It’s the first work day of a brand new week and I’ve got something to help keep your mind off the work already. It’s time to meet another plant horses can’t eat. Today we’ll take a closer look at the seemingly innocent & strangely lovely Bracken Fern
A Little About Bracken Fern
Pteridium aquilinum is Bracken Fern, also called Brake Fern and Eagle Fern. This plant is a perennial fern which can grow up to six feet tall with triangular leaves which grow smaller leaflets & sub-leaflets. Brown spores can often be found on the underside of leaves.
How Dangerous Is It?
The toxicity level of these plants is low, so a great deal must be eaten to cause real problems. However, horses should be kept well away from it, as once they develop an appetite for Bracken Fern they won’t eat anything else – even when more suitable forage is available. These ferns contain thiaminase which can cause a thiamine (or B1) deficiency.
All parts of the plant are toxic and can be fatal to equines (albeit very (very) rarely & only if left untreated).
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Bracken Fern toxicity symptoms generally appear two to four weeks after continuous ingestion and can include dilation of pupils, diarrhea, loss of coordination, difficulty breathing, drooling and unconsciousness.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Bracken Fern 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.