Background: Donkeys make up a small but important percentage of patients seen by equine and mixed practices, but, while similar to horses in many respects, they have different management needs. Many of these differences are evident in the anaesthesia setting, and differentiating the treatment of donkeys from ‘small horses’ can lead to better outcomes for patients, owners and practices.
Aim of the article: This article highlights the differences between donkeys and horses with regards to induction and maintenance of anaesthesia and provides practical tips about performing safe anaesthesia of donkeys.