Things will go wrong, and it sometimes it will be your fault. Remember the adage - its not whether you get knocked down, its whether you get back up again.
Mules
Mules are a cross between a donkey
stallion and a horse mare.
Mules
Although mules are non-fertile, castration of stallions is still
advisable to limit undesirable behaviour.
Mules
Fearful mules initially show subtle behavioural signs of fear like
the donkey, then rapidly switch between the flight responses of the horse and
the fight responses of the donkey.
Mules
When the subtle signs of fear are missed, stressed mules can
appear explosive and aggressive and can pose a high risk to the handler.
Mules
Mules tend to exhibit pain behaviour more readily than the donkey
and so may show more obvious signs of colic.
Mules
If a mule has not had any formal training, is stressed or has
previously shown any dangerous behaviour, early sedation should be considered
for veterinary procedures prior to catecholamine release.
Mules
Use of oral or intramuscular sedation may be more appropriate in a mule than
trying to gain intravenous access.
Mules
Doses of sedation may need to be significantly increased in
stressed/fearful mules due to circulating catecholamines.
Mules
Nose twitches can be effective for mules, however due to their
negative side effects their use should be carefully considered and limited to a
short length of time, for example to administer sedatives.
Mules
Mules are less susceptible to hyperlipaemia than donkeys.
Mules
Mule foals are highly susceptible to neonatal isoerythrolysis due
to ‘donkey factor’ antigen present in donkey red blood cells.
Mules
The position of the nasolacrimal duct varies greatly between
mules.
Mules
The mule hoof is more similar to the horse or pony and is less
susceptible to white line disease than the donkey.