Toxicology

Figure 3. Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) is a common weed and contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause liver damage.

Summer poisoning hazards

European adders (Vipera berus berus, Figure 1) are most active in the summer. Although relatively common in dogs, envenomation from an adder bite can also occur in large animals including horses....

Figure 1. Bracken in a fern and is one of the world's most abundant plants. It produces lush green growth, a) Courtesy of Elizabeth Dauncey), but is also toxic when dried (b).

Bracken and horsetail poisoning

As stated, poisoning only occurs after ingestion of bracken for several weeks (Hadwen and Bruce, 1917); with horsetail, clinical signs occur after grazing for 2-5 weeks (younger, growing animals...

Figure 5. Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and chronic grazing can cause liver failure.

Poisoning in donkeys

The Donkey Sanctuary website is a valuable source of material on donkey care and behaviour for owners and veterinary professionals..

Figure 2. Multiple bee stings can cause multi-organ damage in victims.

Summer poisoning hazards

Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) https://www.vpisglobal.com/ American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Poison Control Center:...

Figure 1. The paired winged fruits (samaras) of sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) containing two seeds. Only the seeds contain hypoglycin A.

Atypical myopathy

Atypical myopathy is seasonal and occurs in horses at pasture that eat the seeds and seedlings of sycamore or box elder. Various factors may be involved but most cases occur in the autumn from...

Figure 5. The main toxin compound in Helleborous species (hellebore) is protoanemonin.

Spring poisoning hazards

European adders (Vipera berus berus) hibernate from around October to February. They emerge when the weather warms and bites typically occur in the spring and summer. Although relatively common in...