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Toxicity poisoning- the key facts

The key facts: poisoning in equines

Horses can become very ill after ingesting toxic plants or chemicals. This can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract as well as other internal organs.


Some plants, such as foxtails cause mechanical damage as they injure mucosal surfaces of the mouth, eyes, ears, skin folds, and migrate through soft tissues. Avoiding contaminated hay and maintaining pastures to avoid exposure is recommended. Furthermore, some plants have indigestible fibres, burrs, and some poorly identified plant parts that cause concretions in the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the equine colon, where they increase in size until they intermittently or permanently obstruct colonic function and flow. Persimmon can cause epidemic outbreaks of equine gastric blockages and colic.

Some Common Poisons

Ragwort

Sycamore

Sycamore

All parts of the plant are poisonous. Ragwort is said to be unappetising to horses and is usually only eaten when there is little choice of other plants. Dried ragwort remains toxic, but seems more appealing to horses.

Sycamore

Sycamore

Sycamore

The often-fatal muscle condition Atypical Myopathy (AM) has become common in Britain and can be triggered by the ingestion of sycamore seeds, leaves and seedlings.

Yew

Sycamore

Hemlock

All parts of the yew tree, apart from the fleshy fruit, are poisonous to animals (including the seeds within the fleshy fruit). Poisoning can occur all year round and even dried material can be toxic. 

Hemlock

Meadow Saffron

Hemlock

Meadow Saffron

Meadow Saffron

Meadow Saffron

Oak

Meadow Saffron

Meadow Saffron

Foxglove

Deadly nightshade

Deadly nightshade

Deadly nightshade

Deadly nightshade

Deadly nightshade

Buttercups

Deadly nightshade

Buttercups

Potatoes

St John's Wort

Buttercups

Rhododendron

St John's Wort

St John's Wort

St John's Wort

St John's Wort

St John's Wort

Horsetail's / Mare's tails

Horsetail's / Mare's tails

Horsetail's / Mare's tails

Leylandii

Horsetail's / Mare's tails

Horsetail's / Mare's tails

Bracken

Horsetail's / Mare's tails

Water Dropwort

Water Dropwort

Herbicides and other weed killers

Water Dropwort

Herbicides and other weed killers

Herbicides and other weed killers

Herbicides and other weed killers

Rodent poisons

Herbicides and other weed killers

Herbicides and other weed killers

Symptoms of poisoning

  • abdominal pain
  • weight loss
  • restlessness
  • unsteadiness
  •  lethargy
  • problems swallowing
  • tremors

  • twitching and fitting
  • collapse
  • loss of appetite 
  • colic
  • depression
  • high temperature 
  • laminitis

  • constipation
  • diarrhoea
  • straining
  • rectal prolapse
  • blindness
  • breathing difficulties
  • head pressing

If you think your horse / pony has been poisoned, contact your vet immediately to give them the best chance of survival. 

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