Poisonous plants

Mark Tabachnik

content

• Pasture management is an important part of looking after horses.

• Plant poisonings are extremely rare, this short lecture is aimed at helping you recognise toxic plants so you can remove them.

Acorns

• Causes: colic, loss of appetite, depression, liver damage, incoordination if eaten in large amounts

• Can be life threatening• Mouth ulcers• Can be addictive

Ragwort

• Causes: life threatening liver damage if consumed over a long period in large amounts

• Bitter taste – usually only eaten if dried in hay

Buttercups

• Causes: mouth ulcers / blisters, salivation, swollen face

• Seizures can be life threatening but v rare

• Unlikely to eat in large enough quantities

Brackens & Ferns

• Causes: weight loss, staggering, nervousness, muscle twitching, seizures

• Can be life threatening if consumed in large quantities for large periods

• Can be treated – vitamin B

Charlock

• Causes: frothing at the mouth, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties

• Only life threatening if eaten in large amounts

Cowbane

• Causes: salivation, colic

• Convulsions can be fatal, if eaten in large quantities

St John’s Wort

• Causes: dermatitis, itching, ulceration

• Esp. in non pigmented skin

• Mouth ulcers & irritation

Stinging Nettle

• Histamine & formic acid

• Usually from skin contact not eating them

• Causes: local irritation• Staggering, distress,

muscle weakness

Foxglove

• Causes irregular heart beats, heart failure

• Usually only eaten when found in hay

Laburnum

• Causes: diarrhoea, colic, convulsions

• Life threatening if consumed in large amounts.

Yew & Privet

• Causes: incoordination, tremors, collapse, heart failure

If you find a poisonous plant in your field…………..

• Remove it including roots.

• Avoid herbicides unless you can move the horse off the field

• Fence off oak trees

• Burn the plants – do not leave them to dry out (they are often tastier)

If your horse eats a poisonous plant………………

• Toxic plants tend to be too bitter for horses to eat in large amounts

• Plant poisoning deaths are rare as they have to be consumed in large amounts

• If unsure seek veterinary advice.