Reasons for not shedding winter coat?

[Greentchr]

My 20yo sicilian donkey is not shedding. Does anyone have any ideas on the whys?

He has foundered in the past (before I got him at 18yo), and the farrier raised the question whther he has foundered again. He has been on a diet (vet appointed) for the last 2 weeks, on mature grass hay only, no turn-out at all. I just noticed this past week that he is not sheddding at all. He has had his turns with the shedding brushes, but hardly anything comes out. He did not shed well last year, but I am ashamed to admit that last year it just did not occur to me that it was abnormal. This year (with a little more experience) I am thinking there is a serious problem. Have not talked to the vet yet.

any ideas?

[galadriel]

I don't know too much about donkeys. I do know that in horses, Cushings or insulin resistance can be responsible for horses failing to shed a winter coat. There's a Yahoo discussion group, and when you sign up they send you a lot of info about it -- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/

In general, things like failing to shed a coat, or a persistent mild infection (like rain rot), or something else minor that you can't totally get rid of or that repeats, can be a symptom of poor health. What made me suspect that my Kat had some kind of hidden problem was that last year she didn't shed well and she had a persistent rain rot that I just couldn't eliminate (my vet thinks insulin resistance).

[Mehitabel]

like galadriel, i don't know anything about donkeys, but in a horse that age i'd be thinking possibly the start of old age setting in, cushings or similar, or general under-the-weatherness. not shedding as well is a sign of general old age as well as more specific things. some horses are old in themselves at 20 while others aren't.

[Wally]

Echo two posts above.

[Greentchr]

Thanks for the advice. I will contact the vet tomorrow and get him in. I am worried about him. My vet is an equine repriduction specialist, does not have too many donkey patients, so I hope she is able to figure this one out.
thanks.

[Lotje]

20 for a donkey is not that old, definately not equivalent to 20 in a horse anyway.
Donkeys can easily live to be 45years or over.
when i worked at a donkey milk farm the oldest mare with foal was 38 and apart from a tummy that didn't spring back into shape and a slight dip in her back she was fine.

Ps sorry I can't give any advice

[Big Ears]

I have 3 donkeys. Two of them are shedding now, the other one holds onto her coat till about June/July, every year without fail. The other two the hair is falling out now but she isn't losing it at all.

Otherwise yes could be cushings etc but all I can say this one hardly sheds before she is growing her winter coat again!

[artemis]

I have a pony with cushings & I would reccommend the website mentioned. Another useful one is "laminitisandcushings.com".