03/20/2025
To wrap up Animal Poison Prevention Week, we're repurposing a list of toxins and poisons that Dr. Magdi Niedermeyer put together for us last year to watch out for if you have cattle, horses or other livestock. (We miss you, Magdi 🥺) Continue reading to learn what species these toxins threaten, where they are found, what time of year you can find them, signs of toxicity, and treatment.
⚠️ 6 Large Animal Toxins and Poisons:
1️⃣ Lupine
Who: Cattle, Sheep and Goats
Where: Areas where sagebrush and aspen grow
When: When livestock are hungry and motivated to forage for feeds, especially late summer
Signs of Toxicity: Possible death in ruminants, birth deformities in cattle, especially if grazing when 40-100 days pregnant. Crooked legged calves are common.
Treatment: None
2️⃣ False Hellebore
Who: Sheep and Goats, cattle if particularly hungry
When: Spring to Fall
Where: Moist, open hillsides
Signs of Toxicity: Drooling, weakness, convulsions, or vomiting within 2-3 hours of consuming, coma in adults, birth defects (including cyclops lambs)
Treatment: None, can control the growth of false hellebore with 2,4-DMA (an amine salt) or Picloram Pellets
3️⃣ Larkspur
Who: Cattle are particularly susceptible and sensitive, small ruminants/horses can also be affected
When: Spring to Summer
Where: Deep soil with good moisture
Signs of Toxicity: Drooling, weakness, convulsions, nausea, bloating, sudden death. All signs are worsened by excitement/exercise.
Treatment: None proven, can control the growth 2,4-DMA (an amine salt), but still don’t feed even treated areas until fall.
4️⃣ Lead
Who: Cattle are especially good at finding it, but it’s toxic to all species
Where: Old auto/machine batteries, used motor oil, grease, lead tire weights, linoleum, pipe fitting compound (pipe dope), bullets/shells, paint chips
Signs of Toxicity: Depression, diarrhea, convulsions, apparent blindness/staggering
Treatment: No treatment once signs are apparent.
5️⃣ Moldy Hay
If you find that your hay is wet or moldy, strongly consider getting rid of it, especially as it can contain the toxins that cause botulism or abortion. Horses are most sensitive to it, but there is always a risk to ruminants as well. Any livestock species could develop asthma or colic-like symptoms from consuming moldy hay so be especially careful if feeding round bales.
6️⃣ Too much grain!
Remember that, naturally, all livestock species would be subsisting mostly on forage (meaning hay/grasses, a fiber heavy diet). Grain in excess can cause GI upset/colic for all livestock species. This can start with bloating/colic, but can become acidosis (the gut microbiome gets out of whack, which can be serious or even fatal). If ever changing a diet, be sure to take time to slowly transition it over a week or two. Also, always make a serious effort to lock up your grain, particularly from wiley goats and motivated horses.
This list does not include all common toxins, but it does give you a few important and common ones to watch out for in our area. Please don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian with questions/concerns.
☎️ Dr. Zach Damby & Dr. Randa Boler can be reached at 406-777-3844 ext. 3.
