Happy Monday and today I’m delighted to be sharing one of the more beautiful plants that are toxic to horses. Today we take a look at the Autumn Crocus which isn’t as big a problem in North America as it is in the UK, parts of Europe and the Middle East.
A Little About The Autumn Crocus
Colchicum autumnale is the Autumn Crocus which is also called Naked-Ladies & Meadow Saffron. Interestingly enough, this plant is neither a crocus or saffron. They are in the lily family which means they grow from a bulb (they look similar to an onion), leaves can grow up to a foot and white/purple/pink flowers sprout on stalks.
How Dangerous Is It?
Obviously only a threat in climates where they grow, Autumn Crocus can grow abundantly in the wild. This plant should be watched for and ejected from grazing areas immediately due to it’s high toxicity.
The whole plant is deadly toxic to equines.
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Toxicity from Autumn Crocus can appear 3-6 hours after ingestion and causes symptoms that include abdominal pain, weak pulse, low temperature, respiratory difficulty and bloody diarrhea.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Autumn Crocus page to learn more about the plant and while you are at it why not check out more toxic plants?
*It should be noted that I’m not a veterinarian. This information is written specifically for horses and should be used for reference purposes only. If you think your horse has eaten something toxic call your vet right away.