07/11/2025
โโ ๐ฐ๐ด๐ท๐ถ๐น๐ป๐จ๐ต๐ป โโ
๐ฆ In the past few weeks, our hospital and others across the country have seen a surge in horses that have become extremely sick very quickly due to suspected ingestion of acorns.
๐ฆ Acorn poisoning is caused by high levels of tannins in acorns and oak leaves, which can cause severe diarrhoea and kidney damage. Usually, horses avoid eating acorns due to the bitter taste, however this year we have seen an unusually large crop from stressed trees due to the dry summer. This, combined with the poor grass availability this year, may explain the upsurge in suspected cases.
๐ฆ Some horses are more susceptible than others. Symptoms including diarrhoea, often with blood in it, depression, dehydration, inappetence and colic. Often the signs progress quickly and sadly by the time symptoms are seen the disease can quickly become fatal. There is no specific tests that can be performed, and treatment aims at supporting the horse with intravenous fluid, pain relief and medications to reduce the effects of toxicity.
๐ฆ The only way to prevent disease is to avoid horses grazing on pastures with oak trees until acorns can be cleared. For larger paddocks, a battery-powered sweeper can be implemented to efficiently collect acorns, and for smaller areas a nut gatherer may be sufficient. If clearing is not possible, and the horse must stay in that paddock, providing good quality forage away from oak trees can reduce the chances of horses eating acorns. Fencing trees, ideally to the span of the longest branches, can help keep horses away from acorns. Once acorns have dispersed, the paddock should be safe to graze.
๐ฆ If you have any questions of are worried that your horse has eaten acorns or is showing symptoms, please do not hesitate to contact us for advise on 01684 592099.
