Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Fatal acorn poisoning in a horse: pathologic findings and diagnostic considerations.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1983
- Authors:
- Anderson, G A et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old Quarter Horse was diagnosed with acorn poisoning after showing serious signs of colic (abdominal pain), a fast heartbeat, rapid breathing, and severe diarrhea with blood. The diagnosis was made based on the horse's history, symptoms, lab tests, and finding acorn husks in its stool. A thorough examination after death revealed significant swelling in the intestines and surrounding tissues, along with severe inflammation and damage to the intestines and kidneys. Unfortunately, the horse did not survive due to the effects of the poisoning.
Abstract
Acorn poisoning was diagnosed in an 11-year-old Quarter Horse with signs of severe colic, tachycardia, hyperpnea, abdominal borborygmus, rectal tenesmus, and hemorrhagic diarrhea. The diagnosis was based on history and predisposing factors, clinical signs, laboratory data, acorn husks in the feces, the urinary gallic acid equivalent concentration, and necropsy findings. The most striking pathologic changes were gastrointestinal and mesenteric edema, ulcerative enterocolitis, and nephrosis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6863124/