Hoof disease is a leading cause of lameness and suffering in working donkeys. Addressing hoof care in low-resource settings requires practical, affordable interventions and local knowledge transfer.
Hoof disease in working donkeys is both common and preventable. In low-resource settings, the barrier to prevention is not willingness but access — to tools, training, and veterinary knowledge. Community animal health worker programs that train local people in basic hoof care inspection and first-response treatment have proven highly cost-effective at reaching donkeys in remote areas. The welfare impact of these programs is substantial: a donkey working with painful hoof disease experiences daily suffering that simple trimming and wound care could prevent. Sustained investment in local capacity for basic donkey care is one of the highest-return welfare interventions for working animals globally.