March 2006

Poisoning Signs May Be Subtle

If your horse isn’t right, consider slow ingestion of a potential toxin.

Oleander is a common poisonous plant found in hedgerows in the warmer regions of the United States and is definitely a no-snacking zone for horses.

While you may feel over-dramatic or abnormally paranoid if you suspect your horse has been poisoned, it can happen. Poisoning conjures up images of a desperately ill horse in a life-threatening situation, but chronic toxicities occur, too, and initial symptoms aren’t necessarily dramatic.

Our table (see sidebar) lists some of the more common and/or dangerous poisonous plants/trees, and the symptoms of poisoning. It’s important to realize that symptoms often refer to only acute poisonings, or the latest stages of chronic poisonings. Many horses can be poisoned without showing all symptoms. Most people know about moldy corn poisoning, a fatal fungal toxicity, but there are probably many more horses than is recognized…