Hi all- I cant really go into details as is a long story!!
Just need some help! Personally I have never come across a horse that has been poisoned but have any of you? If so what happened to the horse? Did they die or make a full recovery?
Have any of your horses or friends horses eaten conifer and been fine??
Any help will be much appreciated!!
Thanks for reading!!xx
2007-12-09 19:53:20 · 7 answers · asked by Blush 3 in Pets ➔ Horses
I would just like to add that this doesnt involve my horse. Its a friends, I havent seen him and he isnt colicing- Unfortunately as I said it is a very, very long story and I cant go into details.
2007-12-09 20:07:09 · update #1
let me guess he's starting to collick you need to walk him and keep walking him for hours till he works the toxins out and maybe he will survive. but i stress maybe
after mine ate night shade I walked him for over 13 hours till he started acting normal
your best bet is a vet though
2007-12-09 19:57:48 · answer #1 · answered by truthteller 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have never known a horse to have problems with conifers. It is not unusual for them to eat them. I have seen them poisoned on spiny amaranth but they generally just stiffen up for a few days like they have bad arthritis and then get over it. The worst thing I have seen is horses getting out into bean fields. They are usually found dead while still in the field, unless gotten out in short order.
Few horses will actually eat enough of a toxic plant (with the exceptions of legumes) to kill them, provided they have plenty of good pasture. Horses have been around for a long time and do quite well without humans. They accomplish this by having a pretty good sense of taste and smell and a large liver to deal with most natural toxins.
BTW The conifer hemlock is NOT the hemlock that is poisonous. The poisonous hemlocks are a plants that are related to carrots and looks fairly similar. There are several species but again horses will not eat them unless they run out of pasture or the plant is dried in hay.
2007-12-09 23:24:07 · answer #2 · answered by Jeff Sadler 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I've seen horses die of ragwort poisoning and its horrible because there's nothing you can do. I don't think all conifers are poisonous, only yew that I know of, unless they eat a lot and a horse would only do that if it was starving. My horses will try almost anything including bracken and privet, but don't eat conifers. Are you sure this is the cause?
2007-12-11 04:59:43 · answer #3 · answered by florayg 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, you really have some very good advice already. That's good, because the only problem we ever had with our horses eating plants they shouldn't was when they would on occasion find some Cannabis growing wild. We had a hard time getting them to do anything after that, they just wanted to frolic and were absolutely useless for work for a whole day!
However, if I were you I would tell my friend to check with a Vet right away.
2007-12-10 05:50:44 · answer #4 · answered by madamejoanne 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends what the horse has eaten and what quantity. My hardy little pony accidently ate a small amount of connifer and was fine. If you have ANY concerns at all then ring your vet ASAP. Better safe than sorry.
2007-12-09 21:57:02 · answer #5 · answered by clairey_dee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most horses will not eat plants that are poisonous to them except when those plants have been dried, then they will eat them.
Ragwort, especially, falls into this category.
2007-12-10 01:56:23 · answer #6 · answered by JA12 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hemlock is a connifer and is poisonous. Here are some links. hope the kid feels better.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=poisonous+plants+for+horses&fr=ush-ans
2007-12-09 21:57:20 · answer #7 · answered by reynwater 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