List of plants poisonous to equines

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Paterson's Curse has been responsible for the deaths of many horses. Echium plantagineum2.jpg
Paterson's Curse has been responsible for the deaths of many horses.

Many plants are poisonous to equines; the species vary depending on location, climate, and grazing conditions. In many cases, entire genera are poisonous to equines and include many species spread over several continents. Plants can cause reactions ranging from laminitis (found in horses bedded on shavings from black walnut trees), anemia, kidney disease and kidney failure (from eating the wilted leaves of red maples), to cyanide poisoning (from the ingestion of plant matter from members of the genus Prunus ) and other symptoms. Members of genus Prunus have also been theorized to be at fault for mare reproductive loss syndrome. [1] Some plants, including yews, are deadly and extremely fast-acting. [2] Several plants, including nightshade, become more toxic as they wilt and die, posing a danger to horses eating dried hay or plant matter blown into their pastures. [3]

Contents

The risk of animals becoming ill during the fall is increased, as many plants slow their growth in preparation for winter, and equines begin to browse on the remaining plants. Many toxic plants are unpalatable, so animals avoid them where possible. However, this is not always the case; locoweeds, for example, are addictive and once a horse has eaten them, it will continue to eat them whenever possible, and can never be exposed to them again. When a toxic plant is ingested, it can be difficult to diagnose, because exposure over time can cause symptoms to occur after the animal is no longer exposed to the plant. Toxins are often metabolized before the symptoms become obvious, making it hard or impossible to test for them. [4] Hungry or thirsty horses are more likely to eat poisonous plants, as are those pastured on overgrazed lands. [5] Animals with mineral deficiencies due to poor diets will sometimes seek out poisonous plants. [6] Poisonous plants are more of a danger to livestock after wildfires, as they often regrow more quickly. [7]

