We live in eastern NC (read that as very hot & VERY humid) and we have 2 horses & a mini donkey. We've only had the donkey for the last year. On days like today where it is ridiculously hot & humid out (heat index 110+) our horses are standing still and sweating. However our little mini donkey is not.
He acts fine, grazes, naps, does all his normal little donkey things. But I just realized yesterday that I have *never* seen him sweat. He is 5 years old and has no known health problems. He is not worked at all (he's a farm guard for coyotes, etc) which is one reason I've not seen him sweating due to exercise. But the horses are dripping wet today and he's dry.
Because it was late summer last year before he shed out, we body clipped him this spring. He has unlimited access to shelter/shade and plenty of water. He shows no sign of heat stress. However my Arabian mare who is his pasture mate is soaked in sweat on days like these. I've seen several occasions where the Arab mare huddles under shade in the pasture in the afternoons and naps while he prefers to stay out in the full sun & graze.
Do donkeys have a higher heat tolerance? Should I be concerned or is this normal for minis and/or donkeys?
My assumption is that if he's hot he'd be in the shade or in the barn in front of the fans... and he'd be giving me other signs that something isnt right. But of course I dont want to assume
Any and all thoughts appreciated.
He acts fine, grazes, naps, does all his normal little donkey things. But I just realized yesterday that I have *never* seen him sweat. He is 5 years old and has no known health problems. He is not worked at all (he's a farm guard for coyotes, etc) which is one reason I've not seen him sweating due to exercise. But the horses are dripping wet today and he's dry.
Because it was late summer last year before he shed out, we body clipped him this spring. He has unlimited access to shelter/shade and plenty of water. He shows no sign of heat stress. However my Arabian mare who is his pasture mate is soaked in sweat on days like these. I've seen several occasions where the Arab mare huddles under shade in the pasture in the afternoons and naps while he prefers to stay out in the full sun & graze.
Do donkeys have a higher heat tolerance? Should I be concerned or is this normal for minis and/or donkeys?
My assumption is that if he's hot he'd be in the shade or in the barn in front of the fans... and he'd be giving me other signs that something isnt right. But of course I dont want to assume
Any and all thoughts appreciated.
