Donkeys and Mules｜Husbandry and Care (diseases covered in a separate article) | Evidence chain

FAQ

What should I watch for regarding the species, breed and lifespan of donkeys and mules?

The donkey (*Equus asinus*) is a separate species; the mule is a cross of a jack donkey with a mare (usually infertile, while the hinny, a cross of a stallion with a jenny, is less common). Donkeys are generally understood to live longer than horses of comparable size, but the specific number of years is 【No single authoritative value for this item: whitelisted sources give no lifespan reference value specific to donkeys／mules】 (directional conclusion: donkeys often outlive horses of comparable size, with no whitelisted source for the specific number of years. This is consistent with the general scarcity of Merck material on donkey／mule care, see field 12). The actual judgement still rests with a veterinarian on a case-by-case basis, and this article gives no drug names or dosages.

ロバとラバの種／品種と寿命について何に注意すべきですか。 — ロバ（*Equus asinus*）は独立した種です。ラバは牡ロバ×牝ウマの雑種で（通常は繁殖能力がありません。別にケッテイ hinny は牡ウマ×牝ロバで、より少数です）。一般にロバは同程度の体格のウマより長生きすると理解されていますが、具体的な年数は【本項目に単一の権威ある数値なし：ホワイトリスト情報源はロバ／ラバに固有の寿命参考値を示していません】（方向性としての結論：ロバは同程度の体格のウマより長生きすることが多いが、具体的な年数にホワイトリストの情報源はない。これは Merck のロバ／ラバのケアに関する資料が全体として乏しいことと一致します。第 12 欄参照）。実際の判断は獣医師が個別の症例に応じて行う必要があり、本記事は薬剤名と用量を記載しません。

What should I watch for regarding the species, breed and lifespan of donkeys and mules? — The donkey (*Equus asinus*) is a separate species; the mule is a cross of a jack donkey with a mare (usually infertile, while the hinny, a cross of a stallion with a jenny, is less common). Donkeys are generally understood to live longer than horses of comparable size, but the specific number of years is 【No single authoritative value for this item: whitelisted sources give no lifespan reference value specific to donkeys／mules】 (directional conclusion: donkeys often outlive horses of comparable size, with no whitelisted source for the specific number of years. This is consistent with the general scarcity of Merck material on donkey／mule care, see field 12). The actual judgement still rests with a veterinarian on a case-by-case basis, and this article gives no drug names or dosages.

What should I watch for regarding the normal physiological indicators of donkeys and mules?

The measurements and methods are the same as for horses (temperature, heart rate, respiration, gut sounds; see field 2 of (A)), but donkeys are by nature extremely stoic, and outward behavioural change when they are ill tends to appear later and less obviously than in horses, so both keepers and veterinarians need to rely more on subtle behavioural change and trends than on waiting for obvious signs. Reference values (from peer-reviewed studies of healthy adult donkeys in tropical／subtropical regions, not Merck; the Merck equid physiological value tables do not cover donkeys): heart rate about 38–45 beats per minute; respiratory rate about 20–30 cycles per minute in tropical／subtropical regions and about 13–31 cycles per minute in temperate regions (Ayo JO et al., research paper on PMC: "normal range (38–45 bpm), established for donkeys", "normal range of 20–30 cpm...in the tropical/subtropical regions", "13–31 cpm in the temperate region" <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6125241/>, verified 2026-07-30). ⚠️ The source gives no rectal temperature reference value for donkeys, so temperature in this field remains 【No single authoritative value for this item: whitelisted sources give no rectal temperature reference value specific to donkeys】; and the heart-rate／respiration figures show marked diurnal and seasonal variation (the subject of that same study), so they serve only as a rough guide and cannot be used to rule out illness on your own. The actual judgement still rests with a veterinarian on a case-by-case basis, and this article gives no drug names or dosages.

