As gardening season is ramping up, I wanted to share a quick list of toxic fruits and vegetables (plus a couple of bonus foods) that you should never feed your horse.
1. Potatoes
Potatoes contain atropine which can have a paralytic effect on the horse’s GI tract leading to severe colic. All parts of the potato plant are toxic.
2. Chocolate
Chocolate often contains theobromine, a compound that can cause seizures and internal bleeding. Other signs of toxicity include increased heart rate, restlessness, muscle tremors, and diarrhea.
3. Tomatoes
Tomatoes contain ample amounts of an alkaloid known as tomatine, which is toxic to horses. Tomatine causes many health issues including gastric distress, colic, and can even cause death at high doses.
4. Rhubarb
Rhubarb leaves are known to contain soluble oxalates which are natural compounds found in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and grains. When ingested by the horse, these oxalates crystallize in the kidneys which can lead to kidney failure and death.
5. Bread
Bread is low in calcium but high in phosphorus. High levels of phosphorus can interfere with calcium absorption and lead to a deficiency in calcium.
This deficiency causes the equine body to pull existing calcium from bones, weakening them and making them brittle. All in all, bread may not be “toxic”, but it is not a good idea to feed it regardless.
6. Stone fruits (avocado, peaches, cherries, etc.)
Stone fruits contain multiple compounds that interfere with the horse’s digestive system. For example, persin in avocados can cause colic, irregular heartbeat, respiratory distress, neurologic dysfunction, and edema.
Equally toxic are cherry, peach, and plum trees. When wilted, these trees’ leaves produce cyanide, affecting horses within a few hours of ingestion.
7. Dairy products
Horses, like many other animals, are lactose intolerant. This means that they lack the ability to digest lactose. Consumption of lactose-containing foods (milk, cheese, etc.) can lead to severe GI upset and diarrhea.
8. Cruciferous Vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, kale, etc.)
Cruciferous vegetables are known to cause mammalian bodies to produce excess gas. While this may not be problematic for humans, the horse’s sensitive digestive tract is at risk of gas colic and GI discomfort.
Thank you for reading about 8 toxic foods for horses! Did any of this information surprise you? Let us know! We’d love to hear from you!
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References and additional reading material
- Can Horses Eat Tomatoes? – Equine Institute
- Chocolate Toxicosis in Animals – Merck Veterinary Manual
- Plants Toxic to Horses – Speed Horse
- Rhubarb – Horse DVM
- Avocados Can Be Toxic to Horses – Kentucky Equine Research
- Feeding Bread to Horses – Veterinary Partner
- Can Horses Eat Fruits and Vegetables? – My New Horse