The range and prevalence of clinical signs and conformation associated with lameness in working draught donkeys in Pakistan.
Authors: Reix C E, Burn C C, Pritchard J C, Barr A R S, Whay H R
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Working donkeys, which account for over 98% of the global donkey population in low-income countries, experience lameness at alarmingly high rates with profound welfare consequences, yet clinical characterisation of this problem has been limited until now. Reix and colleagues examined 102 working draught donkeys in Pakistan using a standardised lameness assessment protocol, recording gait abnormalities, limb conformation, and pain responses through observation, palpation and manipulation, with lameness severity scored from 0 (sound) to 10 (non-weightbearing). Every donkey in the study demonstrated gait abnormalities, whilst 5% had non-weightbearing limbs; crucially, lameness severity increased significantly with advancing age, poor body condition and forward-at-the-knee conformation, and was strongly associated with pain on hoof wall palpation, joint flexion responses and spinal manipulation. The findings revealed highly prevalent joint, tendon and foot pathology alongside notable lateral asymmetries in limb conformation, suggesting that working donkey lameness is multifactorial and complex. For equine professionals managing working donkeys, these results underscore the urgent need for comprehensive assessment protocols that evaluate not only locomotor function but also spinal health and systemic conformation; the standardised assessment tool described provides a practical framework for implementing and monitoring interventions aimed at reducing both lameness prevalence and associated pain in this vulnerable population.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Assume all working donkeys have some degree of gait abnormality and conduct thorough lameness assessments; use the described standardised protocol to identify severity and target interventions
- •Prioritise body condition improvement and monitor for conformational issues (especially forward-at-the-knee), as these are modifiable risk factors associated with worse lameness outcomes
- •Assess feet, joints, and spine systematically during clinical examination—pain responses in these areas predict lameness severity and should guide treatment priorities in resource-limited settings
Key Findings
- •100% of examined working donkeys had gait abnormalities, with 5% presenting nonweightbearing limbs
- •Lameness severity increased significantly with older age, lower body condition score, and forward-at-the-knee conformation
- •Joint flexion pain, tendon pathology, and foot pathology were highly prevalent, with lateral conformational asymmetries observed
- •Spinal flexion and manipulation elicited pain responses correlated with more severe lameness