Getting an elderly donkey to eat

[eosinophil]

I’m hoping for some advice on my old donkey. He’s in his forties and blind, but otherwise generally just trucking along. However, his teeth that remain are also in their forties and not doing so well anymore. Accordingly, he quids so while he only wants to “eat” hay, he shouldn’t and even if he could, he really can’t get enough calories from it. This has been progressive over the past couple of years, but hadn’t been a concern until it was clear recently that he is actually a little thin.

Right now, he is stalled alone for twelve hours and is turned out with one elderly companion for twelve hours. It’s Southern California, so no grass at all. He will not eat or will not eat more than a few mouthfuls of chopped hay, hay cubes, hay pellets, whether a grass hay or (his favorite) alfalfa, whether soaked or dry. Hates beet pulp. Hates fermented forage. Overnight he gets a panful of senior feed; I’ve tried every one I can get and he’ll eat some but then wanders off to try and steal hay. It wasn’t a concern as I said until recently when it’s clear he’s not eating enough. I’ve tried giving him other types of non-senior grains but I’ve not found anything he will eat well. I’ve tried various weight supplements (cool calories, calf manna, I forget what else, but whatever I could get at tractor supply or my local feed guy), none of which he will eat, although I always mix a scoop into his pan. Last night we made him a mash with bran, apples, sugar, molasses, carrots which we mixed with some grain. He ate some but I don’t think enough.

I’ve started treating him empirically for ulcers with sucralfate, but I put it in the grain and I don’t think he gets much of it. The vet will be out in about ten days and I think I’ll talk to her about a course of gastrogard to really cover that base. Of course he’ll get a full exam and blood work and whatever else she thinks we should do. At his age, his quality of life is the driving concern. If I can’t get his weight going the right way I’m going to have to let him go.

Here’s my issue: I’ve been blessed with only dealing with fatties before. I haven’t tried adding oil or sunflower seeds yet, but I’m concerned I’ve been approaching this wrong by adding stuff to his grain. Should I just give him some oil (canola? other?) on an apple (he’ll still eat sliced apples) or make some ground up apples and put some oil in it rather than trying to get him to eat it in grain? Is there any special topper that is hugely palatable to the elderly ones? What about molasses or sugar? We’ve never worried about Cushings in him so I’m not worried about glycemic index, although I will talk with the vet about that as well.

Also, am I screwing up by adding stuff to his grain? Is that making his food less palatable?

I’d appreciate any advice for the world’s oldest donkey (per my vet).

Sorry for the novel.
Thanks!!

[atr]

Not a donkey, but a 35 year-old horse. Same deal, just not that interested in eating, easily distracted from the feed bowl.

At that point it’s a quality rather than quantity of life issue, so I decided the old man could eat coco puffs if that’s what he wanted.

He was still sorting through nice alfalfa for the leaves, but rejecting anything stalky.

I ended up with Purina Strategy plus rice bran (I used the powdered because it made a nice slurry with a bit of water.) It was high in calories and apparently palatable, until it wasn’t, then we switched out the Strategy for Senior, and then back again when he got bored with the Senior.

Smaller, frequent meals, freshly prepared, were also important. He wasn’t going to back to a large bowl he’d already picked through.

It’s a challenge, to be sure, and TBH, as in humans, the lack of desire to eat does tend to signal that the end is in sight.

[NaturallyHappy]

A veterinarian recommended Triple Crown Equine Senior Active (purchased at Tractor Supply) to my neighbor after colic surgery for a horse w IBD. I’m now using it for my very picky eater- he loves it and he doesn’t love anything. I moisten it for him; my neighbor makes hers soupy. Mine would never eat TC Senior but he loves the Active.

[cayuse]

Might be worthwhile to have his remaining few teeth checked to see if he has a cracked one or something wonky going on. I’m going to throw this out there, it’s a long shot but you never know, I have a pony with TMJ arthritis and when it acts up he stops eating. Once I treat the discomfort, he’s chowing down again.
About the feed, “HealthyCoat” oil is a big hit with my ponies if they need some enticing to eat or clean up their meal. I usually use about an ounce (they are minis) and stir it in well.

