Horses’ digestive systems are tailored for herbivorous diets, and consuming the wrong foods could result in colic, breathing issues or other health complications – some items they shouldn’t consume include chocolate (theobromine), garlic and foxglove.
Allium family plants such as leeks, onions, shallots and chives can be toxic to horses because they contain N-propyl disulphide which destroys red blood cells, leading to anaemia. Unpitted fruit can also pose risks as it could cause choking.
Avocado
Horses are herbivores and while certain fruits and vegetables may be harmless for them to consume, others could prove hazardous – or even lethal! One such food item that could harm or poison horses includes avocados – while not poisonous in itself, their skins and leaves contain Persin, which causes serious health problems in horses including colic, irregular heartbeats, respiratory distress and neurologic dysfunction, which could prove fatal if left untreated.
Well, there’s good news! Horses can find safe, healthy treats to add as treats or to their regular diet. Carrots make an ideal low-cal treat, though be careful that any large pieces are cut up into small enough pieces so as to avoid choking hazards. They’re also packed with vitamin A which provides numerous health benefits to your horse! Celery also makes an ideal low-calorie veggie option; just remember to feed in moderation to prevent an upset stomach!
Cucumbers are another delicious treat that horses enjoy munching on, though the large sizes of these vegetables must be cut up into smaller pieces for their safety. Cucumbers provide healthy potassium sources as well as folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin C – providing your horse with essential nutrition!
Make a list of food items that could be harmful or toxic for horses so owners are aware and can prevent any accidents from happening. For optimal horse health, ensure there is plenty of grass pasture, alfalfa, and clean water available at all times.
Cauliflower
A horse’s diet should consist of hay and recently harvested grass. However, certain vegetables should also be added for vitamins and minerals – including turnips, carrots and apples. Cauliflower and other members of the brassica family (broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbages) should be avoided due to potential gas colic complications which can cause discomfort in your horse as well as cause potential death.
Problematic vegetables contain Raffinose, a sugar that horses cannot easily digest. This causes intestinal gas, making your horse uncomfortable and possibly stopping him or her from eating as horses are large animals that need constant sustenance. This can be very dangerous when coupled with their massive size requiring plenty of food sources to survive.
Vegetables can not only cause gas, but can also disrupt your horse’s gut microbes and lead to laminitis or founder. A vet should treat this immediately because it could prove fatal for horses.
Horses should avoid eating rhubarb leaves and stems as these can be poisonous to their kidneys, potentially leading to severe pain or even death. Furthermore, its chemicals may create an imbalance that leads to kidney failure – should any be given at all it should be in small pieces so the horse can digest them more easily; otherwise it is best to switch their diet up with another vegetable that won’t compromise their wellbeing.
Meat
Horses cannot vomit out spoiled meat like carnivores can, so even one bite could potentially become harmful or toxic for their system. Therefore, it’s wisest to refrain from feeding your horse anything toxic or potentially hazardous.
Horses typically eat grass for their meals, but as treats they may enjoy some fruits or vegetables. Cauliflower is considered gastric ulcer-causing. Apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries and plums as well as cantaloupe melons make excellent treats; any with pits or seeds should not be given as these could become serious choking hazards for the animal.
Grapes and avocados should also be avoided due to the persin they contain – a chemical which is toxic for horses. Consumption can have serious repercussions for their health including colic respiratory distress, edema, irregular heartbeat and neurological dysfunction or death.
Some people mistakenly feed their horses cheese, milk and dairy products thinking that these will provide extra protein boost. Unfortunately, horses are naturally lactose intolerant. Rhubarb leaves can also be detrimental as they contain high levels of calcium oxalates that damage digestion and urinary tract, leading to kidney failure. Since horses’ digestive systems were never meant for meat consumption anyways it’s best to provide plants as snacks; otherwise your horse might seek it out and eat it regardless.
Persimmon
Horses are herbivores, meaning most fruits and vegetables are safe for them to eat in small quantities. There are some things, however, which could potentially harm horses; make sure yours does not consume these items.
Lawn clippings should not be fed to horses due to potential toxic plants and mold growth that could pose health threats to them. Another item you should avoid feeding your horse is Aesculus hippocastanum’s yew (Aesculus hippocastanum), as this plant contains alkaloid poisons in its leaves, seed berries and stem bark that may prove fatal for horses grazing nearby hay fields or pastures later on. It is imperative that any clippings do not end up there!
Your horse should avoid consuming stems and seeds from any cruciferous vegetable family members such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, turnips or cabbage as these vegetables may be difficult for it to digest and could potentially cause colic. Furthermore, these foods often contain raffinose which causes intestinal gas formation as well as intestinal blockages.
Fruits that may be suitable for horses to eat include bananas, ripe pears, grapes and watermelons. When giving your horse fruit as treats it should only be given occasionally as too much sugar can have detrimental effects on his dental health and take note that you should remove its pit before feeding to him in case it poses a potential choke hazard.
Many horse owners also enjoy feeding their horses carrots, and this can be safely done in small quantities. Horses may also eat the peel of bananas; however, it’s essential that any stems be removed as this poses a potential choking hazard.
Foxglove
Foxglove flowers, often mistaken for ragwort, can be highly toxic to horses and can even result in their death within hours of ingestion. Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides which interfere with sodium-potassium ATPase function resulting in intracellular calcium accumulation which disrupts electrical conduction within heart cells resulting in ventricular fibrillation or cardiac arrest.
Even though horses tend to avoid this unappetizing weed, it’s possible for them to consume it accidentally in hay or paddock where it has been dumped. Commonly known as Jack Weed or Devil’s Trumpet (sometimes even Stink Weed), this plant can also be found in agricultural fields and overgrazed pastures and all parts are poisonous to horses due to tropane alkaloids found within. Signs include weak pulse, dilated pupils, incoordination diarrhea convulsions even convulsions (even leading up to coma!).
Rhododendrons and their seeds or saplings contain Hypoglycin-A, a protein which is linked to Atypical Myopathy (AM). When eaten, Atypical Myopathy causes symptoms including muscular stiffness, tremors and sweating in addition to rapid heart rate, dark urine production and difficulty breathing – all symptoms indicative of Atypical Myopathy.
Rhododendrons tend to be unpalatable to horses, so it’s wise to remove any potential poisonous plants from gardens or hedgerows by either pulling or digging. All parts of rhododendron plants can be toxic for horses – stems and leaves particularly dangerous – leading to respiratory failure characterized by rapid heart rate, labored breathing and difficulty swallowing in affected horses.