Poisonous plants

Crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora) (flowers and leaves) Starr 030405-0063 Ageratina adenophora.jpg
Crofton weed (Ageratina adenophora) (flowers and leaves)
The deadly Nerium oleander Nerium oleander.jpg
The deadly Nerium oleander
Scientific nameCommon nameNotesReferences
Abrus precatorius Crab's eyeAlso known as precatory bean, rosary pea, or jequirity bean [8]
Acer rubrum Red maple, also known as swamp or soft mapleToxic compounds are gallic acid and tannins. [9] [4]
Adonis microcarpa Pheasant's eyeOften found in hay. [10] [11]
Aesculus hippocastanum Horse chestnutAlso known as buckeye [3]
Ageratina SnakerootsKnown poisonous species include Ageratina adenophora (Crofton weed, causes Tallebudgera horse disease) and Ageratina altissima (white snakeroot) [3] [12]
Aleurites Tung oil tree [8]
Amsinckia intermedia FiddleneckContains pyrrolizidine alkaloids [13] [14] [15]
Apocynum cannabinum Hemp dogbaneAlso known as Indian hemp, choctaw root, rheumatism weed, and snake's milk [5]
Arctotheca calendula Cape weed [10]
Armoracia lapathifolia Horseradish [8]
Artemisia Known poisonous species include Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) and Artemisia filifolia (sand sagebrush) [8]
Asclepias syriaca Common milkweed [4]
Astragalus Locoweed, crazy weed, or milk vetchContains Swainsonine [4] [16]
Atropa belladonna Deadly nightshade or belladonna [17]
Baptisia False indigo [8]
Berteroa incana Hoary alyssum [18]
Brassica Mustards [5]
Buxus sempervirens Boxwood [3]
Celastrus scandens Climbing bittersweet [8]
Centaurea Star-thistles, knapweedsKnown poisonous species include Centaurea solstitialis (yellow star thistle or St. Barnaby's thistle) and Centaurea repens (Russian knapweed) [3] [10]
Cestrum parqui Green cestrum [17]
Chrysothamnus nauseosus Rubber rabbitbrush [8]
Cicuta Water hemlock, cowsbane [3]
Claviceps paspali Paspalum ergot [10]
Conium maculatum Hemlock or poison hemlock [10]
Corydalis Fitweed, fumitory [8]
Craspedia chrysantha Round billy button or woollyhead [10]
Crotalaria Rattlepods [19]
Cucumis myriocarpus Paddy melon [10]
Cuscuta Dodder [8]
Cynoglossum officinale Houndstongue [6]
Datura Jimsonweed, thorn-apple [4] [10]
Delphinium Larkspur [3]
Dendrocnide moroides Stinging tree or Gympie stinger [17]
Descurainia pinnata Tansy mustard [8]
Digitalis Foxgloves [3]
Dryopteris filix-mas Male fern [8]
Duboisia Corkwoods [17]
Echium plantagineum Paterson's curseAlso known as Salvation Jane, blue weed and Lady Campbell weed [10] [20]
Equisetum Horsetails, mare's tails, scouring rush [16]
Erythrophleum chlorostachys Cooktown ironwood [19]
Euphorbia Spurges [8]
Festuca arundinacea Tall fescue [3]
Franseria discolor White ragweed [8]
Glechoma hederacea Ground ivyAlso known as creeping charlie [3]
Grindelia Gumweeds [8]
Haplopappus heterophyllus Rayless goldenweedAlso known as jimmyweed or burrow weed [8]
Heliotropium HeliotropesKnown poisonous species include Heliotropium amplexicaule (blue heliotrope), H. europaeum (common heliotrope), and H. supinum (creeping heliotrope) [10] [17] [21]
Homeria Cape tulips [22]
Hypericum perforatum St. John's wortAlso known as Klamath weed [3]
Hypochaeris radicata Flatweed or catsearHas been implicated in causing Australian stringhalt, possibly due to a toxic mold that grows on it, especially poisonous to draft horses [10] [23]
Jacobaea Ragworts
Juglans nigra Black walnutBedding horses in shavings or sawdust can cause laminitis [3]
Juniperus virginiana Juniper [8]
Kalmia latifolia Mountain laurel or spoonwoodAlso known as spoonwood or calico bush [17]
Kochia scoparia Burning bushAlso known as summer cypress or Mexican firewood [8]
Lantana camara Yellow sage [24]
Ligustrum Privets [17]
Lolium perenne Perennial ryegrass [10]
Lupinus Lupins [3]
Lychee LycheeIngesting large amounts almost certainly caused the death of four horses [25]
Malva parviflora Mallow [10]
Marsilea drummondii NardooContains an enzyme which destroys vitamin B1, leading to brain damage in sheep and horses [10]
Melilotus SweetcloverIncludes Melilotus alba (white sweetclover) and M. officinalis (yellow sweetclover), can be grazed as a forage crop, but mold or spoilage converts coumarins to toxic dicumarol, thus moldy hay or silage is dangerous [5]
Nerium oleander OleanderAlso known as rose laurel, adelfa, or rosenlorbeer [3] [16]
Nicotiana Tobacco [17] [15]
Onoclea sensibilis Sensitive fern or meadow fern [8] [15]
Oxytropis Locoweed or crazy weedContains Swainsonine [4] [16] [15]
Persea americana Avocado [26] [15]
Physalis Japanese lanterns, groundcherries [4] [5]
Phytolacca americana Pokeweed [4]
Prunus Cherries, apricots, peaches, and plums [4] [15]
Pteridium esculentum /P. aquilinumBracken fern [4] [10] [16]
Quercus Oaks [1] [15]
Ranunculus Buttercups [10]
Raphanus raphanistrum Wild radish [5] [15]
Rhododendron Azaleas, laurels, and rose bays [16] [15]
Ricinus communis Castor beanAlso known as palma Christi, fatal even in small amounts [3] [16]
Robinia pseudoacacia Black locustAlso known as false acacia [3] [4]
Romulea Known poisonous species include Romulea longifolia (Guildford grass) and R. rosea (onion grass or onion weed) [10] [22]
Rudbeckia laciniata Goldenglow, coneflower, or thimbleweed [8]
Senecio Ragworts, groundsel, or stinking willy [4] [10]
Silybum marianum Variegated thistlePoisons cattle, sheep, and rarely horses [10]
Solanum Potatoes, tomatoes, nightshades, horse nettle, ground cherry, or Jerusalem cherry [3] [4] [15]
Solidago Goldenrod [8]
Sorghum Sudan grass, Johnson grass Cyanide produced after stress [4] [10] [16]
Stachys arvensis Field woundwort or stagger weed [27]
Stipa viridula Sleepy grass [8]
Swainsona Darling peas [10]
Taraxacum officinale DandelionWhen infected with a toxic mold that grows on it, the plant has been linked to outbreaks of Australian stringhalt. [23]
Taxus Yews [16]
Trifolium pratense Red clover [3]
Vinca major Blue periwinkle or large periwinkle [10]
Wislizenia refracta Jackass clover [8]
Xanthium strumarium Cocklebur [5]
Zephyranthes atamasca Atamasco lily or rain lily [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poison</span> Substance that causes death, injury or harm to organs

A poison is any chemical substance that is harmful or lethal to living organisms. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figuratively, with a broad sense.

