Anaesthesia of donkeys and mules

Summary Great variabilities in the sizes and types of donkeys and mules affects the choice of drugs and anaesthetic management of these equids. Most of the difference between donkeys, mules and horses is apparent when using injectable anaesthetic regimens, since these drugs are distributed and metabolised at rates different from the horse. With inhalant anaesthesia few differences are seen between equids. However, it is helpful for the clinician to recognise behavioural differences between donkeys, mules and horses which impact on anaesthetic management.