Is the poisonous effect of Black Locust trees on horses cumulative, or does the effect abate between ingestion

Question

My horses occasionally manage to eat the leaves of Black Locust trees, which are poisonous. I am wondering if the effect dissipates with time, or if it's cumulative?

Answer 1

CLASS OF SIGNS: Depression, poor appetite, weakness, paralysis, abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody) and abnormalities in the heart rate and/or rhythm. Death is possible.
This discussion will center on the effects in horses, the species most likely to be poisoned by black locust. Horses may ingest the bark or leaves when hungry and no other forage is available, or if they are confined or bored in the vicinity of the tree.

There are several toxic components in black locust including the toxic protein robin, the glycoside robitin, and the alkaloid robinine. The toxins affect the gastrointestinal tract as well as the nervous system. Clinical signs can manifest as soon as one hour after consumption and can include depression, poor appetite, generalized weakness to paralysis, abdominal pain, diarrhea (which may be bloody) and abnormalities in the heart rate and/or rhythm. With sufficient amounts ingested, death may occur within a few days, although black locust is not always lethal. Some animals recover despite showing clinical signs, an indication of the dose-dependent nature of the toxin.

Answer 2

You need to talk to your vet about this, but in any case remove the horse from access to the black locust tree - some poisonous plants can kill a horse fairly quickly from eating, others can sit in their gut and over a period of time will make your horse very sick, maybe fatally.

You MUST talk to the vet, and check for signs of something being wrong with your horse. Any kind of poisoning is not nice to see, and if you leave it, it may become too late.

Answer 3

You need to discuss this with your vet and gain information of past issue's with horses who came in contact with Black Locust Tree's.

The other day I was looking through plants for my horses since we live up in the range where there is going to be a verity of potential poisonous plants. I came across quite a few that with in over time, it will damage the neurological system and won't show up right away.

"Horses that consumed as little as 0.04 percent of their weight in bark showed signs of poisoning in 1.5 hours"

"Livestock signs
Signs of poisoning are similar in all species and may include:
• Anorexia
• Depression
• Diarrhea
• Weakness (posterior paralysis in cattle and horses)
• Cold extremities
• Weak pulse
• Irregular heartbeat
In fatal cases, death usually occurs within 1 or 2 days"

http://texnat.tamu.edu/CMPLANTS/toxic/plants/blacklocust.html"

I would recommend removing the tree. Better safe than sorry.

Answer 4

Call a veterinary college. In the US there are 28 of them. Someone will probably be blissful to provide you recommendation over the telephone. Cornell, NC State, Tufts, Texas A&M, and Purdue come to brain. Hunt on the web for one on your nook of the globe.