what to feed donkey that has foundered

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What treats can I give my donkeys?

Treats

• Basic treats like carrots, apples, peppermints, bananas, watermelon, oranges, pears, grapes, celery, strawberries, and pumpkin are all safe for donkeys. ...
• Donkeys like sweet flavors, like raspberry. ...
• You can add fruit to a bucket of water to make it more challenging to grab—think bobbing for apples, but with donkeys!

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How to raise a donkey as a pet?

Donkey Housing And Management. When just beginning in raising donkeys the first thing you have to prepare is land and housing. Raising donkeys requires you to build a proper house for them. The housing provides the donkeys with shade from the hot sun and keeps them warm in the winter. Donkey house can be designed using wire, fencing hardware ...

What is the best grain for donkeys?

• Hay
• Straw
• Minerals and Vitamins
• Short chop chaff products
• High Fibre Pellets
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Dried Sugar Beet Pulp
• Don’t forget – Your donkey needs plenty of fresh water!

How do you raise a donkey?

There were 600 spectators in the bleachers and Tecumseh basketball players cheering from the sidelines at the Tecumseh Middle School gymnasium on Sat., Nov. 6. It might have been a normal basketball game—except for the donkeys. During two elimination ...

How do you treat a donkey founder?

As with many diseases, prompt treatment can make all the difference. Your vet will probably prescribe painkillers such as phenylbutazone, commonly known as bute, a very common pain killer. Whole sole supports, rather than frog supports used in horses, may be advised.

Are donkeys prone to founder?

HUH? Yup. Sure, donkeys are not prone to the same leg and foot problems that plague horse. But, given incorrect foods (too many sweets), donkeys can and do succumb to laminitis and founder.

Do donkeys suffer from laminitis?

In long-standing cases of front foot laminitis there may be a loss of muscle over the shoulder area, as the donkey attempts to take most of its bodyweight on the hind limbs. Evidence that a donkey has suffered from bouts of laminitis can be seen as 'laminitic rings' on the hoof wall.

What is the best thing to feed donkeys?

What to feed your donkeysStraw. We recommend feeding donkeys quality barley straw as it is high in fibre and low in sugar, and closely resembles the food that a donkey would eat in the wild. ... Hay. ... Silage. ... High fibre pellets. ... Short chop chaff products. ... Dried sugar beet pulp. ... Succulents. ... Minerals and vitamins.More items...

How do I stop founder?

To avoid grass founder:Allow the horse to fill up on hay before turning out on grass for a few hours.Place a grazing muzzle on horses predisposed to foundering to limit their forage intake. Grazing muzzles limit grass intake but allow the horse to exercise throughout the day.

How long does founder last?

Types of Founder Chronic founder: Refers to acute laminitis that lasts longer than 72 hours in horses that have already had their coffin bone(s) rotate or sink.

What do you feed a laminitic donkey?

Things you should doFeed forages with a low starch and sugar content, preferably under 10% sugar and starch.Have 'farm produced' forage tested to check the energy and sugar content.Commercially produced high fibre 'laminitic safe' haylage can be a good option.Very low energy short chop products may be useful.More items...

What is the best treatment for laminitis?

Laminitis is a medical emergency and horses should be seen by a vet so that they can receive treatment as soon as possible. Various medicines can be given to control the pain including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone ('bute') or flunixin and opiates like morphine and pethidine.

How do you trim a foundered donkey?

6:4716:31Hoof Trimming Donkey's - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFeet start by removing all necrotic. And discolored material to expose clean healthy horn. It isMoreFeet start by removing all necrotic. And discolored material to expose clean healthy horn. It is easiest to work with half round hoof nippers.

What foods are toxic to donkeys?

Barley straw is a great option along with Meadow hay or seed hay. However, it's important to avoid feeding donkeys cereal grain, as they may develop gastric ulcers from these. Many other foods can be harmful to donkeys such as bread, rotting fruit, chicken feed, and horse nuts, and should all be avoided.

Is a salt lick good for donkeys?

Donkeys need salt and, if suffering from a salt deficiency, they may eat dirt or lick/chew objects. To avoid this, pour some loose salt into a separate container to other food or give a little at night. You can also buy equine salt lick blocks, but make sure you do not buy a cattle salt block by mistake.

What is the best grain to feed a donkey?

barley strawThe donkey diet should consist of mainly good quality barley straw or oat straw (barley straw is best) and carefully restricted access to grass. Donkeys may require supplemental hay if they are not maintaining good body condition with the straw and restricted grass diet (for e.g. during the winter months).

Do donkeys need to be in pairs?

Donkeys are definitely not well-suited to living alone. A donkey without any buddies will quickly get sad, depressed, and lonely. They form incredibly strong bonds with their pals, so we strongly recommend keeping bonded pairs together for life. Donkeys can also bond with horses.

How do you get a donkey to trust you?

Donkeys Build Strong BondsEstablish a regular feeding time and always maintain it.Follow a routine whenever you work with your donkey.Handle your donkey regularly and talk with him while you groom him, bathe him, and train him.Always present a firm, calm, quiet demeanor. ... Avoid spoiling your donkey with treats.

Is a donkey a good companion for a horse?

Donkeys often make great companions for horses. As a species, donkeys tend to be lower-maintenance than horses — in fact, you might have such an easy keeper, you have to watch your donkey's weight when the grass is lush.

Are donkeys high maintenance?

Low Maintenance Another advantage a donkey has over other farm yard animals is that they're relatively low maintenance. They don't require herding, shearing or corraling, you can just leave them on the pasture and they'll go about their own business. You don't have to worry massively about a donkey's safety either.

What do donkeys need to eat?

Donkeys require a diet high in fibre and low in protein, sugars, starch/carbohydrates and calories.

What type of hay do donkeys need?

