Is My Donkey Fat?

I am amazed that the majority of donkey pets I see are on the well over-fed side of the fence. I think something that may surprising to people is how to tell if a donkey is actually fat. Forget about looking at the belly size because this has nothing to do with it.

First of all, it may be helpful to understand why so many donkeys out there so overweight? If we think about where these animals originate from it could help us out. Donkeys came from areas that are dry and arid deserts. This means that the food available to them is scarce and not very rich. Jump ahead to modern farms and what they feed livestock which is usually rich alfalfa hay along with sweetened grains and feed. This kind of diet is not compatible with the donkey's system and it will have negative affects on them over time. And it is very hard for them to cut the wait once it has been gained. Do they like this diet? Absolutely! Do they love snack and treats? Absolutely! Do they love free reign of the lush, green pasture grass? Absolutely! But, as there caretakers, it is up to us to make sure we moderate this. Never feed your donkey alfalfa hay! I can't stress this enough. It is way too rich and high in protein. 100% grass is what they do best on and they don't need a lot of it.

Enough of the diet (I think that's another post) and on to how to determine if your donkey is eating too much. We will be taking a look at the neck and back. All of our donkeys that are overweight, came to us in that condition. We have done our best to help them return to a healthy state, though some things are beyond repair.

You can see the shadow cast by the large size of the neck crest.

The neck crest of a donkey, just below their mane, is where they store fat. If you grab this you can feel how thick it is becoming.

If it's a challenge to get your hand around the neck, it's time to cut back on the treats!

If the diet continues to be rich and too much, this neck crest can actually get to the point where it flops over to the side. Once this happens, there is no reversing it.

We purchased Favorite in this condition. After observing her for awhile now, we noticed that she wouldn't let any others eat until she had her fill or rather, over fill.

The second place to determine the condition of your donkey is along the upper edge of their back. They can develop fat rolls that will bulge and look un-natural. Their back should slope down from their spine and merge into their stomach without any bulges getting in the way.

Her back remains flat and forms a bulge before connecting to her belly.

Side by side, it is easy to see in these photos that the donkey on the left is a bit overweight in comparison to the well fit donkey on the right.

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if our donkeys are getting enough and are in good condition. The way to check this is to observe the fat stores on the neck but also feel their ribs. If you can easily feel them individually, they may not be getting enough to eat or something may be wrong. You want there to be some meat protecting the ribs. Our donkey, Dimples, became so skinny that I could feel all her ribs, her back bone and her hips, and her neck was so skinny.

After a lot of observing and a trip to the vet, we discovered a really nasty tooth infection that made it uncomfortable for her to eat. After resolving that problem, she is now gaining the weight back to a healthy condition.

The main thing to remember is that prevention is better than trying to fix the problem. Just like with humans, if a donkey is too overweight, it can lead to health challenges down the road. If given the right diet and care, these wonderful pets can be your companion for 35+ years!