Veterinary and Livestock Equine Training
Donkeys play a vital role in Antigua and Barbuda, serving as essential partners in agriculture and transportation. The Donkey Sanctuary, in collaboration with the Humane Society, stands as a beacon of compassion and care for these hardworking animals. Dr. Jorge Lohse from Chile and Dr. Francesca Compostella from the UK, both equine veterinary surgeons with Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS) were the training facilitators. WVS is a nonprofit organization that was started in 2003 for the health and well-being of animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife. On Wednesday 15th November a series of lectures were done in preparation for the surgeries and dentistry which took place on Thursday and Friday.
Castration and hernia repair were the surgeries performed on Thursday the 16th alongside with the help of Dr. Radcliffe Robins, Dr. Diandra Payne, Dr. Nneka Hull James, Dr. Joycie Francis, Dr. Saskia Goding, Dr. Chere Kellman and Dr. Tubal Edwards and their veterinary assistants. Donkey castration is a popular procedure that has many significant advantages. It aids in donkey population control by averting accidental reproduction and possible overpopulation. This is essential for keeping the number of animals under control and ensuring that there are sufficient resources to support the animals’ needs. It also eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and other medical issues. Castration is also a useful tool for controlling male donkey behaviour. Intact males referred to as jacks, occasionally display hostile or erratic behaviour, particularly during mating. Castration frequently reduces these behaviours, improving the donkeys’ suitability for work or companionship by making them more manageable.
Hernias in donkeys can present serious health risks and may result in death in some cases when left untreated. Therefore, hernia assessment is critical to the health and welfare of these animals. An organ or tissue that protrudes through a hole in the abdominal wall is called a hernia. It can cause complications like intestinal strangulation or blockage. An animal with a hernia may experience pain and discomfort. Veterinarians improve the donkey’s overall quality of life through surgical reduction of the hernia surgically and relieving the associated complications.
On Friday the 17th the sanctuary’s elderly donkeys received dental care, which is crucial for their well-being and comfort as well as for preventing dental disorders, extending their lives, improving their quality of life, and avoiding complications. Donkeys have continuously erupting incisors and premolars which results in development of sharp prominences in the mouth which can cause oral ulcers and create issues with chewing which are critical for digestion. This necessitates regular dental care for donkeys in captivity. A donkey with dental issues may develop further dietary deficits and general ill health. The WVS veterinarians, government and private veterinarians maintained the animals’ teeth which will improve their overall health and well-being.
This critical training organized by the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society and the Ministry of Agriculture and facilitated by Worldwide Veterinary Service has provided essential training in equine medicine and surgery for the veterinarians of Antigua and Barbuda.











