Working our way through the F’s in the a-z of plants your horse can’t eat. Today’s plant is one that shouldn’t be a problem for horses, but can be Fescue can be a silent killer.
A Little About Fescue
Festuca arundinacea is also called Fescue. This is a perennial grass which grows in clumps up to 4 feet high. Leaves are medium-wide and rough on the top with feathery tufts.
How Dangerous Is It?
While this is a common grass and one that grazers often eat & can be baled into hay. Fescue can grow a fungus called acremonium coenophialum and contains alkaloids that inhibit prolactin release. This is especially dangerous for pregnant livestock.
The seed head, stem and leaf sheath of this plant are toxic and can be fatal to equines.
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Fescue toxicity symptoms include lameness, dry gangrene, reproductive problems, prolonged gestation, abortion, stillborn, foal mortality and fever.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Fescue 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.