22/04/2022
Happy !
Our planet is certainly blessed with lots of incredible species, but let’s not forget that not all of them mix successfully. For example, did you know that the plants listed below (many of which are extremely common) are toxic to horses?
The good news is that a 1,000-pound horse has to consume significantly higher quantities of a toxic plant than a smaller animal to be affected clinically. However, some plants are cause for concern since even a curious nibble or repeated browsing over several weeks or months can lead to serious illness or even death. Therefore, it’s in your horse’s best interest that you learn to recognize poisonous plants so they can be promptly removed from your horse-keeping areas.
If you suspect your horse has ingested a poisonous plant:
• Remove the horse from the source.
• Contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Attempt to determine how much of the toxic plant was eaten and when it was eaten.
Pro tip: another commonly overlooked reason a horse may become poisoned, is allowing horses to graze a pasture after it has been sprayed with herbicide but before the weeds have died and disappeared.
As always, contact your veterinarian for more information and guidance!