Welcome to one of the last few editions of the a-z of plants that hate your horse, we are almost to the big Z. Today’s plant looks quite innocent, but not when it comes to your horse. Yellow Sweet Clover may smell lovely & brighten any field, but it’s bad news for horses – especially mares in foal.
A Little About Yellow Sweet Clover
Melilotus officinalis is also called White Sweet Clover & Yellow Sweet Clover. This is a biennial that can grow up to nine feet tall. Leaves are clover-like. Flowers are small, white or yellow & fragrant. Fruit is a smooth pod.
How Dangerous Is It?
The fresh plant isn’t as palatable to equines, however clover hay is often fed as dry forage during winter months. Clover hay isn’t always bad, but it molds easily & that mold contains dicumarol, which affects the blood coagulation process. When eaten by pregnant mares, this toxin can also cross the placenta & affect newborns.
The leaves, stems & mold on dried sweet clover hay 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. Yellow Sweet Clover toxicity symptoms include hemorrhaging & anemia.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Yellow Sweet Clover 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.