Care of the Feet
The feet should be picked our regularly, preferably daily but it may be more realistic to say definitely once
a week. Run your hand down the donkey's leg and pick up his foot taking care not to lift it too high.
Remove mud and stones and poke carefully along the rim of the hoof looking for splits and gaps filled with hoof material that crumbles into grey powder as you scoop it out. This is a sign of seedy toe, the most common hoof ailment in New Zealand. Scrape out all the crumbling material, if possible cut away the hoof wall so that the infected area is exposed to the air, and treat the healthy part of the hoof Ð there are many suggestions as to what to use. Kopatox, Foot Rot spray, Jeye's Fluid, Stockholm Tar, copper sulphate — all have their devotees. The hoof should be examined and treated once a week.
The hooves need to be trimmed every six weeks unless the donkey is in regular work on the road, and even then they often wear unevenly. You can do this yourself once you know how to go about it, but get a qualified farrier until you have learnt. Farriers do not charge much and your donkey's feet are absolutely vital to his wellbeing. When misshapen hooves occur a farrier should be called immediately. If hoof problems arise, a good farrier charges less than a vet and often has the specialised knowledge to diagnose the problem.
Welfare Cases
Many rescue donkeys are former bull donkeys. These donkeys are usually quite wild with overgrown feet and are difficult to rehome. They need carers who are very experienced. If you're new to donkeys and plan to own one please review the page on care of the donkey.
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Left: Jake of the Trust
with terrible feet and after care with Elton Moore at an A&P show
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