White Snakeroot – Toxic Plant of the Week

Welcome to yet another weekly edition of the a-z of plants that are dangerous to your horse. Today’s plant is another one with a serpentine name & that’s sure to indicate it’s not good for grazing. White Snakeroot is commonly found & fairly easy to recognize, which is good because it’s bite is deadly.

A Little About White Snakeroot

Ageratina altissima is also called White Sanicle, Richweed, Tail Boneset & White Snakeroot. This is a perennial with smooth stems. Leaves grow opposite & are egg-shaped with teeth. Flowers are small, white & grow in loose clusters.

How Dangerous Is It?

This plant is common, highly toxic & not one to take chances with. White Snakeroot contains Trematol, a toxin which can be passed on through the milk of nursing mares.

The leaves, stems & flowers 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. White Snakeroot toxicity symptoms occur between a few minutes & a few weeks of ingestion & include loss of coordination, weakness, tremors, rapid pulse, jaundice, cardiac arrhythmia’s, profuse sweating, inability to swallow & troubled breathing.

Learn More

Be sure to check out the White Snakeroot page to learn more about the plant & while you are at it why not check out more toxic plants?

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*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.