It’s Monday morning again and time to learn about another plant that has it in for your horse. Today we’ll take a closer look at a beautiful member of the plant family, the Daphne.
A Little About Daphne
Daphne mezereum is the Daphne, also called Spurge Laurel & February Daphne. This is a semi-evergreen shrub with simple alternate leaves, fragrant flowers are lilac, rose, purple or white & grow in clusters, fruit is red or yellow.
How Dangerous Is It?
Not palatable to horses, Daphne is only a threat during drought conditions. However it is incredibly toxic so horse owners should take note and beware.
The fruit & leaves of this plant (especially the roots) are toxic and can be fatal to equines. Even contact with the leaves can cause blisters.
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Daphne toxicity symptoms can include irritation & swelling of the mouth & throat, gastrointestinal upset, bloody diarrhea & weakness.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Daphne 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.