By: Kay Hudson

Kay Hudson — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 20:39:38 +0000

My horse ate black nightshade, and although he ate only two small-ish plants (smaller than a potato plant in size) was extreemly ill. I found him only a few hours later with chronic toxic laminitus. The vet struggled to remove his shoes as the metal was too hot to handle. Despite voicing my concerns that it was from toxic poisoning, the vet treated him as if he had merely lamitnitus (i.e. no food, box rest etc). Ten days later he started collicing and the vets reaslised his organs were failing. He was rushed to hospital and put on a drip with anti-biotics. After three weeks of it being ‘touch and go’ he was able to come home. During his stay I found the remains of the black nightshade plants in the hedgerow of his field, and despite his bloods showing the poison to be that as from the nightshade family, neither the vets, the yard or other owners there felt it could be down to the plant. Everyone seems to believe horses won’t eat it, and it’s not as toxic as Ragwort. I have done my research though and found that’s not the case. All parts of the plant are highly toxic: roots, stems, leaves and berries. As the plant has hallucinagenic properties, and provides some relief from arthritic conditions, some horses will not be so concerned by the bitter taste. Early signs of poisoning can include slight loss of balance, lethargy and/or lack of allertness. Breathing may also be affected. My horse almost died from it and certainly his kidney’s and liver have been permanantly damaged. I try my best to warn people but it’s brilliant to see other people like yourselves taking this plant seriously. It’s actually far more toxic than ragwort, often difficult to spot (as the plants can be very small) but is deadly.

Comments on: Black Nightshade – Toxic Plant of the Week

By: Kay Hudson