Violets are poisonous to horses, especially when eaten in large quantities. They can severely damage the digestive system and kidneys. In addition, dried violet leaves can contain cyanide and other potentially harmful substances. If ingested, violets can cause lethargy, depression, anorexia, bloody urine, and difficulty breathing. When consumed in large amounts, the plant may even lead to death. So, if you notice your horse eating violets, make sure to remove them immediately.
Violets grow anywhere from two to four feet tall and produce striking blue and purple flowers in July and September. They improve the coat of horses, boost their immune system, and can even stimulate lactation in lactating mares. Before you accidentally feed your horse violets, make sure to read the label and recognize the symptoms of toxicity. They’re generally safe to feed, but if you find that you accidentally fed them, it’s best to seek medical attention.
Poisonous plants are made up of several chemicals, including ranunculin and protoanemonin, which are both extremely toxic for horses. Both of these chemicals irritate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and cause mouth blisters. Poisoning can occur if pastures are overgrazed, and the toxin levels vary with each species. The flower part contains the highest concentrations of the toxin.
Poisonous plants are not necessarily deadly to horses, but you must know which ones are toxic to your horse. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with which plants are toxic to your equine friends before you let your horse out of the pasture. You’ll be able to prevent a plant-related poisoning and avoid the symptoms altogether by preventing your horse from eating it. And, don’t forget to protect your equine friend from poisonous plants.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals states that African violets do not pose a health risk to your horse. Despite its odor, cats and dogs are attracted to the flowers. And if you do decide to give your horse violets, don’t worry. The plant is not toxic to humans. A small amount can cause a major problem. You should consult your veterinarian first before letting your horse eat it.
Maple tree leaves are poisonous to horses. The leaves are sweeter when wilted. However, they can seriously damage the kidneys. It takes about 1.5 pounds of maple leaves for an adult horse to be poisoned. Symptoms of the poisoning include depression, lethargy, increased breathing, and heart rate. As for African violets, they are a perfectly safe plant to feed your horse. Just don’t let them eat too much of it.
Although the effects of equine cholera are not immediately visible, many horse owners don’t realize they have contaminated their horses. In fact, the symptoms usually don’t appear until the horse’s liver is damaged, and by then, it has already caused permanent damage. In addition, some horses may even die due to respiratory failure. Therefore, it is imperative to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you suspect your horse has eaten violets, don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian.
Can horses eat all plants?
Most horses are large enough that if they do consume a poisonous plant, they would need to eat an abundant amount to reach toxic levels. Life-threatening poisonings from plants are not common; however, a range of toxicities can occur.A
What plants Can a horse eat?
– apple. – Catmint Nepeta. – Chamomile Matricaria. – colic. – Echinacea Echinacea. – Fenugreek Triganella. – herb. – horse.
What plants are poisonous to horse?
– Bracken Fern. Bracken fern is a plant that’s found throughout North America, but most toxicities occur in the north western states. … – Nightshades. … – Alsike Clover. … – Ragwort. … – Red Maple Trees. … – Poison Hemlock and Water Hemlock.
What foods are poisonous to horses?
– Caffeine. While tiny amounts of caffeine probably won’t hurt your horse, you should still avoid giving him any foods that have caffeine in it. … – Avocado. … – Fruits with Stones (or Pits) … – Cauliflower, Cabbage, Broccoli. … – Bran Products. … – Potatoes. … – Rhubarb. … – Meat Products.
What fruits and vegetables can horses eat?
Almost any fruits, and many vegetables, are safe treats for healthy horses. Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas.D
What is the most poisonous plant to horses?
Poison hemlock and water hemlock are two very toxic plants for horses. These plants look somewhat similar with their clusters of white flowers but can be differentiated by their leaves; poison hemlock has small fern-like leaves and water hemlock has larger leaves with jagged edges.A
What fruit and veg can you feed a horse?
Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas. Most horses will chew these treats before swallowing, but horses that gulp large pieces of a fruit or vegetable have a risk of choking.D
Will horses eat poisonous plants?
Fortunately, many poisonous plants are not palatable and horses will only eat them if adequate forage is not available.
What do you do if your horse eats a poisonous plant?
If you suspect your horse has ingested a toxic plant you should obtain a sample of the plant, determine how much was eaten (if possible) and how long ago and call your veterinarian right away, even if clinical signs are not present.
What flowers aren’t poisonous to horses?
– California redbud. Cercis orbiculata. – California redbud. Cercis orbiculata. – Pacific dogwood. Cornus nuttallii.
What purple flower is poisonous to horses?
Pokeweed produces clusters of green berries, which mature to a dark purple color. The roots are the most toxic part of the plant, but horses can also be poisoned from the leaves and stems. A toxic compound, called phytolaccotoxin, can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, low grade chronic colic, and diarrhea.
Can horses eat roses?
It is not recommended to plant or have roses in your horse pasture, mostly because of the thorns on the bushes. Horses will also damage the roses by eating the buds or flowers off the plants. To the best of my knowledge, roses are not toxic to horses.J
What fruits can horses not have?
Any kind of a fruit that has a “stone” in it (or pit), like whole peaches, avocados, and cherries, can be dangerous for a horse, because they could choke on the pit. If your horse consumes any of these three things in excess, then it can lead to very bad gas and colic problems that could hurt them.
What flowers can horses eat?
– apple. – Catmint Nepeta. – Chamomile Matricaria. – colic. – Echinacea Echinacea. – Fenugreek Triganella. – herb. – horse.
Will horses avoid poisonous plants?
If good quality forage is plentiful in the pasture, horses will avoid most poisonous plants. In the absence of good quality forage, such as during periods of drought or when pastures are overgrazed, animals may begin to investigate undesirable plants available in the pasture.
