Hoof morphometry in a population of lame and nonlame working donkeys in Pakistan.
Authors: Khan Raja Zabeeh Ullah, Rosanowski Sarah M, Parkes Rebecca Sarah Victoria
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary This cross-sectional investigation examined hoof morphology in 61 working donkeys in Pakistan—a population previously lacking objective morphometric data—using digital photography alongside grids to quantify structural dimensions, whilst simultaneously assessing lameness using a modified five-point scale and recording shoeing status. The researchers identified statistically significant left-right asymmetries in heel height (0.27 cm, p = 0.02), toe-heel angle (2.97°, p = 0.03), and medio-lateral symmetry (0.5 cm, p = 0.05), with 64% of the population presenting consistent lameness and 41% exhibiting conformational defects; notably, shoeing status and hoof asymmetry were not associated with lameness, whereas increasing age proved a significant risk factor (p = 0.02). Factor analysis extracted eleven clustered morphometric factors accounting for 83% of variance, suggesting that hoof dimensions are interdependent rather than independent variables in donkey populations. For practitioners working with draught donkeys, these findings challenge assumptions borrowed from equine literature—asymmetry and shoeing status may be less critical to lameness aetiology than previously assumed—though the study's limitation to a lame, convenience sample means caution is warranted in extrapolating to healthy working populations. Future research utilising larger, more homogenous cohorts will be essential to establish baseline hoof morphology in sound donkeys and clarify which morphometric deviations genuinely contribute to functional impairment.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Shoeing alone does not explain lameness in working donkeys; age and systemic factors may be more important considerations in donkey populations
- •High prevalence of lameness (64%) and conformational defects (41%) in this working donkey population suggests need for improved hoof care protocols and further investigation of causative factors beyond hoof morphology
- •Farriers and veterinarians should recognize that donkey hoof morphology varies significantly between left and right hooves, but this asymmetry may not be pathological
Key Findings
- •64% of donkeys (n=39) were consistently lame, while only 10% (n=6) were sound
- •Significant left-right hoof asymmetries were found in heel height (0.27 cm, p=0.02), toe-heel angle (2.97°, p=0.03), and medio-lateral symmetry (0.5 cm, p=0.05)
- •Shoeing status and hoof asymmetry were not associated with lameness in donkeys
- •Older donkeys were significantly more likely to be lame (p=0.02), and 41% of donkeys had conformational defects