Donkey and Mule Medicine: While they fall under the heading "equid," donkeys and mules have differences from horses that are important for practitioners to recognize.

The article focuses on the distinct medical, anatomical, behavioral, and pharmacological differences between donkeys, mules, and horses, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these differences in veterinary care. Donkeys and mules exhibit unique physical traits such as hoof structure and venous anatomy, require different drug dosages due to faster metabolism, and display stoic pain behaviors that complicate clinical assessment. They are prone to specific metabolic conditions like donkey metabolic syndrome and hyperlipemia, and have distinct reproductive and behavioral characteristics. The article underscores that equine practitioners should not directly apply horse-based knowledge to donkeys and mules without adjustment, advocating for further research to improve species-specific veterinary protocols.