Signs a Horse Has Eaten a Poisonous Plant

It is vital for every horse owner to walk the pasture on a regular basis to look for poisonous plants. Several common plants and weeds are very toxic to horses. Ingesting even a small amount can kill a horse or leave it damaged for life. It is up to every horse owner to recognize the symptoms of trouble and contact the vet immediately.

  1. Drooling

    • Horses do not normally drool, so treat any liquid coming from the mouth with suspicion. If drooling is noted, horse owners should open their animal's mouth carefully and look for signs of swelling on the tongue. Drooling and tongue swelling are telltale indicators of plant toxicity, so contact the vet at once. Drooling is often present in a horse that has eaten the lobelia plant, but it can be a sign of other types of poisoning as well, according to the Spring Creek Horse Rescue.

    Sensititivity to Light

    • One of the most commonly overlooked symptoms of plant poisoning is photosensitivity, according to the Utah State University Extension. This is most common in light and thin-skinned horses, and it often presents itself in the form of blisters and rashes that look like sunburn. Some thin-skinned horses, such as Appaloosas, are prone to sunburn. However, horse owners who notice an increase in the severity of the burn, or other signs like blisters, should contact their vets for a thorough workup and diagnosis.

    Tremors

    • Many poisonous plants interfere with the functioning of the nervous system, so horse owners should be on the lookout for neurological problems. Ingesting curlydock and lobelia often causes tremors, and this symptom is definitely a cause for alarm. Horse owners who notice any of these symptoms should call their vets immediately for assistance. Tell the vet that poisoning is suspected, and describe the symptoms as well as you can over the phone.