<i>Jacobaea vulgaris</i> Flowering plant, daisy family Asteraceae

Jacobaea vulgaris, syn. Senecio jacobaea, is a very common wild flower in the family Asteraceae that is native to northern Eurasia, usually in dry, open places, and has also been widely distributed as a weed elsewhere.

Locoweed is a common name in North America for any plant that produces swainsonine, a phytotoxin harmful to livestock. Worldwide, swainsonine is produced by a small number of species, most of them in three genera of the flowering plant family Fabaceae: Oxytropis and Astragalus in North America, and Swainsona in Australia. The term locoweed usually refers only to the North American species of Oxytropis and Astragalus, but this article includes the other species as well. Some references may list Datura stramonium as locoweed.

<i>Lantana</i> Genus of flowering plants

Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants in the verbena family, Verbenaceae. They are native to tropical regions of the Americas and Africa but exist as an introduced species in numerous areas, especially in the Australian-Pacific region, South and Northeastern part of India. The genus includes both herbaceous plants and shrubs growing to 0.5–2 m (1.6–6.6 ft) tall. Their common names are shrub verbenas or lantanas. The generic name originated in Late Latin, where it refers to the unrelated Viburnum lantana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mushroom poisoning</span> Harmful effects from ingestion of toxic substances present in a mushroom

Mushroom poisoning is poisoning resulting from the ingestion of mushrooms that contain toxic substances. Its symptoms can vary from slight gastrointestinal discomfort to death in about 10 days. Mushroom toxins are secondary metabolites produced by the fungus.

<i>Prunus virginiana</i> Species of plant

Prunus virginiana, commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry, is a species of bird cherry native to North America.

<i>Nerium</i> Species of plant

Nerium oleander, most commonly known as oleander or nerium, is a shrub or small tree cultivated worldwide in temperate and subtropical areas as an ornamental and landscaping plant. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium, belonging to subfamily Apocynoideae of the dogbane family Apocynaceae. It is so widely cultivated that no precise region of origin has been identified, though it is usually associated with the Mediterranean Basin.

<i>Melia azedarach</i> Species of plant

Melia azedarach, commonly known as the chinaberry tree, pride of India, bead-tree, Cape lilac, syringa berrytree, Persian lilac, Indian lilac, or white cedar, is a species of deciduous tree in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, that is native to Indomalaya and Australasia.

<i>Taxus baccata</i> Species of conifer in the family Taxaceae

Taxus baccata is a species of evergreen tree in the family Taxaceae, native to Western Europe, Central Europe and Southern Europe, Northwest Africa, northern Iran, and Southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may now be known as common yew, English yew, or European yew. It is primarily grown as an ornamental. Most parts of the plant are poisonous, with toxins that can be absorbed through inhalation and through the skin; consumption of even a small amount of the foliage can result in death.

<i>Taxus cuspidata</i> Species of plant

Taxus cuspidata, the Japanese yew or spreading yew, is a member of the genus Taxus, native to Japan, Korea, northeast China and the extreme southeast of Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milk sickness</span> Kind of poisoning

Milk sickness, also known as tremetol vomiting or, in animals, as trembles, is a kind of poisoning, characterized by trembling, vomiting, and severe intestinal pain, that affects individuals who ingest milk, other dairy products, or meat from a cow that has fed on white snakeroot plant, which contains the poison tremetol.

<i>Chlorophyllum molybdites</i> Species of fungus

Chlorophyllum molybdites, which has the common names of false parasol, green-spored Lepiota and vomiter, is a widespread mushroom. Poisonous and producing severe gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, it is commonly conflated with the shaggy parasol or shaggy mane, and is the most commonly misidentified poisonous mushroom in North America. Its large size and similarity to the edible parasol mushroom, as well as its habit of growing in areas near human habitation, are reasons cited for this. The nature of the poisoning is predominantly gastrointestinal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equine nutrition</span> Feeding of domesticated equines such as horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys.

Equine nutrition is the feeding of horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, and other equines. Correct and balanced nutrition is a critical component of proper horse care.

<i>Lantana camara</i> Species of plant

Lantana camara is a species of flowering plant within the verbena family (Verbenaceae), native to the American tropics. It is a very adaptable species, which can inhabit a wide variety of ecosystems; once it has been introduced into a habitat it spreads rapidly; between 45ºN and 45ºS and more than 1,400 metres in altitude.

