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  Discussion on Chewing tobacco?
Author Message
Member:
Bystrom

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 1:14 pm:

Hi:
When we purchased our aged stallion last year, the previous owner said, '...oh, and don't forget, he likes his chewing tobacco....Red Man is his preference.' Well, it is true. Beau LOVES his plug of chew occasionally. Since purchasing him, others I've spoken with also say chewing tobacco has been utilized for many years as a natural dewormer. Your thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Lynn
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 2:58 pm:

Lynn,my first thought when I read this was the risk of oral cancer. In human beings chewing tobacco has a higher incidence of oral cancer than cigarettes....its so harmful to humans I would be very nervous to give it to any animals. What is the research on this Dr.O, has any been done? Thanx.
Member:
Ilona

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 3:10 pm:

Lynn, I just found this as a source: H. Marsh and Clawson, "Wild Tobacco Toxic for Horses, Cattle and Sheep," 9 North American Veterinarian 30 (June 1928). I know its from 1928, but if it was a concern then I would really check out current information. Maybe the previous owners thought it was "cute" that the horse chewed tobacco and unwittingly turned him into a nicotine addict with all the possible nastiness of withdrawal that humans suffer. Just my thoughts.
Member:
Bystrom

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 4:15 pm:

Hi Ilona:
Thanks for the info. When I went on the net, I only found a handful of comments about it being used as a dewormer, but then, if I searched enough, there'd probably be info that chocolate chip cookies are used as dewormers as well! His previous owner would give him a 'plug' maybe once a month, for deworming purposes, so to be honest, we have continued it. Course, he gets his usual paste dewormer at intervals too. Just was curious as to if anyone else had heard of such a thing, and if there was any truth to the rumor, or just an old wives tale.

Thank you for checking on it!
Lynn
Member:
Redalert

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 5:53 pm:

Hey Lynn
Yes, I've heard of giving a horse tobacco for worming purposes. I've owned horses since 1964, so the "wives tale" has been around for a long, long time. I'm sure the tale had been around since way before that! Some horses really love it. We used to give it to our horses from time to time as a treat, not using it as a regular dewormer, of course, and we saw no ill effects! My guess is that it really does no harm to a large animal, but has no real effect as a wormer either, but I bet DrO will be able to answer that one!
Nancy
Member:
Bystrom

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 6:18 pm:

Thanks for your input, Nancy. We, too, have noticed no ill effects. When Beau sees the bag of "Red Man" come out, he just gets to talking and tossing his head.....it really does seem to be a treat for him!
Member:
Morg1

Posted on Wednesday, Dec 28, 2005 - 7:04 pm:

I've always heard that horses love tobacco, but have never given them any myself. This fall a couple bought a colt from me and started feeding some of my horses their cigarettes (not the filter). My horses loved them. Other than thinking that feeding horses cigarettes was bound to get expensive I wasn't concerned. I don't see any harm in giving a horse tobacco occasionally. If given occasionally and along with the fact that horses don't live as long as we do I wouldn't think that there would be an increased risk of cancer.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 7:14 am:

Though there is little work on this, based on pass practices of using a plug of tobacco to deworm a horse (not very effective), tobacco appears to present little danger as a small treat given occasionally. It does contain nicotine which is a toxin so I suspect the early reference concerns horses and cattle grazing tobacco freely.
DrO
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 8:31 am:

How do you give Tobacco it as a treat? Not saying I am going to do this but I thought the purpose was not to swallow it. Do they actually eat it?
I presume once it's in their mouth you can't get it back out.
Member:
Bystrom

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 9:20 am:

Thanks for your input, Dr. O! Thanks, everyone! It's more reassuring to me now, to continue with Beau and his 'Red Man' fetish, on an occasional basis.
Corinne: Yes, Beau chews and swallows the plug...takes it just like he would any other treat. Some people have told me they mix it in their grain, but our stallion just takes it out of my hand, and chews it down. It really is quite comical to see his antics when he sees the bag of Red Man coming from my pocket.

Thanks to all!
Lynn
Member:
Paul303

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 5:56 pm:

Lynn: I don't see it as a problem for cancer either. Those mouth cancers caused by chewing tobacco are due to extended contact with the mucous membrane. Humans usually have a favorite spot in their mouths to hold the plug. They also use it more than once a month. I doubt your horse walks around all day with a huge plug of chewing tobacco wadded in his cheek --- or that he makes a huge mess with "spitting".
Member:
Mrose

Posted on Thursday, Dec 29, 2005 - 7:36 pm:

Lee, the image your post conjures up is hilarious!
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