Do donkeys need a companion?

Yes — donkeys are highly social animals that form strong bonds, and a donkey kept alone is likely to become stressed and lonely. The Donkey Sanctuary recommends keeping donkeys in pairs or with a suitable companion; never keep a donkey in isolation.

What should I feed my donkey?

The Donkey Sanctuary recommends quality barley straw as the backbone of the diet — it is high in fibre, low in sugar and closely resembles what donkeys eat in the wild — with restricted grazing, a vitamin and mineral balancer, and constant access to clean water. Rich horse feeds and cereal mixes are not suitable.

Can donkeys eat the same food as horses?

No. Donkeys evolved to extract maximum nutrition from sparse, poor-quality forage, so typical horse rations and lush grazing are far too rich. Overfeeding leads quickly to obesity, laminitis and the dangerous fat-metabolism disorder hyperlipaemia.

Are donkeys prone to laminitis?

Yes — donkeys are very prone to laminitis, usually triggered by excess weight and rich grazing. The Donkey Sanctuary advises a high-fibre, low-starch diet based on straw, careful grass restriction and regular body-condition checks to prevent it.

Do donkeys need shelter?

Yes. Donkeys evolved in arid climates and their coats are far less weatherproof than horses' coats, so constant access to a dry shelter or stable is essential in wet UK weather, along with dry standing areas out of the mud.

Can donkeys live with horses?

Often yes, but donkeys bond most strongly with other donkeys, and their diets differ — you will need to feed them separately from greedy horses. Be aware donkeys can carry lungworm, so include them in your vet-guided worming plan.

Horse Health

Donkey Care in the UK

Published 18 July 2026Last updated 18 July 20265 min read

Quick answer

Donkeys are not small horses — according to The Donkey Sanctuary, they need companionship, constant access to barley straw rather than rich grazing, and shelter from wet weather. Their efficient digestion makes obesity, laminitis and hyperlipaemia real risks, so restrict grass and monitor body condition closely.

Key takeaways

**Donkeys are not small horses** — according to The Donkey Sanctuary, they need **companionship**, constant access to **barley straw** rather than rich grazing, and shelter from wet weather.
Their efficient digestion makes **obesity, laminitis and hyperlipaemia** real risks, so restrict grass and monitor body condition closely.

Donkeys are not small horses

Donkeys evolved in arid, mountainous regions on sparse, dry forage — and their bodies and behaviour still reflect that. According to The Donkey Sanctuary, the single biggest care mistake new owners make is treating them like horses with long ears.

Companionship is non-negotiable. Donkeys form deep, lifelong bonds and become genuinely stressed when kept alone. Keep at least a pair, or a donkey with a bonded companion, and think carefully before separating bonded animals — even for box rest, a stressed donkey that stops eating is at risk of hyperlipaemia (see below).

Feeding donkeys — the straw-based diet

According to The Donkey Sanctuary's feeding advice:

Barley straw is the staple — high in fibre, low in sugar, and the closest match to a wild diet; constant access lets donkeys eat to appetite without excess calories
Restrict grazing — most UK pasture is far too rich; strip-graze or limit time on grass, especially in spring and autumn flushes
Add a balancer — forage-only diets can lack vitamins and minerals; use a donkey-appropriate balancer or unmolassed mineral block
Never feed grass clippings — they ferment rapidly and can cause colic
Avoid cereal-based mixes, rich haylage, silage, mouldy hay, and anything containing ragwort (highly poisonous to equines)
Treats — small amounts of carrot or apple, cut into sticks to avoid choking
Make all diet changes gradually over 7–14 days

For elderly or underweight donkeys, unmolassed soaked sugar beet, high-fibre pellets or 'laminitis-safe' chaff (sugar under 8%) can add condition — ask your vet first.

