Colic basically means pain in the abdomen and can sometimes be fatal. There are many causes of colic and as it can be very serious we always call the vet immediately if we think a donkey may have it. Common causes include: sudden changes in diet, worms, stress, poisoning, eating the wrong food, and bad teeth. Donkeys tend to hide pain and so often the first symptom we notice is that the donkey looks very dull and is not keen on eating. The difficult bit for the vet is trying work out what type of colic it is so he can give the correct treatment.

Fortunately for our donkeys, they have their teeth attended to twice a year, are wormed regularly and have the same diet all year round which reduces the risk of them getting colic. Almost all of our donkeys had never been given worming treatments or had their teeth checked before they came to the sanctuary, so it's not always possible to correct any previous problems. However, when we go out to villages as part of our outreach programme, we check the donkeys' teeth and treat them for worms which helps to keep the donkeys healthy.

If you would like to learn more about looking after donkeys and their health, go to The Donkey Sanctuary website Welfare Section at www.thedonkeysanctguary.org.uk or ring the sanctuary on 25944151 or(00357 25944151 if you are calling from abroad), for a copy of their Guide to Caring For Your Donkey. There’s always a lot to learn!!