When we are talking to visitors and school children who come to the Sanctuary, the term Laminitis often comes into the conversation followed by the question 'what is it?'. Laminitis is a very serious, painful and sometimes fatal condition that affects the hooves and donkeys are very susceptible to it. The inside of the hoof becomes inflamed, the blood supply is reduced and the small bone in the hoof can separate from the hoof wall.

There are several things that can cause it to happen – the most common being overfeeding, particularly high sugar and starch feeds such as carobs and barley as well as letting the
hooves get too long.

Many of the donkeys at the Sanctuary had developed laminitis before they came to us and so, to minimise the risk of further attacks, their hooves are trimmed every 6–8 weeks and they are fed chopped straw and a very small amount of special pellets. Every month all of the donkeys are weighed and their diets adjusted if they need to lose some weight – a bit like a slimming club! The straw is high fibre and low in starch and sugar and the few pellets we feed are also a good way for us to check the donkeys' health – if a donkey doesn't want to eat its breakfast and tea we know straight way there is a problem.