Frans
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know if it is possible for horses to get “slightly poisoned” by sycamore seedlings? ie would it be possible for a horse to show some symptoms that then settle down without it becoming a full blow, life or death situation? Has anyone had any experience of this?
Pony has been generally much more easily tired than usual, sometimes reluctant to go forward, and on a couple of occasions getting very sweaty and exhausted after relatively little effort and with some trembling in his muscles. He recovers very quickly afterwards though and looks generally healthy and normal. Blood test (before the more severe attacks) showed raised gGT, AST, GLDH, LDH and low WBC but normal CK. There are a number of horses at the yard with abnormal liver enzyme results so the vet was suspecting contamination in a food supply. His field mate has shown no symptoms but also has raised liver enzymes and in her case the CK is raised too.
Anyway, I found some odd plants in his field (out day/in night) but wrongly identified them and only yesterday realised they were the first shoots of sycamore seedlings. Went back to check today and there are now huge numbers of them all over the field. My theory is that he has eaten some as they have come through - giving the ongoing loss of stamina - and some days, more recently, enough to give stronger symptoms but, luckily, not enough to make him really ill. All the info I find talks only about severe cases. The ponies have, of course, been taken straight off the field and I’m waiting for the vet to get back to me but, in the meantime, does this sound like a possible explanation?
Pony has been generally much more easily tired than usual, sometimes reluctant to go forward, and on a couple of occasions getting very sweaty and exhausted after relatively little effort and with some trembling in his muscles. He recovers very quickly afterwards though and looks generally healthy and normal. Blood test (before the more severe attacks) showed raised gGT, AST, GLDH, LDH and low WBC but normal CK. There are a number of horses at the yard with abnormal liver enzyme results so the vet was suspecting contamination in a food supply. His field mate has shown no symptoms but also has raised liver enzymes and in her case the CK is raised too.
Anyway, I found some odd plants in his field (out day/in night) but wrongly identified them and only yesterday realised they were the first shoots of sycamore seedlings. Went back to check today and there are now huge numbers of them all over the field. My theory is that he has eaten some as they have come through - giving the ongoing loss of stamina - and some days, more recently, enough to give stronger symptoms but, luckily, not enough to make him really ill. All the info I find talks only about severe cases. The ponies have, of course, been taken straight off the field and I’m waiting for the vet to get back to me but, in the meantime, does this sound like a possible explanation?
