Quick Take
- Donkeys are smart enough to detect hidden medicine, and one wrong move can make them refuse it forever. See how donkeys detect medicine →
- Sweetening the medicine seems like the obvious fix, though doing so can actually make a donkey more likely to spit it out.
- There's a biological mechanism in donkeys that blocks several common oral medications before they even work.
- Handlers follow a specific receptivity check before every dose. Skipping it can cost you the animal's trust. Explore the dosing technique →
As kids, we all hated taking medicine given to us. Whether it’s a pill or an ill-tasting liquid, it’s never a fun experience. Animals seem to be the exact same way, and they often need to be tricked into taking their medicine. This YouTube Short by @SabinLamichhane shows a donkey taking medicine masked by an orange. Read here to learn more.
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Donkeys, like other animals, take medicine for various reasons, such as illness or disease.
©Halfpoint/Shutterstock.com
A Donkey Takes Medicine
Donkeys seem to be just like kids when it comes to taking medicine. If you’ve ever tried to give medicine to a cat or dog, you know how difficult it can be—they will do almost anything to avoid taking it. Because of this, we often have to get creative when feeding animals medicine. While it’s easy to hide a pill in some peanut butter for a dog, donkeys can be a bit trickier. The video above uses an amazing tactic to get the job done. They use a syringe plunger with the medicine inside and an orange stuck to the hole at the end. As the donkey goes to eat the orange, the caretaker quickly presses the plunger down and gives the donkey its medicine. Although not the simplest method, it’s a great way to ensure the donkey takes the medicine it needs to stay healthy.
Forcing animals to take medicine can be a stressful experience. It wouldn’t feel good for us to take something when we didn’t want to, which is why so many veterinary guides approve of using food masking. It’s convenient for both humans and animals. Donkeys need to take different medications for different reasons. It may be for temporary problems like an infection or parasite, or for chronic illnesses or diseases. Using an orange to give medicine is perfect for donkeys. While oranges are not common in a donkey’s everyday diet, they are often given as a special treat. They are sugary and sweet, perfect for any donkey with a sweet tooth. However, donkeys are quite intelligent and tend to be cautious. If they detect medicine in their oranges, they may become wary the next time.