Horses vs donkeys — key differences

	Horses	Donkeys
Natural diet	Grazing on grass	Browsing sparse, dry, high-fibre forage
Core UK ration	Hay/haylage + grazing	Barley straw ad lib + restricted grass
Coat	Reasonably weatherproof	Poorly weatherproof — needs shelter from rain
Weight risk	Obesity in good doers	Very easy keepers — obesity, laminitis, hyperlipaemia
Company	Herd animal	Deep pair bonds — isolation causes real distress
Pain expression	Often obvious	Stoic — signs of illness are easily missed

Weight, laminitis and hyperlipaemia

Donkeys are extraordinarily efficient at extracting calories, so obesity is the norm rather than the exception in UK pet donkeys — and with it comes laminitis. Prevent it with the straw-based diet above, grass restriction and regular condition scoring.

The flip side is equally dangerous: hyperlipaemia — a life-threatening fat-metabolism crisis triggered when a donkey (especially an overweight one) stops eating due to stress, illness, pain or sudden management change. According to UK Vet Equine, keeping management consistent and monitoring food intake closely during any change is essential.

Never starve a donkey to slim it down — weight loss must be gradual and vet-guided.

Shelter, feet and routine care

Shelter at all times — donkeys' coats lack the waterproofing of horses', so provide a dry stable or field shelter and dry standing out of the mud
Hoof care — regular farrier trimming and daily hoof picking; donkeys' feet are small and upright, and overgrowth is common in under-exercised animals
Teeth — annual dental checks; dropping feed (quidding), weight loss or slow eating can signal dental pain
Worming — follow a vet-guided, testing-led worming programme; donkeys can carry lungworm and share it with grazing horses
Vaccinations and farriery — donkeys need the same routine preventative care as horses

When to call the vet

Donkeys are stoic and hide pain — take subtle signs seriously. Call the vet promptly for:

Reduced appetite or not eating — an emergency in donkeys because of hyperlipaemia risk
Dullness, standing apart from companions
Laminitis signs — reluctance to move, pottery gait, weight shifting
Weight loss, quidding or diarrhoea

Sources & further reading

Facts in this guide are rewritten in plain English from publicly available UK advice. We name the organisation where a specific point comes from their guidance. Links below go to the original pages — use them to read the source material directly.

PETHEALTH+ is independent. These organisations do not sponsor, approve, or partner with this website. Guidance checked against sources listed below (last updated 2026-07-18).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do donkeys need a companion?: Yes — donkeys are highly social animals that form strong bonds, and a donkey kept alone is likely to become stressed and lonely. The Donkey Sanctuary recommends keeping donkeys in pairs or with a suitable companion; never keep a donkey in isolation.
What should I feed my donkey?: The Donkey Sanctuary recommends quality barley straw as the backbone of the diet — it is high in fibre, low in sugar and closely resembles what donkeys eat in the wild — with restricted grazing, a vitamin and mineral balancer, and constant access to clean water. Rich horse feeds and cereal mixes are not suitable.
Can donkeys eat the same food as horses?: No. Donkeys evolved to extract maximum nutrition from sparse, poor-quality forage, so typical horse rations and lush grazing are far too rich. Overfeeding leads quickly to obesity, laminitis and the dangerous fat-metabolism disorder hyperlipaemia.
Are donkeys prone to laminitis?: Yes — donkeys are very prone to laminitis, usually triggered by excess weight and rich grazing. The Donkey Sanctuary advises a high-fibre, low-starch diet based on straw, careful grass restriction and regular body-condition checks to prevent it.
Do donkeys need shelter?: Yes. Donkeys evolved in arid climates and their coats are far less weatherproof than horses' coats, so constant access to a dry shelter or stable is essential in wet UK weather, along with dry standing areas out of the mud.
Can donkeys live with horses?: Often yes, but donkeys bond most strongly with other donkeys, and their diets differ — you will need to feed them separately from greedy horses. Be aware donkeys can carry lungworm, so include them in your vet-guided worming plan.