ldlp111
Well-Known Member
does anyone know how long it takes to affect them really bad because ive always thought its years but im not so sure now.
ragwort poisoning??
- Thread starter ldlp111
- Start date
piebaldsparkle
Well-Known Member
It's accumulativeIt's accumulative so depends on their general health and how much they are eating. Personally I wouldnt allow access to it at all. Why do you ask?
welshied
Well-Known Member
It depends on how much they have eaten and what health they have. I hate the stuff and check fields weekly
ldlp111
Well-Known Member
just wondered im so paranoid about my horses apparently you can get blood tests done to check liver health etc im so tempted.
also other problem we have it one of fields we use for hay does get ragwort in altho we check every year for the stuff before baling how came we be sure it is all gone!! like i siad im paranoid and most of hay does get sold so what are the chances if there was any that it would be mine to eat sed bale anyway... i think im going crazy.
also other problem we have it one of fields we use for hay does get ragwort in altho we check every year for the stuff before baling how came we be sure it is all gone!! like i siad im paranoid and most of hay does get sold so what are the chances if there was any that it would be mine to eat sed bale anyway... i think im going crazy.
Berkeley
Well-Known Member
Its not just the fields you have to watch - it can be in the hay. When it is in the hay it is already dried so it doesn't put the horses off eating it.
Berkeley
Well-Known Member
My mare had a blood test for ragwort poisoning this week. Luckily no traces were found. The vet thought she had severe liver problems and thought it Ragwort might be the cause.
ldlp111
Well-Known Member
but would you know have one done every year? just to be sure?
Slinkyunicorn
Well-Known Member
My understanding is that the damage takes years to show as it slowly damages the liver - unfourtunatley by the time the horse starts showing signs/symptoms it is sadly to late - liver is damaged beyond repair.
ldlp111
Well-Known Member
yeah thats why i thought about having a yearly blood test to check for liver health etc
Slinkyunicorn
Well-Known Member
The thing is even if it does show damage it is not reversible so there is nothing they can do about it - have it done if you have good reason to be concerned otherwise just check your fields etc as normal
ldlp111
Well-Known Member
well if you catch it in time apparently it can be fixed.
also how does ivy afftect them?
also how does ivy afftect them?
Slinkyunicorn
Well-Known Member
No idea about ivy - sorry!
welshied
Well-Known Member
If you catch it early nothing can be done it is too late you may be able to prolong it but it can't be fixed
ldlp111
Well-Known Member
found this
All parts of the plant contains alkaloids which cause irreversible liver damage, this poison is not destroyed by drying or storing. Fortunately the living plant tastes very bitter and horses usually avoid it. However if grazing becomes short, they may eat significant amounts and, if it is cut and left in the field, or broken off as happens when the animals are walking or grazing through it, it will become more palatable. It is most dangerous when baled with hay. Incorporated in hay or silage it is virtually impossible to detect ragwort by examination and even small amounts can cause serious liver damage, although luckily the liver can regenerate itself to some degree if caught early enough. However ragwort also reduces this ability so continued ingestion over the winter can cause serious liver failure in spring or early summer when the sunlight becomes stronger. Several small doses of ragwort are just as dangerous as one large one, with the toxin building up in a horse over a number of years, until eventually the level at which symptoms start to appear is reached.
Signs of ragwort poisoning are usually difficult to detect, often the horse will look well and perform normally and only when the greater part of the liver is irrepairably damaged will clinical signs develop.
All parts of the plant contains alkaloids which cause irreversible liver damage, this poison is not destroyed by drying or storing. Fortunately the living plant tastes very bitter and horses usually avoid it. However if grazing becomes short, they may eat significant amounts and, if it is cut and left in the field, or broken off as happens when the animals are walking or grazing through it, it will become more palatable. It is most dangerous when baled with hay. Incorporated in hay or silage it is virtually impossible to detect ragwort by examination and even small amounts can cause serious liver damage, although luckily the liver can regenerate itself to some degree if caught early enough. However ragwort also reduces this ability so continued ingestion over the winter can cause serious liver failure in spring or early summer when the sunlight becomes stronger. Several small doses of ragwort are just as dangerous as one large one, with the toxin building up in a horse over a number of years, until eventually the level at which symptoms start to appear is reached.
Signs of ragwort poisoning are usually difficult to detect, often the horse will look well and perform normally and only when the greater part of the liver is irrepairably damaged will clinical signs develop.
