Common Poisonous Plants

YEW: All parts of this plant (whether fresh or dried) contain tazine, which slows the heart rate, causes trembling, and triggers heart failure.

WATER HEMLOCK: All parts of this plant contain cicutoxin, which cases muscle tremors, violent convulsions, and ultimately, paralysis of the respiratory system.

RED MAPLE: The wilted or dried leaves and bark of red maple cause anemia. Signs include weakness and increased respiratory and heart rate.

CHERRY: The fresh, wilted or dried leaves of wild-cherry trees and the twigs of these trees can cause cyanide poisoning. Horses that ingest wild cherry exhibit rapid, labored breathing and muscle tremors.

BUCKWHEAT: This plant contains fagopyrin a pigment that causes photosensitive dermatitis (an itching, weeping dermatitis confined to parts of the body exposed to sunlight).

ALSIKE CLOVER: Clover can cause photosensitization increase sensitivity of the skin (on the lips, nose and feet) to sunlight and big-liver disease-hypertrophys of the liver. In addition, a fungus that sometimes grows on alsike clover (as well as on other types of clover) can cause "slobbers" or excessive salivation. This is very common around our area this time of year.

FESCUE: A fungus in the plant seed can cause illness-but usually only in pregnant mares. The fungus causes prolonged gestation and suppresses milk production. But if a mare is taken off fungus containing fescue by her tenth month of pregnancy, there are generally no lingering effects. Owners can also purchase fescue that is guaranteed to be free of fungus.

RHODODENDRON/AZALEA/LAURELS/MOUNTAIN PIERIS: These popular shrubs contain grayanotoxin, which causes profuse green, frothy salivation, gastrointestinal irritation and colic.