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Discussion on Oleander Poisoning
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Member:
Paix
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 7:15 pm:
My 3.8 y/o DraftXPaint died 3 weeks ago. When I took him into the hospital, they cldnt find anything wrong and he progressively got worse over a couple days. I had an autopsy done and his stomach contents confirmed Oleander poisoning.
I am sick about this - I want to scream. I miss him so much.
I have never lost a young horse, or any horse for that matter, other than natural, "end of life," up in their mid 30s kind of loss.
I am completely distraught. I had him, and my other two horses, boarded on a private ranch. The ranch owner never told me there was any danger of Oleander until the night my horse was in the hospital and the Vet asked if it was possible due to his progressive signs.
She then told me, "my neighbors have Oleander along our shared fence."
I cant believe that someone would not tell their boarder of the possible danger. I dont know what to do or if there is ANYTHING I can do.
The shared fence is along one of her turn out/pastures - she had all three of my boys out there for three days. If I had known the possibility of Oleander was just the other side of the chain link fence, I would have never allowed my horses to be turned out in that area.
She turns her horses out there all the time. I would never take the risk - I dont get it?
You cant see the plants on the other side of the chain link fence because there is faux wood woven through the chain link - it wld be inpossible for me to have known unless she told me.
Im so upset - I feel such rage about it - he died so unnecessarily.
I really dont know how to deal with this - Ive never had this experience.
I moved there in Jan. I am only there temporarily - I have a small ranch in Escrow closing this Friday (4/2). I cant help but think of all the "What ifs" and "I should haves...."
Im am sick about this. I feel like I am leaving him behind when I move this Friday. I never fathomed Id only be moving the two of them into the new place.
Thanks for listening....
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 10:37 pm:
My deepest condolences dina. As oleander is one of the most toxic plants I know of maybe the folks did not understand the risk, it is truly surprising how little can cause death. For everyone out there it is not just horses but children and other livestock who have died do to incidental ingestion with this plant.
DrO
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Member:
Maureen
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004 - 10:54 pm:
I am very sorry for your loss, Dina.
Dr. O., is there a link to find out which plants are toxic and tasty to horses? Especially the common "backyard" plants?
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Member:
Frances
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 6:15 am:
I understand your grief and rage at this unnecessary death. So very sorry.
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 10:49 am:
Dina, I'm so very sorry for your loss, unnecessary besides. How horrible. I think I'd see a lawyer, or at the least, ask them to pay the expenses that you have regarding your beloved horse since his death. So sorry. Love, Shirl
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Member:
Bethyg2
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 11:31 am:
What a terrible thing, Dina, I am so sorry for your loss. That boarding stable ought to have known better, and they should take care of your expenses if not the value of your animal.There have been cases like this in court, one I remember involving the lippizaner performing troupe that got access to yew bushes planted near a wash stall. Letting others know what happened may save horses' lives- especially the horses that will probably be turned out in the same pasture today.-Beth Gordon
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Member:
Cowgrl
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 1:14 pm:
Oh Dina, I am so so sorry for the loss of your beloved boy. The stable owner should have known better and asked the people in the next yard to remove the plants or kept them cut back so the horses couldn't reach it.
I don't know if there's much that can be done legally. It sounds from your post that the barn owner didn't know the toxicity level of the Oleander and didn't think it important to mention to you. Unfortunately, you can't sue someone for ignorance.
Please don't beat yourself up over this. It wasn't your fault and there was really nothing you could have done as you didn't know it was there. A change of location might be what you need instead of being around a ranch that reminds you of him every day and never lets you get over the pain. He'll always live on in your heart and you'll see him again when you reach the rainbow bridge where he's waiting to cross with you.
Holly
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004 - 3:08 pm:
I'm so sorry for the loss of your "boy." It is hard for me to believe that someone who lives where oleander grows wouldn't be aware that it's poisonous. Maybe they didn't understand just how poisonous it is, as Dr. O. said. Even then, I don't understand why they didn't mention it to you sooner. Bringing attention to the cause of his death might bring some "purpose" to it. I don't know about how much good a lawyer would do, but maybe the barn owners would put an ad or notice in the paper warning others about the dangers of oleanders, give a talk at the local 4H re: poisonous plants, - things along that line might prevent future loss. Also, you could put an obit in the paper including how he died.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 7:53 am:
Maureen we have a poisonous plant page at Equine Diseases » Poisons , Venoms & Poisonous Plants » Poisons, Poisonous Plants, and Venemous Animals.
DrO
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Member:
Paix
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 6:47 pm:
Thank you EVERYONE for sharing all ur thots on Chester. I start crying all over again when reading the warm responses.
The owner hasnt spoken to me since I told her the results from the autopsy. She knows the Oleander is there, yet still turns out her horses in that one pasture that shares the fence.
When we were still awaiting autopsy results, she showed me the area along the fence. You cant see the Oleander since the chain link fence has thick material (wood particle?), woven through it. She thot it impossible that horses wld ever get any of it.
