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No. Plums are not suitable food for donkeys – not even as treats. They are high in sugar, have a hard pit, and fruit lying on the ground quickly begins to ferment. If there is a plum tree on or near the pasture, your donkey should not graze under it during the dropping season.
Why plums are not suitable for donkeys
Donkeys come from barren landscapes. Their digestive system copes well with high-fiber, low-energy, low-sugar feed – but not with sweet fruit. Donkeys are not little horses; they quickly gain weight if fed food that is too rich. Several issues come together with plums:
- Sugar: Ripe plums are very sweet. Too much sugar promotes obesity and is considered a major risk factor for laminitis in donkeys.
- The pit: It is hard, smooth, and just the right size to be swallowed while eating hastily. If bitten, the kernel is exposed. This contains substances that can produce hydrogen cyanide.
- Fermentation: Fallen fruit often lies in the grass for days, becomes soft, ferments, and molds. Fermented or moldy food burdens the digestion, and improper feeding can promote colic.
- No benefit: A donkey gets what it needs from straw, hay, water, and lean pasture. Plums add nothing to this.
Plums are not all the same: an overview of the varieties
Donkeys encounter plums in many different forms. The classification remains the same for all: do not feed.
| Form | Reasons against it |
|---|---|
| Fresh plum or Zwetschge | high in sugar, pit as a choking hazard |
| Fallen fruit | quickly ferments and molds, attracts wasps |
| Prune | highly concentrated sugar, sticky |
| Mirabelle, Reneklode | like plums, small pit, particularly easy to swallow |
| Cake, compote, mousse | additional sugar, dough or spices |
| Twigs and leaves | not suitable for chewing; they are also considered unsuitable for stone fruit trees |
Plum tree on the pasture: how to proceed
The greatest risk is rarely a plum from the hand, but rather the tree by the fence. Depending on the variety and region, the fruit falls between August and October. During this time, clear routines help:
- Fence off the area under the tree during the dropping season.
- Collect fallen fruit regularly, preferably daily.
- Check particularly carefully after a storm or thunderstorm: branches, leaves, and unripe fruit will end up on the pasture.
- Watch out for wasps on the fallen fruit. A sting in the mouth area is unpleasant for any animal.
- Do not mow the grass under the tree for your donkeys. It often contains crushed fruit and stones.
Why lean, well-controlled areas are often better suited for donkeys than lush orchards can be read about in Donkey Care: Sand Instead of Pasture.
Do you live next to a donkey pasture and have a plum tree yourself? Then please do not throw fruit over the fence. As a general rule, never feed other people's donkeys without the owner's permission. For good reason, a sign saying "Please do not feed" can be found on many pastures.
What to do if your donkey has eaten plums?
First, remove everything that is still accessible. Roughly estimate how much was eaten and whether there were pits or fermented fallen fruit. Then observe your donkey carefully: Is it eating as usual, passing droppings, and acting as always?
If it has eaten a large quantity or if something seems unusual to you, call your veterinarian. Do not administer home remedies or medications on your own.
What you can give instead
If you want to reward your donkey, a small piece of apple, cut into wedges, is rarely enough. More on this in Can Donkeys Eat Apples?. The same applies to pears, but only ripe and not fermented: Can Donkeys Eat Pears?. And why grapes are also taboo is explained in Can Donkeys Eat Grapes?. Treats always remain the exception. For overweight donkeys or donkeys with a history of laminitis, it is better to avoid them altogether. An overview of all feed: What Donkeys Can Eat: The Complete Feed List.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can donkeys eat prunes?
No. In prunes, the sugar is even more concentrated than in fresh fruit. They are just as unsuitable for donkeys.
What if I remove the pit?
Then the choking hazard is eliminated, but the plum remains high in sugar and provides no benefit to your donkey. The answer remains: no.
Can donkeys eat Zwetschgen or Mirabelles?
No. Zwetschgen, Mirabelles, and Reneklode belong to the same fruit group and are unsuitable for the same reasons.
Can donkeys eat cherries?
No. Cherries are small, high in sugar, and also have a pit. Therefore, you should treat cherry trees on the pasture just like plum trees.
This post provides general guidance on feeding donkeys. If you have questions about your animal, or if there are pre-existing conditions or unusual symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Would you like to do something nice for donkeys without keeping one yourself? With a donkey sponsorship, you support donkey sanctuaries in Germany. And anyone curious about the food that we stand for as DON DONKEY'S® will find our donkey milk here.
