Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horses in Oregon die from eating yew plants - what to know
By Cope, R B et al.·Published in Veterinary and human toxicology·2004·Department of Biomedical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Fatal yew (Taxus sp) poisoning in Willamette Valley, Oregon, horses.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Two healthy adult horses in Oregon suddenly died after eating yew plants, which are known to be highly toxic to livestock. There were no signs of distress before their deaths, but a necropsy revealed serious lung issues that indicated a sudden circulatory problem. The diagnosis of yew poisoning was confirmed by finding yew leaves in their stomachs and clippings in their pasture. Unfortunately, both horses did not survive the incident.
People also search for: horse sudden death yew poisoning · toxic plants for horses · signs of poisoning in horses
Abstract
Despite the well-founded reputation of plants of the genus Taxus as being amongst the most toxic plants for domestic livestock in the US, there are surprisingly few published case reports of yew poisoning in horses. This report documents 2 acute fatalities in horses in the central Willamette Valley, OR associated with the consumption of Taxus sp. The predominant features of the intoxication were peracute death, with no signs of struggling or convulsions, in otherwise fit and well managed adult horses. The most significant gross necropsy findings were limited to pulmonary congestion and hemorrhage, suggestive of acute circulatory disturbance. A diagnosis of Taxus sp poisoning was confirmed on the basis of a history of potential exposure, by the identification of yew leaves in the gastric contents of the horses, and by the subsequent identification of yew clippings in the pasture. The literature relevant to Taxus sp poisoning in horses is reviewed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15487655/