Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in a weanling donkey jack

Objective

To describe the clinical presentation and diagnosis of bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in a weanling miniature donkey jack.

Case Summary

A 5-month-old miniature donkey jack presented to a tertiary care facility for fever, cough, and increased respiratory rate and effort initially unresponsive to treatment with antimicrobials and anti-inflammatories. Clinical and diagnostic evaluations found no evidence of upper respiratory obstruction or bacterial pneumonia. Serial arterial blood gas evaluations revealed hypercapnia and hypoxemia, and diagnostic imaging was consistent with bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. The patient's nasal swab for equine influenza type A (subtype H3N8) was positive and had a mildly decreased whole blood selenium concentration. The donkey recovered after treatment with anti-inflammatories and supportive care.

New or Unique Information Provided

This case documents the first report of diaphragmatic paralysis in a donkey, with concurrent equine influenza infection offering a possible causal factor. Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for respiratory distress in donkeys, particularly when diagnostic testing or treatment trials do not support more common causes of respiratory disease in adult animals, such as infectious lower airway disease, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis.