b'Arizona Ask the VetREAL COUNTRY TOXIC PLANTSthe magazine H orses often ingest Mike Barna poisons in the form of toxic plants or forage. Publisher Signs that a horse has eaten a poisonous plant ArizonaRealCountryMagazine@gmail.com include diarrhea, colic, neurologic conditions, such as seizures, and possibly even death. Although the Erika Smith Royal effects of eating a poisonous plant can be serious, horses that are getting their nutrients from forage Editor are not likely to choose a bitter, poisonous plant for erika963realcountry@gmail.com dessert. Additionally, because of their size, horses have to consume higher quantities of a toxin to feel any effects. A general rule is if your pasture does Misty Voitovski not contain toxic plants and your horse is healthy, Creative Director you have little to worry about. However, horse owners are encouraged to contact their veterinarian immediately if they are concerned their horse has Contributing Writers ingested a poisonous plant. If possible identify the source of the poisoning and the type of poison Lee AndersonBob Boze Bell involved. There are several plants in Arizona that Debbie BlankenshipPete Floresare toxic to horses including: Justin LeglerBetsy Lemaire Rayless Goldenrod Naomi LoomisEmilio Martinez Rayless goldenrod is a low-growing half-shrub in the Sunflower family. It has erect stems that arise Randy MillerJim & Bobbi Jeen Olson from a woody crown and grow to a height of two to Bill RobertsAlan Rockman four feet. The leaves are sticky, hairless, and narrow and are located alternately along the stems. The Bob RoloffJohn Samsillleaf margins may be even or slightly toothed. Theand leaves. Its leaves alternate and are jagged and Michele Wilson stems bear flat-topped clusters of yellow flowersnarrow. The plant itself may grow to only one-half from June through October. Rayless goldenrod isof a foot tall to perhaps two feet. Mature mustard-poisonous to livestock and provides poor forageyellow pods on the plant harbor many seeds. The 801 W. Wickenburg Way for wildlife. The toxic agent is tremetone. Mostpods resemble tiny tomatoes, gourds, or even Wickenburg, AZ 85390 poisoning cases occur in late fall or early winterberries. Growing at elevations up to 5,500 feet, but can occur year-round. A lethal dose generallythis plant flowers until frost, but grows almost (602) 254-6644 consists of 1.0 to 1.5 percent of the animal\'s weight,anywhere, especially where it isn\'t wanted, such as consumed over 2 to 3 weeks. in field crops. Most children learn at an early age ArizonaRealCountry.com that this plant is pretty to look at, but thanks to its White Snakeroot prickly demeanor, not to touch it, which is just as White snakeroot is an erect, opposite-branching,well. The cute, little seed pods contain solanine, the herbaceous perennial growing to one to four feetpoisonous alkaloid. or 0.3 to 1.2 m tall. It arises from a fibrous root crown that may have short rhizomes. The slender,Some other nightshades belonging to the Solanum round stems tend to be purplish, especially whenspecies are known to poison livestock. These plants growing in the open. The opposite leaves haveproduce several toxic syndromes because they Follow Arizona Realcontain both steroidal glycoalkaloids that cause three distinct veins and coarsely toothed margins, Country for news, events,with the upper ones being stalkless. Leaves aresevere gastroenteritis and cholinesterase inhibitors broadly ovate in shape and have long petioles. that produce neurologic disease. Some Solanum giveaways and more! Small clusters of white flowers are produced at thespecies invade fields and commonly contaminate ends of the branches in loose, terminal, and flat- hay, where they can poison livestock.topped clusters. The flowers point upward and are Arizona Real Country is owned andtuft-like in appearance. Bloom time occurs fromYewpublished by Barna BroadcastingJuly to October.For horses, intoxication is oftenAmerican, English, Japanese, and Western yew are LLC. No person, organization or partyassociated with congestive heart failure. Symptomsornamental evergreen hedge-type plants that grow can copy or reproduce the contentcan include sweating, stumbling, depression,red berries in the fall. They are commonly used in on our website and/or magazine ordisrupted cardiac function, and difficultylandscaping across much of North America. As any part of this publication withoutswallowing. Muscle tremors are inconsistentlylittle as a mouthful or two of yew can be lethal. a written consent from the editorsobserved in horses. The plants alkaloid toxin taxine causes cardiac and respiratory failure, often within minutes. Most yew panel and the author of the content, asSilverleaf Nightshade poisonings occur when clippings are erroneously applicable. The publisher, authors andThis silvery-colored perennial is a "prohibitedtossed into a pasture after trimming, with leaves contributors reserve their rights withnoxious weed" in Arizona. Its attractive, star- remaining toxic even after they wilt. Decorative regards to copyright of their work. shaped, violet-blue flowers make one want to takewreaths made with yew are another potential a closer look at it, even put the flowers in a vase,source of exposure when hung where horses can until fingers meet up with the plant\'s spiny stemsaccess them. continued on page 7ArizonaRealCountry.com October 2022 5'