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.

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.