Anyone know about 'Horsetail' poisoning?

joti26 · Anyone know about 'Horsetail' poisoning?

I was sitting with Del watching him eat yesterday and found out later that he was eating Horsetail and actually seemed to be seeking it out! I found out it is a high risk plant. This morning he was behaving differently and shivering violently which looked like spasms it was so bad, it was cold and wet but so worried I called the vet. Unusually for him it took me half an hour to catch him and he wasn't himself so this worried me even more!
She checked him over and said he was fine probably just chilled from the change in weather. She said not to worry about the Horsetail as he would have to be eating a lot of it and not a lot else to make him ill. But everything I read says it is cumulative like bracken and causes a vitamin b deficiency which is what makes them ill should I be worried or am I just worrying over nothing? Any one any experience of this?

Julie

I would suggest talking to Stephen - the vet at Global herbs - Restore would be my first course of action - to flush out toxins - but he will know.

peachpie

Field HorsetailField Horsetail

Field Horsetail is found in poorly drained soils, as well as low, sandy or gravel soils with good drainage. It can severely suppress field crops and other plants. It is especially poisonous in young horses. Hay containing this weed may be more poisonous than fresh plants in the field. Symptoms are slow to develop.
Symptoms:

* jaundice
* loss of appetitie
* weakness
* staggering gait
* excitability
* paralysis

There is no known anti-dote. Toxic substance is thiaminase plus an unknown factor which wipes out Vitamin B.

A veterinarian should be consulted immediately for supportive treatment to reduce the damage caused by ingestion of poisonous plants.

joti26

Thanks for the replies but as I said in my post i did have the vet out and she seemed un concerned hence the post. Just wondered if anyone else had any experience of it.

Julie

No- but anything remotely dodgy gets a course of restore in my yard to flush out any toxins in case.No harm in doing with some vitamin b either.

Gismo

I might seek a second opinion from another vet. They dont all have the same education...

joti26

Thanks, have been in touch with vet at Global Herbs, unfortunately missed his call but will be phoning him back as soon as I can. He was very helpful so highly recommend them for any help!

loribell

Here in Alaska we have horsetail fern all over especially in wooded areas and wetlands.
I have known of a couple of horses that have died from ingesting it, confirmed by vet.
Small amounts don't seem to create to much of a problem but horses seem to like it and if it is available will eat whole patches of it.
I have also noticed that it will take over and choke out the grass if you let it.
I would suggest not allowing your horse to eat it.

joti26

Thanks. He can't have eaten much thankfully as it isn't a huge patch and only small shoots when i first noticed it. I fenced it off the next day so he hasn't been near it since. just gotta get rid of it now but it's not my land. I am just thankful for NH and undemanding time because if I didn't spend so much time just sitting with him I might never have noticed it in time!

Autumn

HI Lori, So sorry about your loosing Chance, and Jazz getting injured, hope everything is going better now.

Rooster will eat the horsetail sometimes, even when there is grass right next to it! Dandy avoids it. I try not to freak out about every little thing anymore and it is impossible to get rid of as there is usually a huge mother tuber plant VERY deep that sends up shoots, the best you can do is plant something that will choke it out. Good luck.