My donkey...

JuniorJumper · 03-19-2008, 04:06 PM

Ok, so heres the story
My donkey is really fat, and she doesnt move.
I've been throwing flakes of hay around the whole field so she has to moooovvve her fat bum to eat.
Help me! She needs to lose weight

pasopony · 03-19-2008, 04:21 PM

Don't know what type of hay you're feeding, but grass hay is best - steer clear of the legumes (alfalfa/peanut hay). Hay and a balancer ration is probably all she needs if you don't do anything with her. Also, you can add some exercise to her routine by longeing or handwalking.

Carri · 03-19-2008, 04:41 PM

I would definitely try to add in some exercise to her daily regimen! How old is she?

Pixiefly · 03-19-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carri

I would definitely try to add in some exercise to her daily regimen!

definitely agree! being overweight can be really hard on their feet and just over all unhealthy for them

does she get grain?

iris_surreal_euphoria · 03-19-2008, 05:53 PM

Yeah, obesity is a very common and very difficult ailment to treat in donkeys. It's much easier to get a fat donk than a skinny one. Unfournatly, being fat typically has more health problems.

If I were you, I would get a vet down to look at her and get a game plan in motion. Perhaps she is missing some importain supplements? I would have no idea what but a vet could be able to tell you.

Donkeys need very little grain if any. Alfalfa is no good for them at all, we avoid it all costs, even one that need wieght.

How tall is she? Minis are even more prone to getting overly chunky,.

I'd love to see pics!!

Obese or not, I'll bet she's a cutie!

On a side note, if she leads well, I'd recommend daily walks, take it slow at first and go further and further each day OR get her a buddy.

Bandit · 03-19-2008, 10:27 PM

Sounds like you have gotten some pretty good advice already. I just wanted to add that if your pasture gets grass in the spring/summer you may want to look into keeping her on a dry lot for a portion of the day or use a grazing muzzle.

Chic · 03-20-2008, 07:48 AM

All good advice. It's hard for a donk to lose weight and even when they do they never really lose the crest on their neck. Best of luck.

minihoof · 03-20-2008, 09:26 AM

Donkeys are sociable animals If your donk is alone she needs a buddy that will keep her exercised.

JuniorJumper · 03-20-2008, 02:01 PM

Oh wow, lots of replies! haha
She gets about a half a handful of bran with carrots at night just so she doesnt feel left out while the other horses are grained.
She has two buddys, One is a big big big TB gelding and the other is my little anglo arab mare. My mare is a player, she is constantly trying to encourage my gelding to play but she simply ignores the donkey.
Since to a lack of hay choices here, we have grass hay with some alfalfa and alot of roughage. Its fantastic hay, but for the horses.

JuniorJumper · 03-20-2008, 02:14 PM

JuniorJumper · 03-20-2008, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandit

Sounds like you have gotten some pretty good advice already. I just wanted to add that if your pasture gets grass in the spring/summer you may want to look into keeping her on a dry lot for a portion of the day or use a grazing muzzle.

She cannot be on grass, lush grass, since she founders.

iris_surreal_euphoria · 03-20-2008, 03:21 PM

hmmm... if you must give grain i would suggest triple crown lite.... a very small amount, it is high in fiber and low in fat. I feed it to both my horses. It is recommended for minis. If you can't cut out the grain I would go that route. And certainly some exercise! She doesn't look near as bad as I thought she would... I have seen some that made my jaw drop. I think you are catching it in time before it gets out of hand!

She's such a cutie... what's her name?

DanielleS · 03-20-2008, 08:43 PM

She is a chunk! She even has chubby cheeks! But she is very cute!

**QuarterCowGirl** · 03-21-2008, 02:53 PM

I just have to say, those pics are adorable!

**taelesean** · 03-21-2008, 03:00 PM

I know some of that has to be furr, but still that is one very fluffy donkey!

Cute, too.

Clippity-Clop · 03-21-2008, 06:45 PM

I love those pics! Lucky you!!

We have a donkey who was very fat. I have some witchy mares that thinned him down a lot this winter.

He was gelded late and ocassionally still trys to jump on them and a few just bite and chase him when he's at it. He also has probably foundered in the past. Definitely more exercise helps!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
How To Age A Donkey?	AlbertaGirl	Long Ear Chat	2	08-31-2007 01:57 PM
Help with new donkey	Berry	General Horse Advice	16	03-27-2007 07:14 AM
I need a donkey... And, a gun!	Promise Ranch	Farm Animal	30	01-31-2007 07:13 PM
The Donkey who went bad.	Range	Horse Stories	9	06-09-2006 08:59 PM

03-19-2008, 04:06 PM
JuniorJumper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: kamloops, b.c, canada Posts: 8	My donkey... Ok, so heres the story My donkey is really fat, and she doesnt move. I've been throwing flakes of hay around the whole field so she has to moooovvve her fat bum to eat. Help me! She needs to lose weight __________________ Melanie&Star&Magic

03-19-2008, 04:21 PM
pasopony Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 808	Don't know what type of hay you're feeding, but grass hay is best - steer clear of the legumes (alfalfa/peanut hay). Hay and a balancer ration is probably all she needs if you don't do anything with her. Also, you can add some exercise to her routine by longeing or handwalking. __________________ Horses are not my whole life, but horses make my life whole.

