Two Cases of Suspected Poisoning With Goat’s Rue (Galega officinalis L.) in Horses.

This paper reports on incidents of two horses suspected to have been poisoned by Galega officinalis, a toxic plant also known as goat’s rue, which led to acute respiratory conditions. Through changes in diet and treatment, the horses recovered but with varied timelines based on their age.

Introduction and Case Presentation

• The research paper presents two distinct cases of Arabian mares suspected to have been poisoned by Galega officinalis, a plant also known as goat’s rue, which resulted in them developing acute respiratory signs.
• The symptoms observed in both horses included signs of pulmonary edema or fluid accumulation in the lungs, identified through physical examination.
• The more serious case was the older horse, a 21-year-old mare, which in addition to pulmonary edema also presented with severe dyspnea and foamy nasal discharge.

Situation and Diagnosis

• Both mares were revealed to be grazing in the same meadow where this plant was found and also had unlimited access to hay.
• An investigation into the provided hay revealed traces of the toxic plant Galega officinalis. It was determined they ingested the plant, with a daily intake of approximately 14 grams of its dry matter for three successive days.
• Given the respiratory signs, and presence of Galega officinalis in their feed, the researchers concluded a presumptive diagnosis of plant poisoning.

Treatment and Outcome

• After a change in the mares’ diet and the required treatment, the younger 6-year-old mare fully recovered in three days. However, the older horse took a relatively longer period of about two weeks to recover fully.
• The researchers note that horses usually tend to avoid eating fresh goat’s rue because of its low palatability. However, poisoning can occur when the plant is included in dried or processed feed materials.

Conclusions

• The study thus warns of the potential risk posed by Galega officinalis to horses which could lead to severe respiratory complications.
• It calls for a better understanding and vigilance about the potential toxic plants in the grazing fields and feeding materials for horses to avoid such health hazards.