León, February 6, 2026 — A team of veterinarians at the University of León Veterinary Hospital in Spain has successfully completed a groundbreaking surgery on an eight-month-old Basque breed donkey, marking the first procedure of its kind performed on this species in the country. The donkey, named Pablete, suffered a complete and displaced fracture of the metatarsus in its hind leg.
Donkey’s Rare Surgery a First for Spain
Veterinarians in León successfully repaired a complex fracture in a young donkey, overcoming unique challenges presented by the species.
- Pablete, an eight-month-old Basque donkey, sustained a complete fracture of his metatarsus.
- The University of León Veterinary Hospital performed a complex surgical stabilization using plates and screws.
- Donkeys present unique anesthetic and clinical challenges compared to horses, increasing surgical risk.
- The animal is recovering well and has regained mobility, though further interventions are expected.
The severity of the injury prompted Pablete’s owner—a veterinarian and University of León (ULE) graduate—to transport him from Burgos to León, recognizing the hospital’s expertise in advanced equine surgery. The intervention, led by Débora Jorge Casado, head of Equine Medicine and Surgery, and Norberto Gonzalez, a veterinarian specializing in orthopedic surgery and traumatology, involved stabilizing the fracture with two plates and screws.
What makes this surgery particularly noteworthy is the inherent difficulty in treating donkeys compared to horses. “Donkeys do not respond the same as horses—neither to the drugs nor to the anesthesia, nor even to the recovery process. That already makes this type of patient a challenge from the first moment,” explained Jorge Casado.
A significant concern was preventing the fracture from becoming open, a complication that would have drastically worsened the prognosis. “Getting the fracture to stay closed until surgery was key, because if it opened, the prognosis worsened drastically. Therefore, each step prior to the intervention was absolutely decisive,” Jorge Casado added.
Despite the complexity, Pablete’s relatively low weight compared to an adult horse proved advantageous, allowing the veterinary team to propose a viable surgical solution. Fractures of this nature often have a limited prognosis in larger horses, where surgery isn’t always an option.
The clinical evolution of Pablete has been very positive following the surgery. The incision is healing well, the plates remain correctly positioned, and the donkey is walking normally with his limb immobilized by a bandage. He is currently receiving ongoing care at the university clinic.
Looking Ahead: Continued Care and Follow-Up
Pablete is expected to remain hospitalized for approximately a month. However, due to his ongoing growth, he will require long-term monitoring and additional interventions. “After three or four months we will have to progressively remove the plates, because the bone continues to grow. This implies more controls, new interventions and very specific care, which makes the case a great challenge for both the veterinary team and its owners,” stated the head of the service.
There are currently no documented cases in Spain of a similar surgical intervention performed on a donkey, highlighting the exceptional nature of this case. It also represents the first surgery of its kind on a donkey at the University of León Veterinary Hospital.
The team expressed pride that a colleague and former student entrusted them with such a delicate case. This successful surgery further solidifies the Veterinary Hospital of the University of León’s reputation as a leading center for complex equine cases, combining specialized clinical care, surgical expertise, and a commitment to teaching and research.
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