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No. Tomatoes should not be in donkeys' feed. The tomato is a nightshade plant: green plant parts and unripe fruits contain solanine. Even ripe tomatoes offer no benefit to your donkey. And tomato plants should never be within its reach.
Why tomatoes are taboo for donkeys
Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family, like potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Many plants in this family produce solanine and related substances. In tomatoes, these are found mainly in the leaves, stems, shoots, and unripe green fruit. For donkeys and other equines, these plant parts are considered unsuitable or toxic.
The ripe red fruit contains significantly less of them. Nevertheless, the answer is the same: no. The reason is simple. A tomato offers your donkey nothing that it does not already get in its normal feed. Donkeys come from barren regions, and their digestive system is designed for high-fiber, low-sugar feed. Juicy vegetables from the garden are not part of that. And a clear rule – "no tomatoes" – is easier to follow in everyday life than distinguishing between ripe and unripe, fruit and stem.
Which parts of the tomato are affected
| Part or form | For donkeys? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ripe red tomato | No | Less solanine, but no benefit – make no exceptions |
| Green unripe tomato | No | Contains solanine |
| Leaves, stems, shoots | No | Contain solanine, typical garden waste |
| Cherry and cocktail tomatoes | No | Additionally small and round – choking hazard |
| Tomato sauce, ketchup, pizza and pasta leftovers | No | Salt, sugar, spices, onions |
The real danger: the vegetable garden by the fence
Hardly anyone consciously offers their donkey a tomato plant. The risk usually arises incidentally – where the garden and the donkey area meet. Typical situations:
- Tomatoes by the fence: A bed or greenhouse directly next to the paddock. Donkeys reach far over and through the fence.
- Pruned shoots: Anyone who grows tomatoes regularly prunes side shoots. If these end up on the compost or over the fence, they are accessible to the donkey.
- Harvested plants in autumn: Whole tomato plants with green fruit are disposed of – sometimes with good intentions on the pasture.
- Compost pile: An open compost pile within reach is a collection point for everything donkeys should not eat.
- Neighbors' garden waste: Green waste is often thrown over the fence. It can contain not only tomato remains but also other poisonous plants. More on this in Can donkeys eat grass clippings?.
What helps: lay vegetable beds and compost piles at a sufficient distance from the fence, never dispose of garden waste on the donkey area, and kindly point it out to neighbors. A sign saying "Please do not feed" on the fence often works wonders. How to design the area for your donkeys in a sensible way overall, you can read in the post about Donkey keeping with sand instead of pasture.
What to do if your donkey has eaten a tomato after all?
If your donkey has managed to get a piece of ripe tomato, there is no need to panic. Observe it over the next few hours: Is it eating normally, passing stool, behaving as usual?
It is different if it has gotten to the plant, eaten green fruit, or eaten a larger quantity. Then call your veterinarian and describe as precisely as possible what and how much it has eaten. The same applies to any noticeable abnormalities such as restlessness, loss of appetite, or unusual behavior. Avoid home remedies and your own treatment attempts.
Frequently asked questions
Can donkeys eat tomato leaves or tomato plants?
No. Leaves, stems, and shoots contain solanine. Tomato plants should never be within reach of donkeys – neither in the garden bed nor on the compost pile.
Can donkeys eat cherry tomatoes?
No. The same applies to them as to large tomatoes. In addition, their small, round shape makes swallowing easier.
Does this also apply to potatoes and peppers?
Potatoes are also nightshade plants and are additionally high in starch – they do not belong in donkey feed. Peppers are not recommended; details on this in Can donkeys eat peppers?.
What can I give my donkey instead?
If at all, rarely a small piece of apple cut into wedges or a few lengthwise-cut carrot strips – see Can donkeys eat apples?. Much more important is the basic feed. An overview is provided by What donkeys are allowed to eat: the complete feed list.
This post provides general guidance on feeding donkeys. If you have questions about your animal, or in case of pre-existing conditions or abnormalities, please contact your veterinarian.
You want to do something good 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.
