Strange Things In Droppings? Poo Photos!

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merlin100

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Today I noticed some strange things in my ponies droppings. It looks like something that hasn't been broken down by digestion. I wonder if someone has fed her something they shouldn't have. I broke the stools apart for a better look.

Any ideas?

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No idea...I would have said some sort of nuts or acorns as well, or perhaps berries?
Are they hard or soft?
 
Acorns tend to still look very much like they did before they were eaten, these appear to have broken down a little so my guess would be sweet chestnuts or horse chestnuts, conkers, that will be slightly softer and chewed before swallowing, whatever it is there is a fair amount there.
 
merlin100 said:
I believe some of these things are toxic. The pony appeared fine and healthy earlier on this afternoon.
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Conkers and acorns can be toxic but a few are unlikely to do any harm to a fit healthy pony, if you have trees within the field it may be a good idea to fence off but it could be that as it is half term some local kids have been out feeding her.
 
I agree they do look like some sort of nut. Get your Marigolds on merlin and take some home for dissection, to find out more :)
 
I'll check the field again tomorrow morning when it's light to see what's there. There are some mature trees that overhang into the field.
 
I have oak trees everywhere - but my horses never seem to bother with acorns (thank goodness.) But one year I had two fillies who went berserk for them - hoovering them up the second they were turned out. Obviously I fenced the whole boundary of the field as quick as I saw it happening - and no ill effects. So well spotted. Whatever they are, the obvious in-digestibility may have put your horse off for the future but you do need to track what they were - and if they are poisonous (and obviously where they came from.) And check poo in a few days to see if it WAS a one-off!
 
Here's some photos of the tree and fruit that I think are in the droppings. I've no idea what they are, but they are the size of grapes, if that helps?

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Quinces for definite. We have a bust in the front garden with fruit at three moment . Definitely not poisonous. My friend makes jam from them..... They are obviously quite indigestible to horses though lol..

Fiona
 
Fiona said:
Quinces for definite. We have a bust in the front garden with fruit at three moment . Definitely not poisonous. My friend makes jam from them..... They are obviously quite indigestible to horses though lol..
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Wrong, I'm afraid. Quinces contain cyanogenic glycosides - as do a number of plants (including apples - so take care!) Plants that contain cyanogenic glycosides release cyanide when they are damaged or exposed to drought and frost conditions. Single stomached animals (horses, humans, pigs) are less likely to suffer. The lethal dose is 1 mg/lb of bodyweight.
 
JanetGeorge said:
Wrong, I'm afraid. Quinces contain cyanogenic glycosides - as do a number of plants (including apples - so take care!) Plants that contain cyanogenic glycosides release cyanide when they are damaged or exposed to drought and frost conditions. Single stomached animals (horses, humans, pigs) are less likely to suffer. The lethal dose is 1 mg/lb of bodyweight.
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Are they safe after cooking then??? Because she definitely makes jam with them...

How many quince (or indeed apples) would you need to eat to have a problem?

Fiona
 
It's the seeds that are toxic - and of course horses would eat the whole fruit including seeds. Apples the same - but still quite a lot need to be eaten - seeds and all. The mathematics is past me at the end of a long day but it's something like 0.5–3.5 milligrams per kilogram to be toxic.

ETA - and about 100 seeds weigh one gram!
 
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I split the fruit open from the tree with my nails, but didn't smell of anything. If that means anything at all?

Is it toxic to horses or ponies at all?
 
what are the leaves like on the tree? can't really see. Could they just be crab apples? There are so many different kinds, some are green, some yellow and some red like little cherries. My horses go mad for them for about 10 minutes, then they decide they are vile.
 
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