A donkey with laminitis needs a diet built around low-sugar, high-fiber forage, with total non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) kept below 10% of the daily diet on a dry matter basis. This is stricter than what many horse owners expect, and donkeys bring an additional complication: cutting calories too aggressively can trigger a life-threatening fat metabolism crisis called hyperlipemia. Feeding a laminitic donkey is a balancing act between reducing the sugars that drive the condition and maintaining enough energy intake to keep the animal safe.
Why Donkeys Need a Different Approach
Donkeys evolved in arid, sparse environments and are remarkably efficient at extracting calories from low-quality forage. That efficiency becomes a liability in lush pastures or when fed diets designed for horses. Overweight donkeys commonly develop insulin resistance, which is a direct trigger for laminitis. The dietary goal is to slowly reduce body condition while keeping sugar and starch intake as low as possible.
The critical risk unique to donkeys is hyperlipemia, a condition where the body floods the bloodstream with fat in response to sudden calorie restriction. Hyperlipemia can be triggered by the stress of laminitis itself, and it carries a mortality rate of 40 to 80% if not caught early. This means you cannot simply stop feeding a laminitic donkey or dramatically slash its rations overnight. Weight loss needs to be gradual and closely monitored, with diet changes introduced progressively over days and weeks.
The Foundation: Barley Straw and Soaked Hay
Barley straw is the preferred base forage for laminitic donkeys. The Donkey Sanctuary, the world’s largest donkey welfare organization, recommends it as the best staple for healthy donkeys and especially for those needing calorie restriction. Barley straw is very low in sugar and high in fiber, giving donkeys something to chew on without overloading them with energy. Oat straw is more digestible and can cause weight gain, so it’s a less ideal choice when laminitis is a concern.
Alongside barley straw, you can offer a limited amount of grass hay, but it should be soaked first to pull out water-soluble sugars. Research from Kentucky Equine Research tested soaking hay in cold water for various durations and found that a brief 20-minute soak removed only about 5% of sugars, while soaking for 16 hours removed 27%. The practical takeaway: soak hay for as long as you can manage, ideally several hours or overnight. Drain it thoroughly before feeding, and use the soaked hay within 24 hours to prevent mold growth.
If you can get your hay tested, look for a total NSC value under 10%. If testing isn’t available, soaking is your best tool for reducing sugar content in whatever hay you have on hand. Avoid haylage and any pre-bagged forage products marketed for horses unless you can confirm low NSC values on the label.
What to Cut Immediately
During an active laminitis episode, remove all access to pasture. Fresh grass, particularly in spring and autumn or during sunny mornings after cold nights, contains high levels of fructan and simple sugars that can worsen inflammation in the hoof. No pellets, concentrates, grain mixes, or sweet feeds should be offered unless they are specifically formulated as low-carbohydrate rations. Carrots, apples, bread, and other treats are off the table entirely.
This is not the time for gradual transitions. Pasture access and sugary feeds should stop on day one, while the base forage ration (straw and soaked hay) should be maintained to prevent the calorie crash that triggers hyperlipemia.
Using Beet Pulp as a Supplement Carrier
Unmolassed beet pulp is a useful addition in small amounts. It serves mainly as a carrier for any vitamins or minerals your vet recommends, and it can also tempt a sick donkey that has gone off its feed. The key word is “unmolassed,” as standard beet pulp products often contain added molasses, which defeats the purpose.
Dried beet pulp comes in shredded or cubed form and must be thoroughly soaked before feeding. Soaking times vary by product, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Some quick-soak varieties are ready in under ten minutes, but always confirm the pulp is fully expanded and soft before offering it. Use soaked beet pulp within 24 hours, as it ferments quickly.
Grazing After the Acute Phase
Once the acute laminitis episode has resolved and your donkey is recovering, you may eventually reintroduce limited grazing. A grazing muzzle is the standard tool for controlling grass intake. Muzzles can be worn for up to 10 hours at a time, but your donkey needs a gradual introduction period to get used to wearing one.
Fit matters. A muzzle that’s too loose will be pulled off within minutes. One that’s too tight causes rubs and sores. Use a muzzle with a breakaway halter or safety strap so your donkey can free itself if it gets caught on something. Check that your donkey can drink while wearing it, as they need to submerge the muzzle in water to get to it. If your donkey lives with others, keep in mind that a muzzled animal can’t defend itself, so group dynamics matter.
Even with a muzzle, some donkeys are efficient enough grazers to continue gaining weight. Weigh your donkey regularly with a weight tape and adjust grazing time accordingly. During periods of high grass sugar content (frosty mornings, bright sunny days after cool nights), it’s safer to keep a recovering donkey off pasture entirely.
Low-Calorie Enrichment Options
Donkeys are intelligent and social, and a restricted diet can lead to boredom and stress, both of which worsen recovery. Safe trees and shrubs offer low-calorie browsing that mimics natural foraging behavior. Species recommended by The Donkey Sanctuary include hawthorn, hazel, willow (in limited quantities), birch, blackthorn, dogrose, gorse, heather, ash, alder, and beech (without the nuts). Raspberry and blackberry branches are also safe.
You can offer cut branches in the stable or paddock as an alternative to food-based enrichment. Avoid sycamore leaves, flowers, and seeds, though cut sycamore logs are fine. This kind of browse gives your donkey something to work on without adding meaningful calories.
Supplements and Mineral Balance
A donkey eating mostly straw and soaked hay will likely have gaps in its vitamin and mineral intake. A plain, low-sugar vitamin and mineral balancer designed for equines can fill these gaps. Your vet can advise on the right product based on your forage analysis.
You may encounter recommendations for chromium and magnesium supplements to improve insulin sensitivity. A controlled study in laminitic obese horses tested a supplement providing 5 mg of chromium and 8.8 g of magnesium daily for 16 weeks and found no improvement in insulin sensitivity, body measurements, or blood glucose levels. Resting insulin levels actually increased over the study period. Based on current evidence, these supplements are not a reliable intervention for laminitis management.
Putting It All Together
A practical daily feeding plan for a donkey with laminitis looks something like this:
- Primary forage: barley straw offered freely, making up the majority of the diet
- Secondary forage: a controlled portion of grass hay, soaked for several hours and drained
- Supplement carrier: a small handful of unmolassed, soaked beet pulp if needed for vitamins or minerals
- Enrichment: safe browse branches for mental stimulation
- No access to: pasture, grain, concentrates, molassed feeds, or sugary treats
Split the hay portion into multiple small feeds throughout the day rather than offering it all at once. This keeps the gut moving, prevents long gaps without food (which raise hyperlipemia risk), and more closely mimics natural grazing patterns. Monitor body condition weekly and adjust portions gradually. The goal is slow, steady weight loss over months, not dramatic changes over weeks.