ロバとラバの正常な生理指標について何に注意すべきですか。 — 測定項目と方法はウマと同じです（体温、心拍、呼吸、腸音。(A) 第 2 欄参照）。ただしロバは生来きわめて忍耐強く、病気のときの外見的な行動変化はウマより遅く、目立たない形で現れる傾向があります。飼い主も獣医師も、明らかな症状を待つのではなく、わずかな行動の変化と推移の観察により多く依存する必要があります。参考値（熱帯／亜熱帯地域の健康な成体ロバを対象とした査読済み研究に由来。Merck ではありません。Merck のウマ科の生理数値表はロバを含みません）：心拍はおよそ 38〜45 回/分。呼吸数は熱帯／亜熱帯地域でおよそ 20〜30 回/分、温帯地域でおよそ 13〜31 回/分（Ayo JO et al. の研究論文、PMC 掲載：「normal range (38–45 bpm), established for donkeys」「normal range of 20–30 cpm...in the tropical/subtropical regions」「13–31 cpm in the temperate region」<https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6125241/>、2026-07-30 検証）。⚠️ この情報源はロバの直腸体温の参考値を示していないため、本欄の体温は依然として【本項目に単一の権威ある数値なし：ホワイトリスト情報源はロバに固有の直腸体温の参考値を示していません】です。また心拍／呼吸の数値には明らかな日内リズムと季節差があり（同じ研究自体のテーマです）、あくまで概略の参考にとどまり、自分で病状を除外する根拠には使えません。実際の判断は獣医師が個別の症例に応じて行う必要があり、本記事は薬剤名と用量を記載しません。

What should I watch for regarding the normal physiological indicators of donkeys and mules? — The measurements and methods are the same as for horses (temperature, heart rate, respiration, gut sounds; see field 2 of (A)), but donkeys are by nature extremely stoic, and outward behavioural change when they are ill tends to appear later and less obviously than in horses, so both keepers and veterinarians need to rely more on subtle behavioural change and trends than on waiting for obvious signs. Reference values (from peer-reviewed studies of healthy adult donkeys in tropical／subtropical regions, not Merck; the Merck equid physiological value tables do not cover donkeys): heart rate about 38–45 beats per minute; respiratory rate about 20–30 cycles per minute in tropical／subtropical regions and about 13–31 cycles per minute in temperate regions (Ayo JO et al., research paper on PMC: "normal range (38–45 bpm), established for donkeys", "normal range of 20–30 cpm...in the tropical/subtropical regions", "13–31 cpm in the temperate region" <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6125241/>, verified 2026-07-30). ⚠️ The source gives no rectal temperature reference value for donkeys, so temperature in this field remains 【No single authoritative value for this item: whitelisted sources give no rectal temperature reference value specific to donkeys】; and the heart-rate／respiration figures show marked diurnal and seasonal variation (the subject of that same study), so they serve only as a rough guide and cannot be used to rule out illness on your own. The actual judgement still rests with a veterinarian on a case-by-case basis, and this article gives no drug names or dosages.

What should I watch for regarding the housing of donkeys and mules?

Requirements are similar to those of horses (space to move, companions, dry and well-ventilated bedding), but donkeys tolerate rain less well and need shelter more; donkeys and mules need at least one companion (donkeys form extremely strong attachments to companions, and the death of a companion can trigger a severe depression-like response and inappetence). The actual judgement still rests with a veterinarian on a case-by-case basis, and this article gives no drug names or dosages.

ロバとラバの飼育環境について何に注意すべきですか。 — 必要条件はウマと類似しています（運動スペース、仲間、乾燥した換気の良い敷料）が、ロバは雨に濡れることへの耐性が低く、より遮蔽物を必要とします。ロバとラバには少なくとも 1 頭の仲間が必要です（ロバは仲間への愛着が非常に強く、仲間の死は重度の抑うつ様反応と摂食拒否を誘発しうるものです）。実際の判断は獣医師が個別の症例に応じて行う必要があり、本記事は薬剤名と用量を記載しません。

What should I watch for regarding the housing of donkeys and mules? — Requirements are similar to those of horses (space to move, companions, dry and well-ventilated bedding), but donkeys tolerate rain less well and need shelter more; donkeys and mules need at least one companion (donkeys form extremely strong attachments to companions, and the death of a companion can trigger a severe depression-like response and inappetence). The actual judgement still rests with a veterinarian on a case-by-case basis, and this article gives no drug names or dosages.