Welcome to our weekly edition of the a-z of plants that are dangerous to your horse. Today’s plant is one many of us know in its manufactured form, but not everyone knows what a tobacco plant looks like. Many people enjoy their Tobacco, but the plant itself is the biggest no-no of all.
A Little About Tobacco Plants
Nicotiana tabacum is also called Tobacco Plant. This is a perennial shrub with a shallow root system. Leaves are oval & grow directly on the main stem. Flower is simple, white/ pink/ yellow & grows in clusters at the top of the stem.
How Dangerous Is It?
This plant is unpalatable to horses & generally only a concern during drought conditions. However it’s high toxicity makes this plant one to watch out for. Without stating the obvious, Tobacco plants contain nicotine, which isn’t very good for horses.
All parts of this plant are toxic & can be fatal to equines.
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Tobacco toxicity symptoms occur within a few minutes to a few hours after ingestion & include drooling, abdominal cramping, colic, diarrhea, loss of coordination, tremors, weakness, stupor, difficulty breathing, fever, irregular heartbeat & birth defects in foals.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Tobacco page to learn more about the plant & while you are at it why not check out more toxic plants?
*It should be noted that we’re not veterinarians. This information is written specifically for horses & should be used for reference purposes only. If you think your horse has eaten something toxic call your vet right away.