Page 803 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

cause of the peritonitis and how quickly the appropriate treatment is given. Unfortunately

there is no laboratory test that is helpful in determining which cases are likely to survive and
VetBooks.ir treatment is very expensive. A good response to the initial treatment is a hopeful sign. The
reported mortality rate is between 25 and 70%. Horses with postoperative peritonitis are

reported to have a high mortality rate.

POISONOUS PLANTS

There are a large number of plants that are potentially poisonous to horses in Britain. Horses

and ponies at pasture are especially at risk at those times of year when grass is in short
supply. The degree of toxicity varies, some being dangerous in small doses and others

requiring consumption of larger amounts over longer periods of time. Fortunately poisoning
is rare, but tends to be blamed as the cause of any mystery illness. To minimize risks as far as

possible, poisonous plants should be identified and removed from the pasture.

Some of the poisonous plants found in Britain

Alder buckthorn Bracken Chickweed
Black bryony Broom Clover
Black nightshade Buckthorn Columbine
Bluebell bulbs Buckwheat Corncockle
Bog asphodel Buttercup Cowbane
Box Charlock Cuckoo pint
Daffodil bulbs Horseradish Poppy
Darnel Horsetail Potato
Deadly nightshade Hyacinth bulbs Privet
Flax Iris Ragwort
Foxglove Kale Rhododendron
Fritillaria Laburnum Sandwort
Greater celandine Larkspur Snowdrop bulbs
Ground ivy Laurel Soapwort
Hellebore Lily of the valley Sowbread
Hemlock Linseed St John’s wort
Hemlock water dropwort Lupin Sycamore
Hemp Meadow saffron Thornapple
Hemp nettle Monkshood White bryony
Henbane Oak Yew
Herb Paris Pimpernel

A number of the commonest poisonous plants are discussed in more detail below.