03-19-2008, 04:41 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern US Posts: 9,938	I would definitely try to add in some exercise to her daily regimen! How old is she? __________________

03-19-2008, 05:53 PM
iris_surreal_euphoria Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, Kentucky Posts: 1,051	Yeah, obesity is a very common and very difficult ailment to treat in donkeys. It's much easier to get a fat donk than a skinny one. Unfournatly, being fat typically has more health problems. If I were you, I would get a vet down to look at her and get a game plan in motion. Perhaps she is missing some importain supplements? I would have no idea what but a vet could be able to tell you. Donkeys need very little grain if any. Alfalfa is no good for them at all, we avoid it all costs, even one that need wieght. How tall is she? Minis are even more prone to getting overly chunky,. I'd love to see pics!! Obese or not, I'll bet she's a cutie! On a side note, if she leads well, I'd recommend daily walks, take it slow at first and go further and further each day OR get her a buddy. __________________ If wishes were horses this room would need a good mucking! Visit our website: http://www.freewebs.com/lazziassacres/

03-19-2008, 10:27 PM
Bandit Coming two Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,787	Sounds like you have gotten some pretty good advice already. I just wanted to add that if your pasture gets grass in the spring/summer you may want to look into keeping her on a dry lot for a portion of the day or use a grazing muzzle. __________________

03-20-2008, 07:48 AM
Chic Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,207	All good advice. It's hard for a donk to lose weight and even when they do they never really lose the crest on their neck. Best of luck. __________________ Jewlery For Your HorseThe Kelley Square "I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Edward Hale

03-20-2008, 09:26 AM
minihoof Newborn Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hersey, Mich Posts: 34	Donkeys are sociable animals If your donk is alone she needs a buddy that will keep her exercised.

03-20-2008, 02:01 PM
JuniorJumper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: kamloops, b.c, canada Posts: 8	Oh wow, lots of replies! haha She gets about a half a handful of bran with carrots at night just so she doesnt feel left out while the other horses are grained. She has two buddys, One is a big big big TB gelding and the other is my little anglo arab mare. My mare is a player, she is constantly trying to encourage my gelding to play but she simply ignores the donkey. Since to a lack of hay choices here, we have grass hay with some alfalfa and alot of roughage. Its fantastic hay, but for the horses. __________________ Melanie&Star&Magic

03-20-2008, 02:14 PM
JuniorJumper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: kamloops, b.c, canada Posts: 8	__________________ Melanie&Star&Magic

03-20-2008, 03:21 PM
iris_surreal_euphoria Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset, Kentucky Posts: 1,051	hmmm... if you must give grain i would suggest triple crown lite.... a very small amount, it is high in fiber and low in fat. I feed it to both my horses. It is recommended for minis. If you can't cut out the grain I would go that route. And certainly some exercise! She doesn't look near as bad as I thought she would... I have seen some that made my jaw drop. I think you are catching it in time before it gets out of hand! She's such a cutie... what's her name? __________________ If wishes were horses this room would need a good mucking! Visit our website: http://www.freewebs.com/lazziassacres/

03-20-2008, 08:43 PM
DanielleS Coming two Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Middletown, MD Posts: 1,609	She is a chunk! She even has chubby cheeks! But she is very cute! __________________ My horse can inspire tears and cure them with just a look or nuzzle. http://www.freewebs.com/daniellespare/

03-21-2008, 02:53 PM
QuarterCowGirl Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,569	I just have to say, those pics are adorable! __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

03-21-2008, 03:00 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,631	I know some of that has to be furr, but still that is one very fluffy donkey! Cute, too. __________________

03-21-2008, 06:45 PM
Clippity-Clop Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Whitesburg, Tennessee Posts: 1,025	I love those pics! Lucky you!! We have a donkey who was very fat. I have some witchy mares that thinned him down a lot this winter. He was gelded late and ocassionally still trys to jump on them and a few just bite and chase him when he's at it. He also has probably foundered in the past. Definitely more exercise helps! __________________ Crooked Creek Ranch & Cattle Company http://www.crookedcreekrcc.com/