He alth can be defined as that complete state of well-being that allows us to enjoy an optimal quality of life, not only us human beings, but also animals, and of course, this state of he alth regains special importance for those animals that live with us or with whom we have created a special bond.
Sometimes the disease state occurs due to alterations in the proper physiology of a living organism, but on numerous other occasions what compromises he alth is an exogenous agent, which is not always a pathogenic microorganism, since sometimes what causes the disease is a substance that is potentially toxic.
Our horse is also susceptible to getting sick from the accidental ingestion of a harmful substance, so in this article we will show you which are the toxic plants for horses.
Ingestion of plants toxic to horses
Although we keep our horse's immediate environment in the best possible conditions, when we go out for a walk our animal can be exposed to multiple dangers that will have serious consequences for your he alth.
In this case we are talking about berries, plants and herbs that our horse can easily access and that are dangerous not only because they can be poisonous, but also because this animal has adelicate digestive system , and the ingestion of certain substances can cause colic and complications. It is important to check the area where the horse usually grazes to identify those plants that are toxic to its body.
List of toxic plants for horses
Let's see below what are the plants that are toxic for horses which are also easily found in meadows and fields:
Black wattle: Causes anorexia, muscle weakness, depression and colic
Acorns: They are poisonous only in large quantities, although they can cause colic, constipation, abdominal pain and kidney damage
Oleander: It is highly toxic and can cause cardiac arrest in horses
Horsetail: It is toxic because it destroys vitamin B in the horse's body
Hemlock: It is a highly toxic plant as it contains a deadly poison that affects horses, other animals and human beings
St. John's Wort or Hypericum: It is toxic to the horse's liver and causes specific liver damage that ends up translating into hypersensitivity to sunlight that causes sores in non-pigmented areas of the skin. Severe intoxication can even be fatal
Laurel: Laurel poisoning manifests itself through vomiting and diarrhoea, but it can affect the heart, and in this case it is fatal
Rhododendron: This plant contains a toxic substance called grayanotoxin that can cause death within hours of ingestion
Zuzón: It is a very poisonous plant that specifically affects the horse's liver until it causes the progressive destruction of this important vital organ
Yew: The yew causes poisoning that is as lethal as it is fast, and there have been cases in which the animal has been found dead even with the presence of leaves in its oral cavity
Algae: They are found in ponds and their intoxication causes tremors, difficulty in coordinating movements and hypersensitivity, the horse can die in a few hours
Belladonna: Belladonna poisoning causes cardiac arrhythmias, dilated pupils, muscle tremors, blindness, and seizures. It's deadly
Digital: Digitalis is a plant that has an important action on the heart, so by affecting an organ of vital importance it can cause death in the horse
Cardos borriqueros: To manifest intoxication by this plant, the horse must have consumed it in large quantities for a minimum of 30 days. Intoxication is noted by facial paralysis and edema, causing the death of the animal
Broccoli and cauliflower: They are not poisonous vegetables but they can cause gas and colic in the delicate digestive system of the horse, causing intestinal alterations
Herba de Santiago: It is highly toxic and causes irreversible damage to the horse's liver
Bryony: Causes diarrhea, seizures, sweating, and increased urination
Sudan Grass: Affects the horse's respiratory system to the point of death by respiratory paralysis
Other plants and foods toxic to horses
Previously we have seen the main toxic plants for horses, however, we can mention some more, as well as other foods that should be kept away of this animal:
- Oleander
- Wormwood
- Slope
- Male Fern
- Laburnum
- Ranunculus
- Gold button
- Aconite
- Henna
- Tomato
- Potatoes
- Pepper
- Onion
- Jacob's wort
- Ground Ivy
- Yours
- Henbane
- Stramonium
- Maple
- Conifers
- Damastian plums
- Fir tree
- Saffron
- Chimes
- Green peas
- Hydrangeas
- Altamuz
- Red clover
- Lilies
- Spurge
As we can see, there are multiple substances that can negatively affect the horse, so it is important to know these plant species and prevent the animal ingests them.
Learn to recognize poisoning
If your horse has been poisoned by a harmful plant, it will probably show some of the following symptoms:
- Loss of balance
- Excessive salivation
- Apathy
- Drowsiness
- Loss of appetite
- Rashes
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Edemas
If you observe any of the symptoms mentioned above in your horse you should contact the veterinarian urgently.
How to avoid eating toxic plants
To avoid ingesting plants that are toxic to horses, we must offer our animal an environment where it can safely graze and extreme the precautions when we move it to a free meadow area.
The following tips will be very useful:
Learn to identify plants that are toxic to horses
Remove these plants from the animal's environment, uproot them and cover the holes in the ground with s alt so that they do not grow back
Extreme caution if you identify trees with berries, as most are poisonous
Offer a secure fenced enclosure
Although identifying plants when they are not yet in bloom is a truly complex task, you should think that it is the most effective way to protect your horse's he alth.
