The Donkey Care Calendar: What to Log and When

Three donkeys grazing on a mid-Wales smallholding — a good care record turns daily observations into welfare evidence

Donkeys have specific, year-round welfare needs that differ from horses and ponies in important ways. This guide walks you through the annual care rhythm — farrier, dental, worming, body condition, and seasonal diet — and explains exactly what to record so you always have a clear picture of your donkey's health.

From the day you bring your donkeys home, you start building a care record that belongs entirely to you. That record — built observation by observation across seasons and years — becomes one of the most valuable welfare tools you own. But only if you know what to log, and when.

Donkeys are famously stoic. They will quietly carry discomfort that a horse would signal loudly, which means regular, structured record-keeping isn't a nice-to-have. It's how you catch problems before they become serious. Over twenty years as a Donkey Sanctuary Guardian, with three donkeys — Lola, Nike, and Hero — on a mid-Wales smallholding, I've learned that a well-kept care record is the difference between reacting to problems and getting ahead of them.

Here is what a solid donkey care calendar looks like, month by month and season by season.

The Annual Donkey Care Calendar: Key Events

Farrier Visits: Every 6–8 Weeks

Donkeys' hooves grow differently to horses. They are typically harder and drier, and overgrown or poorly trimmed feet can quickly lead to laminitis, white line disease, or chronic pain. Most donkeys need a farrier every six to eight weeks, with some individuals requiring more frequent attention.

Most donkeys need a farrier every six to eight weeks — log each visit and any observations made

What to log each visit:

• Date and farrier's name
• Which hooves were trimmed or shod
• Farrier's observations (sole condition, any heat or sensitivity noted)
• Any follow-up recommendations

Over time, your farrier log becomes a useful baseline. If one donkey starts showing more frequent hoof issues, the pattern emerges from the record — not just memory.

Dental Checks: Annually (or Six-Monthly for Older Donkeys)

Donkeys are prone to dental problems including sharp edges, missing or loose teeth, and conditions that affect their ability to chew properly. An annual dental examination by a qualified equine dental technician or vet is the minimum. For donkeys over twenty years old, twice-yearly checks are advisable.

What to log:

• Date of examination
• Clinician name and qualification
• Findings (any rasping done, problems identified)
• Dietary adjustments recommended (e.g. soaked hay, soft feeds)

A donkey losing weight in winter is not always a forage issue. Dental problems are a common underlying cause, and a logged dental history helps your vet assess the picture quickly.

Worming: Led by Faecal Egg Count, Not the Calendar

Blanket worming on a fixed schedule is increasingly recognised as poor practice. The correct approach is to use Faecal Egg Count (FEC) testing to guide treatment — worming only when counts indicate it is needed, with targeted treatment for the right worm burden.

The recommended cycle for most donkeys:

• FEC test in spring (March–April)
• FEC test in autumn (September–October)
• Tapeworm saliva test or treatment in late autumn
• Encysted redworm treatment (moxidectin or fenbendazole) in late autumn–early winter

What to log for each FEC and wormer treatment:

• Date and FEC result (eggs per gram)
• Product used if treatment given (active ingredient and dose)
• Donkey's weight at time of treatment (dosing is weight-dependent)
• Follow-up test date if required

This level of detail is important. Resistance to wormers is a growing concern, and a logged treatment history helps your vet identify patterns and adjust protocols accordingly.

Body Condition Scoring: Monthly

Donkeys carry weight differently to horses and can become obese without their owners realising it — especially when wearing a heavy winter coat. Body Condition Scoring (BCS) is a hands-on assessment of fat coverage over key areas including the neck, ribs, hindquarters, and withers. The Donkey Sanctuary uses a 1–5 scale. The ideal score for most donkeys is 2.5–3.

A monthly hands-on body condition score reveals gradual drift that daily observation can miss

What to log monthly:

• BCS score (1–5)
• Weight or heart girth measurement
• Any notable changes in appearance or coat condition

Monthly logging reveals gradual drift — weight creeping up through spring grazing, or dropping over a hard winter — that would be invisible to daily observation alone.

Seasonal Diet Adjustments: Four Points in the Year

Donkeys originated in arid, semi-desert environments. Their digestive systems are designed for low-energy, high-fibre forage — not the rich grass of UK pastures. Seasonal grazing management is essential to prevent laminitis, obesity, and metabolic disease.

Straw and hay form the core winter diet — log daily forage amounts for individuals you are monitoring

Spring (March–May)

Limit access to lush pasture as grass sugar content peaks. Strip grazing, track systems, or temporary paddock restriction are all valid approaches. Log any dietary changes and monitor BCS weekly during this period.

Summer (June–August)

Continue pasture management. Barley straw should form the majority of the diet for most donkeys, supplemented with limited hay. Log any heat-related observations and ensure fresh water is always available. Fly protection measures should be noted.

Autumn (September–November)

Prepare for the transition to winter. Log the point at which donkeys come off pasture or grazing is significantly reduced. This is also the time for FEC testing, dental checks (particularly for older animals), and reviewing body condition ahead of winter.

Winter (December–February)

Straw and hay form the core diet. Log daily forage amounts for individuals who need monitoring. Rugging decisions should be logged, as donkeys' coats become unreliable indicators of body temperature when rugged. Weight checks are especially important through January and February.

Annual Events Worth Scheduling in Your Calendar

Beyond the rolling care rhythm, there are annual events that benefit from being planned ahead and logged once completed:

• Annual vet health check (whole body examination, vaccination review)
• Tetanus vaccination (annual or biennial depending on product — always log)
• EHV vaccination if mixing with other equines
• Passport check and microchip scan (required annually in the UK for equines grazing land)
• Shelter and stable inspection before winter
• Farrier review meeting if management has changed

Why a Digital Care Record Makes the Calendar Work

The care calendar works when it is consistently maintained. Paper diaries get lost, are difficult to search, and rarely survive a property move or change of ownership. A digital care record that you build and own — accessible on any device, searchable across years — changes the quality of conversation you can have with your vet or farrier.

When Nike came to us from the Donkey Sanctuary Birmingham centre three years ago, his initial care summary gave us a starting point. Everything since has been built by us, on our record. It is our reference for every vet call and welfare check. That's what a well-kept record does: it turns daily observations into evidence you can act on.

Guudpet's care calendar is built specifically for equine and donkey owners. You can log farrier visits, FEC results and wormer treatments, dental checks, BCS scores, weight measurements, and vet visits — all in one place, alongside daily welfare notes. It's not a vet record. It's the welfare layer you build and own, from day one. Free welfare accounts are always available at guudpet.co.uk.

*Paul Stenning • Donkey Sanctuary Guardian*

*Guudpet provides general guidance only and does not replace professional veterinary care. For specific advice about your donkeys, always consult a qualified veterinarian or your local Donkey Sanctuary welfare adviser.*