Clinical and pathologic findings in donkeys with hypothermia: 10 cases (1988-1998)

Objective-To describe clinical signs and clinicopathologic findings in donk eys with hypothermia. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-10 hypothermic donkeys. Procedure-Information on signalment, history, physical examination findings , results of diagnostic tests, treatments, and necropsy findings was extrac ted from medical records of all donkeys with hypothermia between 1988 and 1 998 and compared with information from medical records of all normothermic donkeys and hypothermic horses admitted to the hospital during the same per iod. Results-Donkeys were more likely to be hypothermic than horses. The mean ag e of hypothermic donkeys was 6 years (range, 7 months to 11 years), compare d with 4.2 years (range, < 1 month to 15 years) for normothermic donkeys; t his difference was not significant. Ten of 12 horses with hypothermia were neonates; there were no hypothermic neonatal donkeys. At admission, 7 of 8 hypothermic donkeys were in good body condition and all hypothermic donkeys were weak. Six hypothermic donkeys were able to maintain sternal recumbenc y, 1 remained in lateral recumbency, and 3 were able to stand. Of the 10 hy pothermic donkeys, 2 survived, 1 died, and 7 were euthanatized. Histologica lly, the thyroid glands from 4 of 5 hypothermic donkeys appeared abnormal a nd were similar to those of foals with hypothyroidism. During the months th at hypothermic donkeys were admitted, there was not a significant differenc e in environmental temperatures on days of admission between hypothermic an d normothermic donkeys. Conclusions and Clinical Relevane-Hypothermia is a problem in donkeys durin g cold winter months, and may not be secondary to other diseases or related to diet or management.