05/01/2026
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IS YOUR DONKEY GOING THROUGH A SCRUFFY, BALD, PATCHY PHASE? đŹ
Itâs a horrible lookâI know.
But this time of year? Totally normal.
Unlike horses, which tend to shed more evenly, donkeys often look like a chicken going through a full molt. Their coats can remain ragged, thin, and patchy for weeks as they transition from winter to summer.
Temperature swings donât help either. When it goes from warm to cold again, donkeys will often hold onto that last bit of winter coat for warmth.
And just to make it more confusing, every donkey sheds on its own schedule, no matter what the calendar says.
So what should you do?
Honestly⌠not much.
As long as the skin isnât raw, infected, or covered in scabs, this is usually just an aesthetic phase.
If your donkey is rubbing a lot, check for lice.
Lice are most common in cooler months (fall through early spring) because of the thicker coat. They can worsen patchiness and itching, so itâs worth ruling them out.
If lice arenât the issue, then youâre just in the âugly stage,â and it will pass.
What helps:
Regular grooming (as often as you can)
Use a rubber or metal curry comb
Be gentleâmany donkeys donât like their loose coat being pulled
You may notice small scratches in bare areas from rubbing. Keep those clean, and if needed, a light topical antibiotic ointment can help protect the skin.
Before you know it, that rough coat will be gone and replaced with a sleek, healthy summer coat.
And then⌠come late August or SeptemberâŚ
theyâll start growing it all back again đ
Feel free to share this post to help other donkey owners who might be wondering whatâs going on with their donkey's coat.
