In the summer, watermelons are a popular dessert. If you’re like most people, you’ll want to share a treat with others, including your equine pals.
Our taste buds may not appreciate rinds (unless you pickle them or prepare them in a stir-fry), but a donkey is likely to relish them.
Are your donkeys able to consume watermelon? Yes, that’s the answer. Your donkeys can eat watermelon.
This is in addition to them eating the whole thing, seeds and rinds included.
What Are The Health Benefits of Watermelon to Donkeys
Watermelon is a summertime staple and one of the prettiest, tastiest, and most entertaining fruits for donkeys.
Discover eight of watermelon’s health benefits, how to pick the perfect fruit, and several ways to include water into meals, snacks, drinks, and desserts.
1. Watermelon helps donkeys stay hydrated
Water isn’t just a coincidence in the name of this fruit. Five ounces of watermelon are contained in one cup of watermelon (about the size of a yogurt container).
Hydration is important for circulation, skin health, and digestion.
Additionally, it aids in the regulation of the body’s temperature and the operation of its organs and joints, as well as metabolism, hunger, and waste disposal
Mental performance is also impacted by sufficient hydration. The loss of body fluids, even if it’s only 1-3 percent, might affect mood and cause worry.
2. It boasts key nutrients and has few calories
Despite what you may think, watermelon has fewer calories and sugar than you think. On average, a cup of watermelon contains 45 calories and 11 grams of sugar.
In addition to vitamins A and C, which promote the immune system and skin health, this natural sweetness also contains a tiny amount of potassium and magnesium as well as antioxidants.
Related: Here is an article I wrote on can donkeys eat strawberries
3 Watermelon offers digestive support
While watermelon isn’t particularly high in fiber, the fiber it does contain helps to maintain a healthy digestive system and gastrointestinal tract function.
Additionally, the fruit is rich in fluid and prebiotics, a type of fiber that promotes the growth and/or activity of good bacteria in the large intestine.
A strong immune system, anti-inflammation, and a happy mood are all linked to prebiotics, according to research.
Other benefits of prebiotics include increased mineral absorption, improved blood glucose levels, improved blood sugar control, and protection against colon cancer, among other things.
4. It helps defend against disease
When free radicals and the body’s ability to counteract them are out of balance, the result is oxidative stress.
Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, and neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s can be prevented by consuming lycopene.
Compared to yellow and orange types, classic pink flesh watermelon has higher lycopene.
5. It will protect donkey skin
Allowing your donkeys to consume the fruit while it’s in season may provide some skin protection for them.
Die Vitamine A and C in watermelon help maintain healthy skin, and the lycopene in the fruit may help prevent sun damage, but the results are not instant.
After 10 weeks of regular eating, tomato paste, which contains 16 mg of lycopene, was found to minimize sunburn.
Approximately 9 to 13 milligrams of lycopene can be found in a cup and a half of watermelon, according to the USDA
How Often Should I Feed Them Watermelon?
Fruit like this is a great way to make sure your donkey is hydrated while also enjoying a tasty treat.
For your horse’s digestive health, all horse treats should be offered in moderation.
This is why you should restrict the number of goodies your horse receives each day while still making sure that your horse is still eating his usual diet.
A healthy diet is necessary for horses every day. Overfeeding treats can cause horses to not finish their regular meals, especially hay and grass, which are key forage sources for horses.
As a result, horses may suffer from digestive issues such as colic, a potentially fatal gastrointestinal disturbance that is difficult and expensive to cure in horses.
A few little pieces of watermelon per day should suffice.
As they say, excess of everything is bad.
Also check out this article I wrote on do donkeys need shoes?
Can Donkeys Eat The Rind?
Yes, donkeys can eat watermelon rind! Some donkeys prefer it to the fleshy section of a watermelon!
It’s good to feed watermelon rind to donkeys, as it includes a higher concentration of potassium and fiber than the inside of the fruit.
For donkeys, the rind needs to be chopped up into little pieces because it is crunchier than the remainder of the fruit.
Be cautious to wash the rind before feeding it to your donkey. Toxic compounds such as pesticides and other chemicals will be washed off.
Using a saltwater mixture is the easiest and safest way to wash fruits, as it removes any pesticides or toxicants.
Can Donkeys Eat Watermelon Seeds?
When fed in moderation, donkeys can consume watermelon slices with seeds.
Your donkey will devour fewer seeds if you feed him a limited amount of watermelon.
Your donkey should never be fed just watermelon seeds. Even if you do not want the seeds, some donkey owners choose to serve their animal’s watermelon treats without the seeds.
Many donkey owners feed their donkey’s watermelons with seeds, and their donkeys have no problems.
How Can I Prepare and Feed Them Watermelon
You may feed your donkey watermelon by chopping it up into small pieces and feeding it in moderation.
Almost all donkeys enjoy eating the flesh of a watermelon, however, some donkeys prefer eating the rind.
Refrigerated or at room temperature, you can offer these goodies to your donkey.
Bran Mash With Watermelon
For their donkeys, many donkey owners make their bran mash. This way, you can surprise your donkeys with small bits of watermelon in your combination.
Frozen Watermelon
Frozen watermelon can be prepared in several ways. If you freeze watermelon, be sure to remove the rind because it will be very difficult to chew when frozen.
Chopped
Your donkey may enjoy a crispy treat by chopping up the interior flesh of the watermelon and freezing it in little pieces. The chunks should be tiny enough to prevent choking if accidentally ingested.
Frozen Blocks
Pour water in a bucket or container and add small chunks of watermelon and other fruits before freezing it to create frozen treat blocks for your donkey.
This frozen concoction will unfreeze in time for the horse to taste it and devour the tasty rewards.
This is a great summer treat for donkeys, but keep in mind that it is not a substitute for freshwater!
Can I Feed My Donkeys Watermelon Flavored Foods? watermelon
No processed foods for humans should ever be fed to your donkeys.
When it comes to human health, processed foods are a big no-no.
Food that is intended for human consumption cannot be digested by a donkey’s digestive tract due to its inflexibility.
Don’t give your donkey any watermelon snacks that aren’t produced from fresh fruit.
Conclusion
Your donkey might love watermelon if it likes goodies!
Most donkeys may safely eat watermelon, and many of them do.
You don’t have to feel terrible about giving donkeys this because it’s not only safe but also good for them. Both you and your donkey will benefit from it!
