Can Donkeys Get Covid?

For the last one and a half years, the whole world is dealing with coronavirus and its impact. Its impact continues to be felt by different countries and communities all around the world. It’s been a long since the virus first broke out but people are learning new things about it every day.

It is known that Coronavirus can spread from people to animals. However, little is known about the fact that which animals and pets are more susceptible to catching it and what would the symptoms be.

A small number of pets including dogs and cats have reported getting covid after having close contact with infected people.

After learning about cats and dogs, it begs the question that can donkeys get Covid? Most donkeys owners are worried about their pet animal catching Covid-19 and little do they know about caring for donkeys during the Covid outbreak.

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To date, there is no evidence or data that suggests that donkeys can get Covid from people. Researches have been done on a small number of animals, so, it is hard to know the accuracy of any studies.

However, there are not such unusual cases reported where donkeys had caught the virus from their infected owner or guardian.

If the person lives in a state where the covid outbreak is at an all-time high, you should be cautious and follow the restrictions implemented by the government.

Government and health authorities can provide the best advice and measures to reduce transmission and risk of infection.

The risk of pets spreading and getting viruses to people is low. Even though the risk is low, still, the donkey owner or guardian should follow the precautionary measure to care for your donkey during these trying times.

Caring For Donkeys During Covid-19

Donkey owners, carers, or foster can care for the donkey even with all the restrictions. If the state has a high number of coronavirus cases, it is likely that you have to follow the guidelines laid out by the government.

General Advice

First of all, do not stop spending time with your pet animal just for the fear of spreading coronavirus. Donkeys value the time they spend with their owners and there is no research or evidence that suggests that donkeys will get Covid from their owners.

However, still, it is better to be careful than regret later, just follow the guidelines, and you and your donkey will be fine.

Follow good hygiene and biosecurity practices before and after touching the animal. It includes washing hands with soap and water or using a hand sanitizer.

Wear gloves and mask and wash your hands thoroughly if the donkey lives in a shared facility where other people visit as well.

Encourage others to follow good hygiene measures. Make sure safety guidelines are being followed by a vet, farrier, equine dental technician, and other professionals.

Plan Ahead And Prepare

The future can be uncertain, so, prepare yourself for any unfortunate circumstances. It is better to plan and do all the arrangements in case you catch coronavirus and need to self-isolate at short notice. Prepare a donkey care plan in advance and those who will be caring for your pet in your absence should know enough about the animal and who to contact during an emergency.

Have a clear and easy-to-follow plan in place, make small videos to explain where the necessary items are, how to open gates, and where feed is kept, and how much to give them each day.

Give contact details for vet, farrier, and insurance company to the carer.

Have enough bedding, food supplies, and other items stocked for at least a couple of weeks.

Talk to the vet and make sure essential medication is available at the premises.

Use CCTV and other monitoring equipment to monitor the donkey remotely.

Speak to a welfare team if you need any help with the planning. They will guide you through the process and what to do exactly without panicking.

Make sure the donkey is kept occupied with enrichment opportunities and other recreational activities.

Make donkeys more adaptive by changing their routines, so, it can be easier to handle for other carers if you are unable to do it.

In Case of Self-Isolation

It is important to look after your health and well-being first, so, if you have become ill or need to self-isolate, employ a carer and give him a detailed plan on what to do in your absence.

Make sure the person you have arranged to care for the donkey has not come in contact with the infected people. Also, inform local health protection teams as well as relevant animal health authorities.

Bottom Line

The risk is quite low for donkeys to catch covid-19 or spread the virus to humans. If you have been tested covid positive, isolate yourself, and keep up to date with the advice and safety measures given by the health authorities.

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