I looked closely at the whole fence line, and there is no chewing damage thru the woven wood or any appearence of Oleander on her side. It gets very windy in her area - and just so happend the 2 of the three days my boys were turned out there - were incredibly windy days.
Vet said some dried Oleander leaves or stems could have easily blown into the pasture.
I just wld never have allowed my horses to be turned out there in the first place. I shld have been informed so I cld choose to take the risk, or not. Had I known the other side of the fence had this plant - or ANY toxic plants - it just wouldnt of happened.
For now, my other two boys arent allowed to be turned out anywhere but the arena. I dont have a place to move them right now - I am in moving transition waiting for my new place to close Escrow (hopefully in a few days!) - then they will be living with me AGAIN!
I cant wait to have them back in my FULL care.
Chester will have a beautiful SAFE tree planted at our new place.
AND - I tell everyone I can, abt this experience. I knew Oleander was very toxic to animals and humans since I used to have it wild in my front yard. It is all over the place (wild) here in California. It lines a lot of the freeways here. Its very recognizable.
Some people respond with amazement and share their stories of seeing Oleander on the trails, but had no idea the LEVEL of toxicity for horses.
Thanks again for all ur responses and for listening...
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Member:
Maureen
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 7:48 pm:
Thanks, Dr. O....I shoulda found it on my own!
Is oleander appealing to horses? do they like the taste?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Apr 2, 2004 - 6:51 am:
I have heard it is not very palatable and poisoning usually occurs when the horses are bored or hungry.
DrO
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New Member:
Cgby1
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Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 10:01 pm:
Hi, I am a new member and reading about Oleander poisoning reminded me of a horse many years ago that managed to grab some leaves while riding at dusk. No one realized it until the vet diagnosed it. I know of a stable owner who has it growing along her front fence with horses penned on the other side. She has had many people tell her about the danger but insists that there is nothing to worry about, the horses wont eat it. Cynthia
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Member:
Ilona
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Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 10:56 pm:
Oleander is potentially deadly. I have a horse currently on 60 days stall rest in the hopes of preventing laminitis that could result from enteritis. The cause of the enteritis: accidental exposure to DEAD oleander leaves. The tiniest amount is hugely toxic. There is a whole list of plants toxic to horses. The enteritis caused enormous pain, a 2 hour trailer ride to the nearest facility. It necesitated emergency surgery, 10 days in an equine hospital and a $10,000 vet bill. Please take the plant seriously.
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Member:
Cathytay
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Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:29 am:
Wow, I'm so glad I happened onto this discussion. Here in southern AZ., most horses live in dry paddocks and live predominantly on hay. We have some very tall Oleander plants on one side of our yard (a good 75 yards from the horse paddock). They were already on the property and provide a nice screen between our house and the neighbors. I've been letting my 5 year old gelding into the yard to graze on the lawn areas when I get home from work "as a treat". I realized that I have to "babysit" him because I've actually caught him wandering over to nibble on dry mesquite leaves and old, leftover Oleander leaves, instead of staying in the lawn. He's learned now that when I begin walking (running) in the direction of the Oleanders, while scolding him to "get back in the yard and eat the grass!", he actually turns and goes back to grazing. I have also heard in the past that horses would not eat the leaves unless extremely hungry. It amazes me that he would even venture away from the grass, which is a luxury in our dry climate. Thanks for the reminder of just how toxic Oleander can be. Trust me, he WON"T be coming into the yard again, unless I keep an eye on him EVERY second!
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Member:
Quatro
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Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 2:36 pm:
Cynthia, maybe you could run a copy of some of the very sad posts on this site, and let this person read them. Perhaps if it would save one horse and owner from the horrible experience it would be worth the effort!
suz
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Member:
Ilona
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Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 5:06 pm:
Cathy, I live in Sedona, yes it is dry, and oleander is everywhere. I thought I had cleaned it all out. I believe some wind must have blown the tiniest piece of dead leaf into their hay. Arizona and california use oleander a great deal for landscaping as it is so hardy. By the way, it is deadly for humans too.
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Member:
Bethyg2
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Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 5:29 pm:
THIS IS WHY I GOT MY OWN PLACE! No one takes care of your horses like you do. I cannot imagine not telling anyone about the oleander at a stable or along a shared fence. How ridiculous. I live in one of those gated Florida "Equestrian Communities" where now only 50% of the residents keep horses, the rest are just there for the land to build giant homes on. They don't get it and plant all manner of deadly plants including oleander. There is tension brewing between horse and non-horse people!! I want to move, but the husband wants to stay for now.  I am just waiting for my neighbor to plant oleander, he does not have horses. I tell him at least once every few months not to plant it, and so far so good. It isn't even that nice, as it becomes at once infested with icky caterpillars here in Fla. What I'd like to see is a list of "OK to Eat" plants suitable for planting near, not in, livestock areas. There are lists of what NOT to plant,but I still am afraid to buy unknown plants at home depo and always end up with pansies or marigolds because I know people can eat them! -Beth Gordon
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