Q: I recently purchased a female donkey from a woman who said she had rescued it from a “bad situation.” The donkey’s neck seems to flop over, though it doesn’t seem to bother it at all. Why did this happen?
A : Your donkey has what is called a productive neck rolling wave or a “ broken crest . ” Rather than a result of a damaged nuchal ligament , which is the farsighted ring run from the base of the skull to the withers that supports the head and neck , excessive productive repository along the peak create this condition .
It might seem strange for an animal that is not overtly obese to develop such wakeless fat deposits , but donkeys , in particular , seem predispose to such deposits . In addition to the neck , deposits can occur on the rump pass and down the top line .
These fat deposit are a result of abnormal carbohydrate metabolic process . Donkeys have evolve to endure on depleted - timber fiber . Many naturalize donkey , however , are improperly fed — most commonly given a high - energy concentrate , such as prepared food grain mix , evident whole or milled Indian corn , or barley , on a regular footing . Not only the feeding of a high-pitched - energy concentrate mix but also the quantity fed per head per twenty-four hour period can lead in broken crest . This character of diet over sentence can ensue in a condition call equine metabolic syndrome .
Also seen in horse that are often referred to as “ promiscuous keepers , ” EMS is a multifaceted condition that begins with chronic feeding of eminent - energy sugar . It ’s likely that your donkey was once overfed a “ hot ” ration ( meaning gamey floor of sugar / vim ) and/or grant to crop excessively on plush forage . As a result , its pancreas had to constantly produce high levels of insulin , a hormone that transports glucose from the profligate into cells for zip . ( It ’s also been found that some modern GMO grains , i.e. corn , barleycorn and oat , can result in hormonally uncontrolled eminent glucose levels . )
Chronic exposure to gamy story of insulin causes the body ’s tissue to become resistant to the endocrine . This mean that glucose is not as efficiently taken up and utilized by cells but instead stays in the blood stream , a condition call hyperglycemia . This faulty metabolism of blood sugar also result in alter fertile metabolism , hence the deposit along the crest . EMS is similar to adult - onset Type 2 diabetes in human race .
Although fertile deposits are mainly an aesthetic issue , one of the substantial risk of EMS is that it predispose your donkey to laminitis , an inflammation in the foot that can cause lameness . To estimate the asperity of your donkey ’s current metabolic condition , your veterinary surgeon can draw a blood sampling and measure glucose and insulin floor .
It ’s authoritative to note the difference between EMS and a similar condition called Cushing ’s disease . Cushing ’s disease in equines also results in hyperglycemia , but it ’s due to a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that result in an increase in a endocrine called cortisol . you could have a thyroid test deport on your domestic ass to harness out this potential cause .
There is no treatment for EMS , only management , in the first place through diet . The diet of an equid with EMS should be severely confine in dressed ore ingestion . Many donkeys can consume enough kilogram calorie from supergrass hay alone to assert tolerable body consideration . In addition to restricting or even removing grain from your donkey ’s diet , pasture management should be a priority . Lush grass and even gravid consumption of moderate - quality pasturage could put your Equus asinus at risk for laminitis . control grass intake by utilizing landing strip skimming , a skimming gun muzzle or circumscribed railroad siding might be necessary . As with all farm animal , consult your veterinarian about the best ways to specifically grapple your donkey ’s diet in lodge to tailor to its need and your farm ’s resources .
Unfortunately , a broken peak will remain “ broken ” and will never be upright , despite a sound EMS management programme . On a positive note , however , such a precondition does not do the fauna pain . Donkeys are incredibly smart , stoic and hardy creatures , and despite its metabolic condition , you ’re highly potential to enjoy many eld with your young friend .
This clause originally appeared in the March / April 2014 number ofHobby Farms .