[eosinophil]

Thanks for the suggestions! I think the Triple Crown senior active might be the only one I didn’t try because I didn’t think he’d like it without molasses! I think I’ll head up to tractor supply - mine has both the senior active and the Healthy Coat oil in stock.

I wonder if another problem is that his long term companion - my boss mare - died in January. He would eat from her pan and she would look out for him. Flash is about 42 and he’s lived with me - and my mare who LOVED him - from 2007, so they were together for 16+ years. I wonder if he’s missing her? He doesn’t have a bond with the other donkey at all (I think neither of them know they are donkeys and hang only with horses) and while he does well with the other horses, it’s not the same. Poor old Flash. I just gave him a couple pans, one with chopped carrots, one with ground up apples, both mixed with some grain. he ate for a few minutes and then went to take a nap. I’ve got some sunflower seeds to try when he wakes up.

Thanks again. We’ll see too if the vet has any ideas or finds anything when she’s out next week.

[atr]

One of the oldies at my boarding barn just had an injection (anabolic steroids?) to perk up his appetite. Worked very well.

[NaturallyHappy]

Oh…that reminds me. My vet gave B12 for that once.

[suzyq]

Have you tried triple crown complete? I have a very picky tb and that’s all he will eat.

[eosinophil]

thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will raise them all with the vet next week. He’s certainly not in any discomfort or showing signs of pain, just not interested in eating more than a couple bites.

Thanks for the suggestion of triple crown complete. Unfortunately, I’ve tried that and he’ll eat a couple bites and walk away.

Our plan is to see what the vet thinks and treat whatever we can. I do like the idea of stimulating his appetite with steroids - maybe that in concert with treating presumed ulcers? Gastrogard is expensive but I don’t see a downside other than the cost.

Overall, we are trying to keep our goal his quality of life, so we do not want to take him in for more elaborate evaluations or interventions unless we really think it will make a difference for his quality of life.

Hoping there’s a simple answer, but recognizing that a donkey in his 40s has the right to tell us when he is done.

thanks all. He ate a few bites of the triple crown senior and turned up his nose at the healthy coat oil.

[NaturallyHappy]

Did you try the TC Senior Active or just the TV Senior? The Active is what mine loves.

[eosinophil]

I did try the senior active plus, but he wasn’t too interested. We’ll try again and see what the vet thinks. Thanks for the advice - we have a bunch of stuff to try and I trust she will have some ideas and be able to assess his teeth, pain, risk of ulcers, etc.

[SLW]

As far as empirically treating for ulcers you could buy a tube of Ulcerguard and treat knowing you got the product in him. It’s hard to feed meds via grain when they don’t want to snarf up their grain.

A CBC would be helpful to check for organ function and infection.

The loss of his pal earlier this could certainly be a factor in his health. My donkey is bonded very tightly with one of my horses.

I hope you get some answers and direction from your vet next week.

[eosinophil]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions.

I’m sorry to say that we found that Flash had passed away when we checked on him this morning. He was just lying down in his stall looking like he just laid down to take a nap and didn’t wake up. No signs of distress at all. I think, for a 42 year old donkey, that’s a pretty darn good ending.

Thanks for all of the suggestions and god speed, Flash.

[ThreeWishes]

Oh my goodness ! I’m so sorry. He lived a long and loved life and is now reunited with his beloved mare.

[cayuse]

I am so sorry for your loss. What a peaceful way to go, in his own home, his own way. RIP Flash.

[SLW]

Indeed, Godspeed Flash.

[atr]

Ah, I’m so sorry. It’s the rare equine that has such a peaceful end, and he was lucky to have such a caring owner.

[endlessclimb]

Oh I’m so sorry. What a glorious life for a donkey, to be so so loved. Godspeed Flash.

[glitterless]

Aww I’m so sorry, but I hope you find comfort knowing that he went on his own terms peacefully. If only all of our equine friends could live such long lives and do so well until the end. Big hugs to you

[eosinophil]

Thanks everyone.

I am grateful to him for making it easy for us. He was a fine donkey.