Donkey Coughing: When to Worry, Causes, Steps to Take

Donkeys are stoic animals with an insensitive cough reflex. They are rarely trained or worked as intensively as horses. As a result of these factors, a donkey may suffer from a respiratory condition for months without its owner noticing. Respiratory illnesses, therefore, often go unnoticed until they reach a more severe or chronic state.

When to worry about a donkey coughing? It takes a lot of irritation of the throat and lungs before a donkey will start coughing, so you should thoroughly investigate any rasp, wheeze, or bark. A cough accompanied by nasal discharge or a fever of over 37.1℃ could mean your donkey has picked up a viral or bacterial infection. 

9 Conditions That Cause a Donkey To Cough

#1 Allergies can Cause a Donkey to Cough and Sneeze

Some donkeys are more susceptible to allergies than others. A miniature donkey at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, for example, is allergic to certain types of hay. The zoo’s caregivers have switched the donkey from Timothy to Bermuda hay to control his symptoms. They also administer routine allergen immunotherapy treatments. 

This type of allergy is relatively rare. Donkeys are more susceptible to airborne allergens, such as:

• Dust 
• Dust mites
• Mould Spores
• Pollen

Donkeys with this condition develop breathing difficulties, such as coughing and wheezing. Some donkeys may develop a chronic allergic respiratory disorder and will need careful management to control the problem.

A donkey with an allergic respiratory disorder needs a dust-free environment, which could mean changing the type of bedding you use and soaking his hay before feeding.

#2 A Coughing Donkey may have Strangles

Strangles is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the Streptococcus equi bacterium. A donkey with strangles displays the same symptoms as a horse. These include:

• A slight cough
• Nasal discharge
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Reduced food intake
• Inflammation around the throat and lymph nodes

Although potentially fatal, most donkeys make a full recovery and require little treatment beyond rest and supportive care. A veterinarian may also prescribe antibiotics, but around 75% of donkeys recover naturally and develop long-term immunity to the infection as a result.

#3 Clinical Signs of Equine Influenza in Donkeys 

The first case of equine influenza in a donkey was reported in 1874. Since then, numerous outbreaks and trials show that donkeys experience more pronounced clinical signs than horses and higher mortality. 

As this disease appears more severe in donkeys, owners are encouraged to vaccinate against equine influenza every year. 

Signs that your donkey has equine influenza include:

• A harsh, dry cough
• Respiratory difficulties
• Nasal discharge
• Loss of appetite
• High temperature (a donkey’s normal temperature range is 99.5°F to 101.3°F).

While most donkeys will recover from a bout of equine flu with supportive care and rest, they are more susceptible to secondary infections than horses. Donkeys with a concurrent lungworm infection are at high risk of developing secondary bacterial bronchopneumonia.

#4 Identifying a Lungworm Infestation in a Donkey

One of our dogs nearly died of a lungworm infestation due to our ignorance and late diagnosis. Diagnosing lungworm disease in a donkey is similarly problematic. 

Donkeys rarely show any clinical signs, even when carrying a significant lungworm burden. The lungworm capitalizes on this and grows to full maturity inside the donkey. This parasitic process seems to have little effect on the donkey, and it’s only when their immune system is compromised that they may show symptoms.

The signs of a lungworm infestation include:

• Moderate to persistent coughing
• Increased respiratory rate
• Signs of breathing difficulties

A veterinarian can diagnose lungworm by performing a fecal egg count. Fortunately, the condition is easily treatable, and a single dose of ivermectin is usually all that’s needed. 

#5 Equine Herpes Viruses Can Cause Respiratory Problems 

Scientists have identified nine different herpesviruses in horses and donkeys, each of which causes a different range of symptoms. The two most common types, Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV 1) and EHV 4 can cause respiratory disease, among other symptoms. 

EHV 1 can be fatal to both donkeys and horses, but many survive. Some studies suggest that older donkeys have more antibodies against the virus because they’ve fought against it so many times. They have, in effect, built up natural immunity.

EHV symptoms are very similar to those associated with Equine Influenza and include coughing, nasal discharge, and a fever. Treatment involves rest and anti-inflammatories. A vet may also prescribe antibiotics should a secondary bacterial infection occur.  

• Coughing
• Nasal discharge
• Fever

#6 A Honking Cough could Signify Tracheal Collapse

Although tracheal disease is uncommon in donkeys, as they get older, the cartilage of the Rachael rings becomes brittle. Donkeys live for up to 50 years, so they are more prone to geriatric conditions such as this than other equines. 

A donkey with tracheal disease may start breathing through his mouth and develop a chronic, honking cough, along with labored breathing. 

Anti-inflammatories can treat a mild case of tracheal collapse, but euthanasia is often the only option in chronic cases. 

• Breathing through mouth
• Honking cough
• Labored breathing

#7 Donkeys with Pulmonary Fibrosis Rarely Cough

Pulmonary fibrosis is a common finding in post-mortems performed on donkeys in the UK, although it’s rarely the primary cause of death.

While pulmonary fibrosis is a terminal illness in humans, it seems relatively benign in the donkey. It is, nevertheless, one of the most common respiratory diseases amongst geriatric donkeys.

This respiratory condition is difficult to diagnose as, in most instances, the donkey has a normal appetite and remains bright and alert. However, a donkey that drops his head and flares his nostrils is suffering from acute pulmonary fibrosis that could prove fatal.

• Common older donkeys
• Normal, healthy appetite
• Alert and bright, does not show lethargy

#8 Sinusitis Occurs in a Few Senior Donkeys

According to a study of 1,444 senior donkeys, sinusitis affected just 0.8%. 

