Donkey Ulcer Diet: Feeding Tips for Donkeys with Gastric Problems

Donkeys are adapted to eat small amounts of fibrous forage through most of the day, so long gaps without feed can be hard on the stomach. Equids produce stomach acid continuously, and ulcer risk rises when the stomach is empty or when the diet leans too heavily on starch and sugar. That is why ulcer-friendly feeding usually focuses on steady forage intake, fewer concentrates, and more meal frequency rather than one dramatic diet change.

For many adult donkeys, the safest starting point is a high-fiber forage plan built around appropriate straw and moderate-quality grass hay, with changes based on body condition and medical needs. Merck notes that donkeys often do well on about 1.5% of body weight as dry matter per day, and many healthy adult donkeys are managed on a ration that is largely barley straw with a smaller portion of grass hay or pasture. That said, a donkey with ulcers, poor teeth, low body condition, or trouble chewing may need a different setup, so this is a conversation for your vet.

Feeds that can aggravate gastric problems include large grain meals, sweet feeds, and other high-starch concentrates. In horses and other equids, high starch and sugar concentrate intake is associated with a higher risk of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. If extra calories are needed, your vet may suggest a more controlled, lower-starch approach instead of adding a big grain meal.

Because donkeys are stoic, ulcer discomfort can be easy to miss. A donkey may look only mildly dull, picky with feed, or less interactive than usual. That is one reason diet changes should be paired with a veterinary exam when gastric disease is suspected.

There is no one-size-fits-all ulcer ration, but a practical starting point for many adult donkeys is about 1.5% of body weight per day in total dry matter, divided so forage is available for most of the day. For a 400-pound donkey, that works out to roughly 6 pounds of dry matter daily. The exact amount can change with age, body condition, workload, weather, dental disease, and whether your donkey is overweight or underweight.

For donkeys prone to gastric problems, the goal is usually not to feed bigger meals. It is to keep the stomach from sitting empty for long stretches. Slow feeders, multiple hay stations, or splitting the ration into several feedings can help mimic natural trickle feeding. If concentrates are needed, they are generally safer in small, frequent portions rather than one or two large servings.

Be careful with rich feeds. Many donkeys gain weight easily, and overfeeding calorie-dense concentrates can raise the risk of both metabolic trouble and gastric irritation. At the same time, do not sharply restrict food without veterinary guidance. Donkeys are especially vulnerable to hyperlipemia when they stop eating or enter a negative energy balance.

If your donkey cannot chew long-stem forage well, your vet may recommend soaked forage pellets, chopped forage, or another fiber-based option. Any change should be made gradually over 7 to 14 days when possible, unless your vet advises a faster medical transition.

Possible signs of gastric trouble in a donkey include reduced appetite, slower eating, selective eating, weight loss, dull attitude, teeth grinding, recurrent mild colic, lying down more than usual, poor body condition, and a rough hair coat. Some donkeys show only subtle behavior changes. Others may seem girthy, uncomfortable after meals, or less willing to work or move normally.

A major challenge is that donkeys often hide pain. Research from The Donkey Sanctuary found gastric ulceration in a population of aged donkeys at necropsy, reinforcing that ulcers do occur in this species and may go unrecognized during life. In practical terms, a donkey does not need dramatic signs to have a meaningful stomach problem.

See your vet immediately if your donkey stops eating, shows repeated colic signs, has marked depression, develops diarrhea, looks bloated, or seems weak. In donkeys, poor appetite is never something to watch casually for long because it can spiral into dehydration, impaction, or hyperlipemia.

If signs are mild but persistent, keep a short log of appetite, manure output, body condition, and when discomfort seems worse. That record can help your vet decide whether diet change alone is reasonable or whether diagnostics such as bloodwork, dental evaluation, or gastroscopy should be discussed.

If your donkey seems to struggle with a current ration, safer alternatives usually mean more fiber and less starch, not more treats. Good options to discuss with your vet include barley straw or wheat straw as appropriate, moderate-quality grass hay, chopped forage products with low sugar and starch, and soaked fiber-based feeds for donkeys with poor teeth or trouble chewing.

Some ulcer-prone equids also benefit from having a small forage meal before exercise, transport, or other stress, because forage helps buffer stomach acid. In horses, some veterinary sources also discuss including a limited amount of alfalfa because of its buffering effect, but this is not automatically right for every donkey. Donkeys often need tighter calorie control than horses, so your vet should help decide whether alfalfa fits your donkey's body condition and local risk factors.

Avoid relying on carrots, apples, molasses-heavy feeds, or large grain meals as a way to tempt appetite. These may add sugar without solving the underlying problem. If your donkey needs extra calories, your vet may suggest a ration balancer, low-starch complete feed, or soaked fiber mash in measured amounts instead.

The safest long-term plan is the one your donkey can actually stay on: steady forage access, gradual changes, regular dental care, clean water, and a ration matched to weight, workload, and medical history.