Topic:Poisoning
Poisoning in horses refers to the ingestion, inhalation, or absorption of toxic substances that can adversely affect their health. These substances may include plants, chemicals, medications, or environmental toxins. Poisoning can lead to a range of clinical signs, from mild gastrointestinal upset to severe neurological or systemic effects, depending on the toxin involved. Common toxic substances for horses include certain plants like oleander and yew, heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, and specific pesticides or herbicides. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the causes, effects, diagnosis, and management of poisoning in horses.
An outbreak of Swainsona poisoning in horses. On 6 properties in south-western Queensland an outbreak of nervous disease occurred horses due to ingestion of Swainsonia (Darling pea). Loss of condition, depression, hyperaesthesia and hyperexcitability were seen in affected horses. At autopsy of 2 horses generalised c ytoplasmic vacuolation was seen in the neurones of the central nervous system and in the liver, adrenal and thyroid. The clinical and pathological features were similar to those described in horses suffering from Swainsona poisoning in Australia and Astragalus and Oxytropis in North America.
Bromide intoxication of horses, goats, and cattle. During the summer and fall of 1973, a few horses, goats, and cattle in the Napa Valley of California became intoxicated by bromide via the ingestion of volunteer oat hay that had been cut from a field treated with methyl bromide, a soil fumigant. The bromide content of the hay ranged from 6,00 to 8,400 ppm. Signs of intoxication were lethargy, weakness, and ataxia. Animals experimentally fed the contaminated hay developed signs of intoxication between the 7th and 9th days.
Clinical application of cerebrospinal fluid creatine phosphokinase determination. Creatine phosphokinase activity was determined in cerebrospinal fluid samples submitted for analysis from 126 animals suspected of having central nervous system disease. Values less than 1 sigma unit/ml were obtained on 32 samples and values less than or equal to 1 sigma unit/ml were obtained on 94 samples. The creatine phosphokinase values were increased in all cases of feline toxoplasmosis and feline infectious peritonitis. From other cases, especially seizure disorders and suspected poisonings, and apparent aid in prognosis for future cases was identified.
Veterinary toxicology: the epidemiology of poisonings in domestic animals. Animals are constantly exposed to a wide variety of foreign chemicals, many of which are potentially toxic and some of which result in the clinical poisonings. Pesticides are applied on or around animals for the control of insects and rodents. These chemicals may be placed in areas without regard for accessibility to household pets and domestic livestock. Insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides are routinely and haphazardly applied to animal and environmental surfaces alike with apparent disregard for differences in absorptive capability. Fortunately, newer herbicides and fungicides are relat...
Evaluation of monensin toxicity in the horse. Gelded horses of mixed breeding, ranging in weight between 360 and 455 kg, were fed pellets that contained monensin at concentrations of 279, 124, 31, and 0 ppm. Of 2 horses fed 279 ppm (253 g/T), both died. Of 3 horses fed 125 ppm (113 g/T), 1 died; feed intake was reduced in the 2 survivors. Of 3 horses fed 31 ppm (28 g/T), 1 had a transitory reduction in feed intake and the other 2 remained clinically normal. The 2 horses fed 0 ppm remained clinically normal. Monensin was also given to horses by gavage, at dosages of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 20 mg/kg of body weight. The LD50 was estimated to be betwe...
Fusariotoxicosis from barley in British Columbia. I. Natural occurrence and diagnosis. Clinical sickness was observed in domestic ducks, geese, horses and swine during October 1973. All species showed upper alimentary distress with mortalities occurring in the geese. Barley derived from a common source had been fed. Examination of the barley revealed invasion by Fusarium spp and detection of a high level of dermatitic fusariotoxins.
Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin: an accidental poisoning episode in horse arenas. Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin was identified as the apparent cause of an outbreak of poisoning in humans, horses, and other animals. Exposure was related to the spraying of contaminated waste oil on riding arenas for dust control. The contamination resulted from improper disposal of a toxic industrial waste. The pathologic effects and chemical identification of tetrachlorodibenzodioxin are described.
Metaldehyde poisoning in three horses. Three horses exhibited nervous and cardiopulmonary signs after ingestins small amounts of metaldehyde, and 2 died in 3 to 5 hours. A colt given 0.1 mg/kg was similarly affected and died.
Spongy degeneration in the central nervous system of domestic animals. Part III: Occurrence and pathogenesis hepatocerebral disease caused by hyperammonaemia. Severe spongy degeneration of the central nervous system (CNS) was seen in 11 cattle, 19 sheep, 4 pigs and 1 goat, associated with a variety of hepatic diseases, particularly those caused by hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It was also seen in a milder form in 2 of 8 horses examined, 1 dog of 5 dogs examined, and in 1 rabbit only of a large number of laboratory animals examined. This paper reports results of experiments which confirmed initially that the CNS disease cold be caused by pyrrolizidine alkaloid intoxication. This was done by poisoning lambs with lasiocarpine. As the disease was...
Lead and zinc poisoning and the interaction between Pb and Zn poisoning in the foal. Groups of young growing horses were fed toxic amounts of lead only, zinc only and the same amounts of lead and zinc together. Those fed Pb only developed pharyngeal and laryngeal paralysis ("roaring") whereas those fed Zn only and Pb and Zn together developed the same clinical syndrome which included swelling at the epiphyseal region of the long bones, stiffness and lameness. Anemia and decreased weight gains were most pronounced in animals fed Zn for the longest periods. Animals fed Pb only did not become anemic and weight loss did not occur until after there was an interference in swallowing...