Box_Of_Frogs
Well-Known Member
ldlp111 - I have a rescued mare that has ragwort poisoning. She was rescued from a bare field, yellow with ragwort. She was as close to death as it's possible to be when she came and the blood tests showed such terrible liver damage that my vets said the kindest thing would be to put her to sleep immediately. However, they reckoned without the iron will of a native gipsy cob, my YO's extensive experience of rescue horses, immediate extensive information from Prof Knottenbelt (world expert on ragwort poisoning in horses), a tailored low-protein diet, milk thistle and Yea sac, keeping out of the sun, a regular routine and tlc, tlc, tlc, tlc by the ton.
She had a 2nd blood test which showed that we had caught the progression of liver damage just in time and she now has enough functioning liver to enable her to live an almost "normal" life.
These are the things you need to know:
1 as others have said, ragwort damage is cumulative
2 ragwort poisoning usually only shows when the horse has about 70% of its liver damaged. Over 76% damage and all horses will die
3 There is currently no definitive test for ragwort poisoning. Blood tests look for raised levels of enzymes etc that tell you the horse has liver damage, but not what is causing it. The only definitive test is a liver biopsy, which can be risky, especially if it IS ragwort poisoning. Ragwort damaged livers cannot clot the blood properly so any invasive treatment needs to bear this in mind. You can be pretty sure it's ragwort poisoning if the horse is lethargic, losing weight, acute photosensivity, loss of appetite, loss of interest in life, stumbling, staggering, blindness, standing in a dark corner pressing the head into the wall, jaundice visible as yellowing of the gums and eyes, erratic and disturbing behaviour, self harm and harm to the owner
3 Livers can regenerate but ragwort damaged livers CANNOT. Ragwort poisoning is for life
4 You need to start an immediate liver support programme: low protein diet, never, ever any oils eg in conditioning mixes, Yea Sac which aids hind gut digestion, small and frequent meals, stabled out of the summer sun (no sun creams will help), liver flush if your vets feel it would help.
5 It's no good doing an annual blood test. You have to remove all and any trace of ragwort from your pasture and hay. Don't forget, it's cumulative so if your horse had eg 69% liver damage and it ate a tiny amount of ragwort, that could be the end. It's down to the owner to PREVENT, not cure
As you can tell, I'm passionate about ragwort! Let me know if you need any more info x
She had a 2nd blood test which showed that we had caught the progression of liver damage just in time and she now has enough functioning liver to enable her to live an almost "normal" life.
These are the things you need to know:
1 as others have said, ragwort damage is cumulative
2 ragwort poisoning usually only shows when the horse has about 70% of its liver damaged. Over 76% damage and all horses will die
3 There is currently no definitive test for ragwort poisoning. Blood tests look for raised levels of enzymes etc that tell you the horse has liver damage, but not what is causing it. The only definitive test is a liver biopsy, which can be risky, especially if it IS ragwort poisoning. Ragwort damaged livers cannot clot the blood properly so any invasive treatment needs to bear this in mind. You can be pretty sure it's ragwort poisoning if the horse is lethargic, losing weight, acute photosensivity, loss of appetite, loss of interest in life, stumbling, staggering, blindness, standing in a dark corner pressing the head into the wall, jaundice visible as yellowing of the gums and eyes, erratic and disturbing behaviour, self harm and harm to the owner
3 Livers can regenerate but ragwort damaged livers CANNOT. Ragwort poisoning is for life
4 You need to start an immediate liver support programme: low protein diet, never, ever any oils eg in conditioning mixes, Yea Sac which aids hind gut digestion, small and frequent meals, stabled out of the summer sun (no sun creams will help), liver flush if your vets feel it would help.
5 It's no good doing an annual blood test. You have to remove all and any trace of ragwort from your pasture and hay. Don't forget, it's cumulative so if your horse had eg 69% liver damage and it ate a tiny amount of ragwort, that could be the end. It's down to the owner to PREVENT, not cure
As you can tell, I'm passionate about ragwort! Let me know if you need any more info x
ldlp111
Well-Known Member
no thats brilliant thanks speaking of ragwort dug more up today, altho we do everything in our power to get rid of this terrible weed like constantly checking the fields for it i guess there is always a risk of baling some in hay etc, im just paranoid altho all of horses seem fit and well i just worry about hidden things.
i hope the horse you are talking about keeps getting better.
i hope the horse you are talking about keeps getting better.
Box_Of_Frogs
Well-Known Member
Thanks ldlp111. The mare is Angel and I gave her a year to recover her strength and joy in living, then last August/September she was backed! At 12 yrs old! She's turned out to be every mother's dream of a horse. She'll plod round the lanes, canter sedately and with stunning brakes, win you first prize every time out in walk and trot dressage or just have fun on in the school. I can't believe it - I didn't think she'd last the few months to Christmas 2007, never mind prove to be such a safe ride. But her liver will always be borderline and I daren't trust her within 5 miles of ragwort because some horses can get addicted to the bitter taste and home in on it. Good luck with your neds hun x