offering food rewards as a means of providing a positive experience and making positive associations for future treatments.

    It is often tempting to continue to attempt a procedure even when the donkey demonstrates high levels of the flight or fight behaviours. However, the situation can become dangerous for handlers and the animal and is likely to lead to worse behaviour next time. Therefore it is advisable to withdraw and reconsider the need for immediate intervention.

    ⚠ ALERT

    Ear twitching is not recommended; it is painful and can result in an increased fear response.

    The essential points to remember are:

    • Allow any anxiety to reduce between each step.

    • Ensure the environment is familiar.

    • Ensure bonded friends are present. If the donkey has no pair bond, ensure another calm donkey is present.

    • Remember donkeys are different; look for the signs of stoical behaviour.

    • Be prepared to withdraw before behaviour escalates to dangerous levels.

    ⚠ ALERT

    Long-term memory and learning could make handling the donkey more dangerous in future.

    If the donkey’s behaviour escalates but treatment cannot be deferred until further training has been completed, consider other restraint techniques or sedation.

    See The Clinical Companion of the Donkey at www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/for-professionals/clinical-companion-of-the-donkey for further information.

     

     

    The Donkey Sanctuary
    Back to Table of Contents
    Add to My Library
    Close
    Would you like to add this to your library?

    Get access to all handy features included in the IVIS website

    • Get unlimited access to books, proceedings and journals.
    • Get access to a global catalogue of meetings, on-site and online courses, webinars and educational videos.
    • Bookmark your favorite articles in My Library for future reading.
    • Save future meetings and courses in My Calendar and My e-Learning.
    • Ask authors questions and read what others have to say.
    Sign in Register
    Print this article
    Comments (0)

    Ask the author

    0 comments
    Submit
    Close
    Would to like to further discuss this item?

    Get access to all handy features included in the IVIS website

    • Get unlimited access to books, proceedings and journals.
    • Get access to a global catalogue of meetings, on-site and online courses, webinars and educational videos.
    • Bookmark your favorite articles in My Library for future reading.
    • Save future meetings and courses in My Calendar and My e-Learning.
    • Ask authors questions and read what others have to say.
    Sign in Register
    About

    How to reference this publication (Harvard system)?

    The Donkey, S. (2021) “Behaviour”, The Clinical Companion of Donkey Dentistry. Available at: https://www.ivis.org/library/clinical-companion-of-donkey-dentistry/behaviour (Accessed: 31 January 2023).

    Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication

    Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 0NU

    Author(s)

    • The Clinical Companion of Donkey Dentistry

      The Donkey Sanctuary

      The Donkey Sanctuary,
      Read more about this author

    Copyright Statement

    © All text and images in this publication are copyright protected and cannot be reproduced or copied in any way.
    Related Content

    Readers also viewed these publications

    • Journal Issue

      Veterinary Evidence - Vol 8 N°1, Jan-Mar 2023

      In: Veterinary Evidence
      JAN 28, 2023
    • Proceeding

      SFT - Theriogenology Annual Conference - Bellevue, 2022

      By: Society for Theriogenology
      JAN 10, 2023
    • Journal Issue

      Veterinary Evidence - Vol 7 N°2, Apr-Jun 2022

      In: Veterinary Evidence
      OCT 07, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Veterinary Evidence - Vol 7 N°3, Jul-Sep 2022

      In: Veterinary Evidence
      OCT 04, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Veterinary Practice Management Articles - Veterinary Focus

      In: Veterinary Focus
      AUG 05, 2022
    • Chapter

      Skull and Mandible

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      JUL 22, 2022
    • Chapter

      Nutrition

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      JUL 09, 2022
    • Chapter

      Pharmacology and Therapeutics

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      JUL 03, 2022
    • Chapter

      Sedation, Anaesthesia and Analgesia

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      JUN 05, 2022
    • Chapter

      The Geriatric Donkey

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 20, 2022
    • Chapter

      Euthanasia and the Post-Mortem Examination

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 20, 2022
    • Chapter

      Appendix 7: Example Diets: for the mature, pregnant and lactating donkey

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 12, 2022
    • Chapter

      Appendix 2: Donkey Weight Estimator

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 12, 2022
    • Chapter

      Appendix 1: The Clinical Examination

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 12, 2022
    • Chapter

      Appendix 5: Monitoring your Donkey’s Quality of Life

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 12, 2022
    • Chapter

      Appendix 6: Professional record of Assessment for Quality of Life

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 12, 2022
    • Chapter

      Appendix 3: Body Condition Scoring

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 12, 2022
    • Chapter

      Appendix 4: Parameters: Biochemistry and Haematology

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 12, 2022
    • Chapter

      The Care of the Foal

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 12, 2022
    • Chapter

      Approach to the Dull Donkey

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAY 07, 2022
    • Chapter

      Parasitology

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      APR 26, 2022
    • Chapter

      The Foot

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      APR 06, 2022
    • Chapter

      Infectious Diseases

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAR 28, 2022
    • Chapter

      The Musculoskeletal System

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAR 24, 2022
    • Chapter

      The Skin

      In: The Clinical Companion of the Donkey (2nd Edition)
      MAR 20, 2022
    • Load more
    Buy this book

    Buy this book

    The Clinical Companion of Donkey Dentistry is an easy reference book for professionals produced as part of a series of specialist books that will compliment The Clinical Companion of the Donkey. It enables us to share our vast knowledge and experience to improve the health and welfare of donkeys globally.

    Following on from the publication of The Clinical Companion of the Donkey, we plan to produce a series of in-depth specialist handbooks which will complement the handbook.

    This book is intended as a guide to the anatomical features of the head and oral cavity of the donkey, to offer a greater understanding of the oral and dental disorders that may affect these animals throughout their life, and how to correctly examine, diagnose, prevent and/or treat pathological situations. 

    Dentistry is the first topic to be published in this series, and we consider it to be an area which is extremely important to the health and welfare of donkeys globally, while being misunderstood and undervalued by many communities.

    This book allows us to share our vast knowledge and experience in donkey specific dentistry and has been produced as an easy reference and well-illustrated book, which we believe will not only increase awareness, but also the confidence of professionals in carrying out dental care and treatment in donkeys.

    Get your copy of The Clinical Companion of Donkey Dentistry click here.

    Back To Top
    Become a member of IVIS and get access to all our resources
    Create an account
    Sign in
    Leading the way in providing veterinary information
    About IVIS
    • Mission
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Need help?
    • Contact
    Follow IVIS
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS) is a not-for-profit organization established to provide information to veterinarians, veterinary students, technicians and animal health professionals worldwide using Internet technology.
    Support IVIS
    © 2023 International Veterinary Information Service
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy