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The donkey and horse are closely related, and many of the conditions that affect them are very similar. However, the detection of sickness or disease in the donkey can be made more difficult by its stoical nature. Dullness and depression may be the only symptoms exhibited. These subtle behavioural changes may also be accompanied by anorexia. Subtle changes in performance that can be early indicators of disease in sporting or racehorses are frequently impossible to detect in the donkey, as most UK donkeys lead a sedentary lifestyle as companion animals. This can unfortunately mean that the donkey may be in the advanced stages of a disease before a diagnosis is reached. The attending veterinary surgeon should therefore regard the call to a dull donkey as a call to a potentially very sick animal. This page focuses on the approach to the diagnosis of the cause of the dullness.
The donkey and horse are closely related, and many of the conditions that affect them are very similar. However, the detection of sickness or disease in the donkey can be made more difficult by its stoical nature. Dullness and depression may be the only symptoms exhibited. These subtle behavioural changes may also be accompanied by anorexia. Subtle changes in performance that can be early indicators of disease in sporting or racehorses are frequently impossible to detect in the donkey, as most UK donkeys lead a sedentary lifestyle as companion animals. This can unfortunately mean that the donkey may be in the advanced stages of a disease before a diagnosis is reached. The attending veterinary surgeon should therefore regard the call to a dull donkey as a call to a potentially very sick animal. This page focuses on the approach to the diagnosis of the cause of the dullness.
Click to see the [[Causes of dullness|'''causes of dullness''' at The Donkey Sanctuary]].
Click to see the [[Causes of dullness - Donkey|'''causes of dullness''' at The Donkey Sanctuary]].[[Causes of dullness|'''causes of dullness''' at The Donkey Sanctuary]]
There may also be other sub-clinical diseases in the dull donkey that may not be apparent to the veterinary surgeon even after clinical examination, complete blood count and biochemical analysis. For example, low-grade pain due to laminitis or arthritis may be occurring and may remain undiagnosed until the disease process is more advanced.
There may also be other sub-clinical diseases in the dull donkey that may not be apparent to the veterinary surgeon even after clinical examination, complete blood count and biochemical analysis. For example, low-grade pain due to laminitis or arthritis may be occurring and may remain undiagnosed until the disease process is more advanced.
Apparent dullness may sometimes be normal behaviour for donkeys as they are naturally quiet animals.
Apparent dullness may sometimes be normal behaviour for donkeys as they are naturally quiet animals.
[[Image:Dull donkey.jpg|right|thumb|500px|<small><center>Dull donkey (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
[[Image:Dull donkey.jpg|right|thumb|500px|<small><center>Dull donkey (Image courtesy of [http://drupal.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk The Donkey Sanctuary])</center></small>]]
==Signalment==
==Signalment==