Donkeys may require supplemental hay if they are not maintaining good body condition with the straw and restricted grass diet (for e.g. during the winter months). Types of suitable hay include: Meadow hay or seed hay (from Rye or Timothy grass).

What is trickle feeding?

This is known as trickle feeding and helps to keep the donkey’s digestive system healthy and to keep the donkey occupied. Please note that, while donkeys are a member of the Equidae or horse family, they are a different species to horses and therefore have different needs.

How to keep donkeys indoors?

Donkeys kept indoors require a floor-level feed bin or corner-floor feeder placed so that feed cannot get soiled. Hay nets are not recommended as it is better for donkeys to eat from the floor and empty hay nets can be a hazard. Place enough straw in the feeder so that they can browse through it. There will be no waste as the remainder can be used for bedding. If possible, position the feeder so that the donkey’s feet are not on the bedding while they are eating, so they have a chance to dry out. It is recommended to allow ‘paddock’ time to exercise and for environmental enrichment.#N#Donkeys should always have access to a clean water supply and they may be quite fussy about what they drink. A securely supported bucket or a self-filling trough should be constantly available and should be cleaned out daily after the stable has been mucked out to avoid a build up of dust or dirt in the water.

Why do donkeys need veterinary attention?

These donkeys will require veterinary attention to address the dental issues and special dietary attention to ensure they receive adequate nutrition. They may require supplementary feeding with high fibre products that are more easily eaten e.g. short-chop high fibre products to reduce the need to chew.

How do donkeys survive?

Donkeys have evolved over thousands of years to live in semi-arid environments where the nutritional quality of the food available is very poor. They have adapted to eat fibrous plant material in small quantities throughout the day. This is known as trickle feeding and helps to keep the donkey’s digestive system healthy and to keep ...

Do donkeys need special diets?

Elderly donkeys. Please note that elderly donkeys may require special dietary attention. Dental disease and/or other health problems may mean that older donkeys have trouble chewing long strands of straw/hay and therefore they may require supplementary feeding to provide an alternative fibre source.

How does a donkey or mule get grass founder?

The reason mules, donkeys, overweight horses, and ponies get grass founder when eating rich, green grass is because it’s high in simple sugars and starches that are easily broken down by the bacteria in the equine large intestine.

What are the signs of grass founder in a mule or donkey?

Long standing cases of front foot laminitis may result in loss of muscle over the shoulder area as the donkey attempts to take most of its body weight on the hind limbs.

Why do donkeys have laminitis?

This is because the equine is trying to shift its weight off its painful front feet to its hind legs. Long standing cases of front foot laminitis may result in loss of muscle over the shoulder area as the donkey attempts to take most of its body weight on the hind limbs.

How to treat laminitis in donkeys?

If you suspect your donkey has laminitis, ensure it has access to a deep bed of shavings, easy access to food and water, then call your vet immediately . As with many diseases, prompt treatment can make all the difference. Your vet will probably prescribe painkillers such as phenylbutazone, commonly known as bute, a very common pain killer. Whole sole supports, rather than frog supports used in horses, may be advised. A sole is a flat piece of plastic, ¼” thick in the front and as much as 1” in the back that goes between the shoe and the laminitic hoof. There are different size pads, depending on the rotation of the coffin bone. X-rays may be taken to see the extent of rotation of the coffin bone. These pictures will be essential for the farrier to study for subsequent trimming.

What happens when a horse has grass founder?

When an equine has grass founder, they experience inflammation of the laminae in the foot. Laminae are accordion-like tissues, like a shock absorber, that attach the inner surface of the hoof wall to the coffin bone in the hoof, to keep the coffin bone in place. As the outside hoof wall widens, it pushes on the coffin bone, ...

How to tell if a mule is on grass?

If your mule or donkey demonstrates these signs after being turned out on grass, immediately pull him out of the pasture and call the vet. After equines are turned out to pasture, check them often for signs of laminitis such as heat in the feet and a pounding pulse at the back of the pastern.

Why do donkeys need the same care as horses?

They need the same basic care that is provided to horses because they can, and many will, suffer from the issues that plague horses.

Why are donkeys so overweight?

In countries like the United States we present donkeys with energy rich food and usually don’t require them to work very hard for it. People tend to feed these animals just like horses – but a diet that may be perfectly fine for a maintenance horse could cause the average donkey to become grossly overweight. Here are some good tips to follow when feeding donkeys:

Why do donkeys eat desert?

Due to their typical desert diet, their digestive system is much more efficient than that of a horse, and therefore donkeys require a different feeding strategy. In many parts of the world, donkeys face the issue of malnutrition and starvation.

How to care for a donkey?

To correctly care for your donkey, remember that it is not just a “horse with longer ears”. Donkeys are unique in their nutritional and care requirements, but they will give you endless enjoyment if you manage them properly. Categories. Care and Management, Feeding Management, Horse Nutrition, How To, Weight Control.

How much salt should I give my rescue animal?

Because rescue animals may also be salt starved and also have limited microflora in the gut, I recommend making loose salt available, starting with 2-4 ounces per head per day and working up to free choice and using a probiotic paste when introducing the animals to feed to help get the gut populated. Fresh clean water needs to be available as well.

How to feed a dog with poor body condition?

Unless he is in poor body condition, in which case you can feed at the upper end of the range until he gets up to condition, then back off the feed until you find the amount he maintains condition at.

What to feed a rescue horse?

If the teeth are OK, can use either a good quality grass forage (coastal, timothy, brome, Tifton etc.) or a legume such as alfalfa.

Can you feed a donkey hay?

Then you can feed the donkey his correct amount of hay where he can get to it. This may help your older horse as well, since she won’t be competing for her feed and though he may not think so, your donkey will benefit from a more appropriate diet. Thanks for the question!