Lilandii conifer poisoning (please read)

J

JinglebellJessi & MistletoeMagic

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This is an old subject of debate but i thought some may like to know. My donkey died today from lilandii poisoning. For all those that have said it is not, please please hear my warning.
He was 18 months old. Had a vet checkup only 5 days before. He and my pony had broken the fence boundary to my land owners hedge and eaten it. That was tuesday. Wednesday he was fine, i even have a video taken of him playing with my pony. Perfectly normal behaviour. I said goodnight to him at 5pm that night. I was late to the yard the next morning, arriving at 12:45 with a friend and he was just laying there. He was warm and soft so had just gone down, i called the vet immediatly but it was too late.
They performed a autopsy that night. It was found that he had ingested a medium amount of lilandii conifer and it had posioned him. It had killed off his small intestine. They said his body had shut down almost instantly so he felt no pain and he couldnt have been saved if the vet had been there to watch him fall. My pony is now under constant watch, checking his gums for jaundice, watching for lethargy, dizziness or colic.
Whatever your opinion on this tree please please read this and keep it in mind. I wouldnt wish a sight like that on my worst enemy.

Love isnt measured in the size of their ears, but for every single time they made you smile.
 
So sorry to hear about your donkey.

Thanks for sharing, though, as it may help prevent the same happening to another animal.

Must admit I'd no idea Leylandii could be quite so poisonous.

Sarah
 
i'm so sorry for you :(
I was told that these trees were not poisonous!! thank you so much for posting as i planned to buy a load of these trees as i was told they were safe for horses to plant around the edge of my school.
I cannot thank you enough for letting me and everyone else know. As hard as it has been for you, you could of just saved a few more horses.
Hugs to you xxx
 
Thank you all for the kind words and rememberance. He was truly an exceptional animal. To aregona i am so so so glad you will not be getting these trees! My boys were only on it for 4 hours max and i doubt they were eating it the whole time and the fate they are suffering is horrible. Pony seems to be doing fine, we've had a few scary moments and he's still on watch every 2 hours for gum checking and general observation. But the risk is not worth it. I posted this because after i got the autopsy results my mother did some research and found threads from this forum of people suggesting that it is perfectly fine for equines to eat. But as i found out, it really isnt ):
 
Part of the hedge between my garden & paddock is leylandii ans I know several meneges with them as windbreaks. They are toxic but generally unappetising so few equines will eat any.

RIP donkey, it's a shame you had to be the exception.
 
So sorry for your loss, its absolutely tragic and such a waste. I hope your pony is okay.
However, its not just Leylandi - Yew trees are also a problem and do look a bit like Leylandi as they have needles. Its the most poisonous tree in Britain. The poison is not reduced by wilting or drying and even clippings are as toxic as the fresh parts. One mouthful is enough to kill an equine.
 
this was the result of YO feeding my two over the fence snippets of Laburnham & Lilandii cos she felt sorry for them in the restricted paddock with only hay & no grass.

Holidaymay2010094.jpg


Holidaymay2010097.jpg

they went from slightly overweighttypical welshies to this in just a week, our vet was brilliant & out daily to check them. luckily for me they both pulled through (ive finally paid off the bill though!)
 
Yes I knew it was poisonous, also laburnam. Incidentally laburnam is also poisonous if you've got chickens don't let them near it as the seeds can fall into the chicken pen, which they will then eat.

So sorry about your loss OP.

Re. post above: YO should not have given yours anything to eat without asking first - I hope she/he is prepared to pay your vets fees???? :( I would be absolutely livid.
 
sadly still fighting through court for vets fees ect... her defence was they were in a feild with very little grass & were starving! cant say they had that little grass (its knee height on them) & were getting hay put out too.

soliciter has been brill though. so fiingers crossed.
 
how does a YO not know that laburnum is poisonous? I knew it was poisonous and not to play with it when I was 8. people with horses need to know this stuff-buy a book.

OP, I am so sorry for your wee donkey, I didnt know that leilandii was quite so toxic but having two dustbins (ie exmoor ponies) I am ultra careful with anything with a ? by it. Hopefully people will learn by this to not use it near equines. I really hope your pony is ok and has non ill effects. something like milk thistle/Restore might be an idea for him if vet agrees.

I currently rent a beautiful yard whereby the non-horsey owner thought lining the outdoor school with privet was a good idea. I can't turn anything out in the school!
 
So sorry for the loss of little donk :( - I've known 3 equines die this way hence ours are fenced well away from our Leylandii hedge - my older boy (22yo) will always try to eat it if he gets the chance - absolutely loves the stuff

I'm amazed the amount of people who don't realise it is poisonous or say it's unappetising - they wouldn't leave ragwort in their field and it kills a lot quicker than that :(
 
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