Sinusitis is relatively common in horses, resulting from upper respiratory bacterial infections. However, in donkeys, it seems to occur only later in life and is more commonly associated with dental disorders and fungal infections. 

A study of donkeys at the UK’s Donkey Sanctuary concluded that extracting any damaged or infected teeth and flushing the affected sinus would help to combat the infection. 

• Usually occurs with dental disorders
• Maybe prompted by fungal infections
• Only older donkeys get this

#9 Pneumonia is an Unlikely Cause of Donkey Coughing

Donkeys rarely suffer from pneumonia, even though it’s a common problem for goats. A coughing donkey is more likely to have an allergy, bacterial or viral infection, or heavy parasitic burden.

Chart of Issues that Cause Donkey Coughing

Cause of Donkey Coughing	Other Symptoms
Allergies	Dust, dust mites, pollen   Coughing  wheezing
Strangles	Slight Cough   Nasal discharge Lethargic Depression Decreased appetite Inflammation around throat lymph nodes
Equine Influenza	Hard dry cough   Breathing difficulties Breathing sounds strained Nasal discharge Loss of appetite High-Temperature
Lungworm Infestation	Persistent coughing   Increased breathing Signs of breathing difficulties
Equine Herpes Virus	Coughing   Nasal Discharge  Fever Very Common
Tracheal Collapse	Honking cough   Mouth breathing Labored Breathing Uncommon
Pulmonary Fibrosis	Common in old donkeys   Normal appetite Stays Alert
Sinusitis	Senior donkeys   Associated with dental disorders and fungal infections
Pneumonia	Very rare and unlikely in donkeys

How to Prevent Coughing in Donkeys

Preventing health problems in donkeys is often easier than curing them. The following tips will help keep your donkey in the best condition and reduce the risk of him developing a cough or other respiratory issues.

1. Provide Well-Ventilated Shelters

Any shelters should be well-ventilated yet draught-free. A poorly ventilated stable quickly gets damp and dusty, irritating your donkey’s airways.

2. Use Dust-Free Bedding

Although many recommend using straw for bedding, a donkey prone to respiratory problems needs a more dust-free environment. Dust-extracted wood shavings are the ideal solution, although you can also get dust-free wheat straw that’s specifically designed to reduce respiratory problems.

3. Select a High-Quality Forage

Many people feed horses with respiratory problems hay that’s been soaked or steamed. Donkeys are often reluctant to eat this. Naturally dust-free, high-fiber haylage is a suitable alternative, as is straw-based chaff.

4. Clean and Disinfect Shelters Regularly

Keep bacteria and fungi at bay by cleaning and disinfecting your donkey’s shelter every week or two. To do this effectively, remove all bedding and stable fittings. Sweep the walls and floors before using a hose to rinse them down. Scrub the enclosure with a disinfectant and then leave to dry.

5. Vaccinate your Donkey against Equine Influenza

To keep your donkey healthy and minimize the risk of infection, vaccinate him annually against equine influenza.

6. Deworm your Donkey Regularly

Donkeys should be dewormed every six to eight weeks unless you perform a worm count that indicates otherwise. The best dewormers for donkeys are broad-spectrum products, such as moxidectin and ivermectin, which are effective for treating and preventing lungworms.

7. Rotate your Pastures

If you have the space, rotate your donkeys onto a new pasture or paddock every 4 to 6 weeks to break up the parasites’ life cycle. If that’s not an option, pick up droppings from your paddock regularly to control the size and distribution of its parasitic load.

8. Never Feed your Donkey Dusty Hay or Straw

Dusty or moldy hay contains all kinds of particles that can irritate your donkey’s airways, causing him to cough. Donkeys are just as sensitive to the toxins in spoiled feeds as horses.

9. Minimize Stable Time

The more time your donkey spends breathing fresh air, the healthier his respiratory system will be. However, you will need to keep an eye on his weight and potentially use sand exercise arenas or bare paddocks to reduce the chances of him becoming obese.

Taking a Coughing Donkey’s Temperature Can Help Diagnosis

While a donkey coughing may be nothing to worry about, a donkey with a bad cough and a high temperature could be critically ill. The best way to distinguish between an innocuous cough and one that could be life-threatening is to take a donkey’s temperature.

In South Africa, we take our donkeys and horses’ temperatures daily to check for African Horse Sickness. It’s a straightforward procedure and requires little more than a standard digital thermometer and some petroleum jelly.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Taking a Donkeys Temperature

1. Put petroleum jelly on the bulb of the thermometer so you can insert it more easily;
2. Use rubber or surgical gloves;
3. Ask a friend to hold your donkey or tether him securely;
4. Stand next to your donkey’s hind leg, facing away from his head;
5. Place your arm over your donkey’s hindquarters;
6. Grasp the top of his tail and gently lift it;
7. Once the tail’s high enough, slide your other hand underneath;
8. Gently touch the skin around the anus with the thermometer to accustom your donkey to the sensation;
9. Guide the thermometer into the rectum using a slight twisting motion;
10. Stop once the thermometer is several inches inside, leaving the digital display visible;
11. Continue holding the tail and thermometer until you get a final reading.

A healthy donkey should have a body temperature of between 98℉ and 101℉. Anything higher than this is cause for concern.

Conclusion

A coughing donkey isn’t a common occurrence. Donkeys have an unresponsive cough reflex and, therefore, rarely show signs of respiratory disease or breathing difficulty. A donkey with a chronic cough has a severe underlying issue that needs professional diagnosis and treatment. 

Many of the problems that cause a donkey to cough are easily treatable if detected early on.