My new horse love acorns - are they really that bad?

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chungalung

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Hi there,

I'm new to this forum and to horse-ownership.

Just wondering if you would be able to settle an argument for me?

The acorns are coming now and when i was bringing my horse in the other day, he stopped and dragged me underneath an oak tree and started munching on the fallen acorns! So i picked a handful for him and took him back to his stable, where i fed him the rest. Some know-it-alls on the yard came over and told me acorns are poisonous, but these were green, so thats ok isnt it?! I can only find info on ragwort poisoning in horses, so i'm guessing it isnt true. He loves them and i feel guilty not letting him have some in his dinner.
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But if they ARE poisonous, i need to know asap. What are the symptoms??

Many thanks in advance.

Chung.
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http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/article.php?aid=94940&cid=397
http://www.horseweb-uk.com/info.php?info_id=49
Hi Chung (unusual name – where did it come from?)
Yes, acorns are VERY toxic to horses – a horse on our yard died last year as a result of eating green acorns – it wasn’t a nice way to go. The green ones are the worst.
If you google it, there are a few links, but not as many as there should be. Ragwort is far more publicised.
Any idea how many he’s eaten??
Is he still acting ok? Is he lethargic at all?
Whatever you do, DO NOT give him any more!!
 
Yes the "know it alls are right" acorns = bad news for horses. My old horse had terrible colic caused by them, and I was forever going to the field to pick them up and throw them away!! Dont feed him anymore, and go pick up as many as you can and bin them so he cant eat them while he's out!
 
Ooooops!

First off, can people PLEEEEASE stop with the abusive PM's?!!! I didnt know they were poisonous!!

Why didnt i know this???!!

He's had like 10-20 in his feed every day!!
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I've only had him a month, so we're still getting to know each other. He's VERY laid back, but not sure if this could be lethargy?
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Mollymurphy - my name is Chungalung because i heard a baby say it on the tele and thought it was cool!!!

So, how can i treat this then??
 
I would ring your vet and take it from there. No advice anyone on a forum can give you will be anywhere near good enough I'm afraid (unless they say ring the vet, obviously!
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[ QUOTE ]
That was a rather rude reply, the person asked for advice.

[/ QUOTE ] But she's given advice - to not feed anymore and remove any in the field. Plus gave her personal experience. What's rude about that
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I've got LOADS of horsey books - NONE of them mention acorns! They all just go on about ragwort!
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Oh my god, i'm such a horrible person.
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I'm so embarrassed.

I DO think he's ok though, but will ring the vet anyway. Good job he's insured eh?!

STRESS!!!
 
But Chungalung used that term in the original post about the people from the yard! It wasn't reference to posters on here! Obviously a bit of internet miscommunication
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Hi Chungalung, I would give your vet a call ASAP so he/she can check your horse over. Some horses have a tendancy to have a taste for Acorns, if you have one that does like the others have said, go pick them up and dispose of them so she can't eat any more. The odd one or two won't do her too much harm, but consistently eating them can do severe damage. I do hope your horse is alrite and that you have caught it in time for there to be no lasting damage.

Well done you for asking the question. Remember everyone we all started somewhere.

If you feel that some of the people at your yard are being know it all's just nicely ask them to give you a website link or which book you can read up on whatever subject they are referring to. That way you can learn from them and extend your knowledge yourself.

Once again best of luck with your new horse.
 
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I've got LOADS of horsey books - NONE of them mention acorns! They all just go on about ragwort!
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Oh my god, i'm such a horrible person.
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I'm so embarrassed.

I DO think he's ok though, but will ring the vet anyway. Good job he's insured eh?!

STRESS!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you tried the pony club ones? They often have lists of poisonous plants in - I am sure 'keeping a pony at grass' used to, although it is a long time since I have looked at it!
 
Don't panic and don't be embaressed - at least you've come on here and asked the question in the first place! Ignore the abusive PMs - some of us find out stuff the hard way - no one has to sit a horse ownership exam before they get a horse! Good luck
 
Hi -
Although i agree some way with the rest of the posts here, my horse ate loads of acorns once, and was not bothered by them in any way. I did have a word with my vet who said that oddly some horses they bother, others they dont! My one was a dont (thankfully).

I am not saying they are not poisoness, just that they may not affect yr horse, although better checked out.
 
Don't stress about not knowing, just learn by it. We are all learning all the time and there is always something that you don't know.

Call your vet and get him checked over. I am sure that you would know the difference between your boy being laid back and being lethargic, I'm sure he will be fine. Clear the acorns out asap though.

Hope he is ok
 
When i said know-it-alls, i mean they are genuine real-life b1tches! They all laugh at me all of the time, just because i dont compete at the level they do! What's wrong with being a happy-hacker???
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I've called the vet and he's coming out asap. Will let you know what happens.

Thank you to everyone (except the horrible PMers!!) for the advice.
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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
That was a rather rude reply, the person asked for advice.

[/ QUOTE ] But she's given advice - to not feed anymore and remove any in the field. Plus gave her personal experience. What's rude about that
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[/ QUOTE ]


Erm exactly...... I wasnt trying to be rude Jeez!!
 
Was jsut going to post that, TGM lexie was jsut referring back to Chungalung's original post ! There is no call for people to send nasty PMs AT ALL for whatever reason, especially to a newbie asking a genuine question, unless it was that pesky little troll coming back for a second attempt....he likes to send abusive PMs.
 
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Sorry mis-understaning I thought you were calling the people who had posted 'Know-it alls'
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Sorry again.

[/ QUOTE ]

No worries, was abit confused as to why people were jumping on me for offering the OP some advise????
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