Poisonous plants
Not all poisonings are fatal; sometimes the result can be serious digestive upsets, convulsions or your donkey may be off colour. We recommend that you buy good quality hay and check that it does not contain poisonous plants. Prevention is better than cure. If you suspect your donkey has eaten parts of poisonous plants or trees, or the donkey shows any unusual symptoms, call your vet immediately.
Horsetail (Mare's tail)
All varieties of horsetail (mare's tail) is poisonous but field horsetail and marsh horsetail are most likely to cause poisoning. It is a perennial plant with creeping underground stems from which green, jointed, upright stems grow in spring. Poisoning is most likely to occur when horsetail is present in hay or bedding.
Privet
Wild privet is found on chalky soils and garden privet is a popular hedge plant. The wild species has narrow, pointed, smooth leaves that are bright green and shiny when young and become darker and dull as they mature. Those of the garden privet are shorter, rarely more than 3cm long and are more oval in shape with small white flowers with a tubular base and a sweetish smell, black berries appear in the autumn.
Ragwort
Ragwort acts as a cumulative poison, eventually destroying the liver. It is a yellow flowering weed and is poisonous both dead and alive. Ragwort can cause serious liver damage over a period of time. It must be pulled with gloves in the early floret stage and burnt. Be very aware of this weed both on your pasture and in the hay. High risk and a common cause of chronic liver disease.
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is an evergreen shrub with tough and leathery elongated leaves, dark green above and paler beneath. The large cone shaped buds develop into domed clusters of bell shaped flowers. Rhododendrons are often eaten when animals escape and eat the hedgerow or garden refuge or when food is scarce. After being eaten, it can kill in few hours.
English
Italiano