<i>Conium maculatum</i> Poisonous herbaceous plant in the carrot family

Conium maculatum, colloquially known as hemlock, poison hemlock or wild hemlock, is a highly poisonous biennial herbaceous flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, native to Europe and North Africa. A hardy plant capable of living in a variety of environments, hemlock is widely naturalized in locations outside its native range, such as parts of Australia, West Asia, and North and South America, to which it has been introduced. It is capable of spreading and thereby becoming an invasive weed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taxine alkaloids</span> Chemical compound

Taxine alkaloids, which are often named under the collective title of taxines, are the toxic chemicals that can be isolated from the yew tree. The amount of taxine alkaloids depends on the species of yew, with Taxus baccata and Taxus cuspidata containing the most. The major taxine alkaloids are taxine A and taxine B although there are at least 10 different alkaloids. Until 1956, it was believed that all the taxine alkaloids were one single compound named taxine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zygacine</span> Chemical compound

Zygacine is a steroidal alkaloid of the genera Toxicoscordion, Zigadenus, Stenanthium and Anticlea of the family Melanthiaceae. These plants are commonly known and generally referred to as death camas. Death camas is prevalent throughout North America and is frequently the source of poisoning for outdoor enthusiasts and livestock due to its resemblance to other edible plants such as the wild onion. Despite this resemblance, the death camas plant lacks the distinct onion odor and is bitter to taste.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Substances poisonous to dogs</span> Harmful substances

Some substances are poisonous to dogs through ingestion, contact, or inhalation. The poisons' effects can vary from mild illness to death. The poisonous substances most commonly consumed by pet dogs are human foods, medication not suitable for animals, household products, and plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lantadene</span> Chemical compound

The Lantadenes are naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids found in the Lantana camara plant. They are known to be poisonous to livestock that graze on the leaves of the plant, causing photosensitivity and hepatotoxicity as major symptoms. Lantadenes A and B are the most abundant and bioactive triterpenoids found in the Lantana camara leaves.

References

  1. 1 2 Cable, Christina (1 April 2002). "Which Trees are Toxic?". The Horse.
  2. ↑ "Poisonous Plants: Yew". Horse & Hound. 25 June 2001. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 King, Marcia (1 May 2001). "Poisonous Plants" . The Horse. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 DeLong, Jodi (10 October 2008). "Poisonous Plant Risk Increases as Pasture Grass Goes Dormant". The Horse.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Horse Nutrition". Ohio State University. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  6. 1 2 Israelsen, Clark E.; McKendrick, Scott S.; Bagley, Clell V. (1 October 2006). "Poisonous Plants and Equines" (PDF). Utah State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  7. ↑ Knight, James E. (2002). "After Wildfire" (PDF). Montana State University. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 DiTomaso, Joseph M. (1994). "List of Plants Reported to be Poisonous to Animals in the United States" (PDF). 36:49–52. Veterinary and Human Toxicology. Also, plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/PlantSciences_Faculty/Ditomaso/main/pubs.htm
  9. ↑ LLC, HorseDVM. "HorseDVM Toxic Plants for Horses | Red maple". HorseDVM. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 McBarron, E.J. (1983). Poisonous Plants. Melbourne: Inkata Press. ISBN   0-09-096029-7.
  11. ↑ LLC, HorseDVM. "HorseDVM Toxic Plants for Horses | Summer pheasant's eye". HorseDVM. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  12. ↑ Jordan, Sonia (26 October 2010). "Crofton weed". The State of Queensland. Retrieved 6 December 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ "Toxic Plants in Your Hay and Pasture". University of California – Davis. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  14. ↑ LLC, HorseDVM. "HorseDVM Toxic Plants for Horses | Fiddleneck". HorseDVM. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 LLC, HorseDVM. "HorseDVM Poisonous Plants in horse pastures". HorseDVM. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Lamm, Willis (1997). "Poisonous Plants". TrailBlazer Magazine. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Offord, Mellisa. "Plants Poisonous to Horses: An Australian Field Guide" (PDF). Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Australian Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  18. ↑ Michigan State University Extension (17 July 2008). "Horse Owners Cautioned about Hardy Toxic Plant" . The Horse. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  19. 1 2 McKenzie, Ross. "Australian Native Poisonous Plants". Australian Native Plants Society. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  20. ↑ "Toxic Plants for horses". Shiny Plant. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "Common heliotrope" (PDF). New South Wales Department of Agriculture. May 2004. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Common pasture weeds that may poison horses". Government of South Australia. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  23. 1 2 Kohnke, John. "Australian stringhalt" (PDF). South East Victoria Equine Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  24. ↑ "Lantana (Lantana camara L.)". University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Archived from the original on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  25. ↑ "Our horses died from too many Lychees". Facebook . Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  26. ↑ "Avocado". University of Pennsylvania. 2002. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  27. ↑ "Important Poisonous Vascular Plants of Australia". Merck & Co., Inc. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 November 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.

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