A Guide to Plant Poisoning
of Animals in North America
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 Plants Causing Sudden Death
Plants Containing Cyanogenic Glycosides
Mechanism of Acute Cyanide Poisoning
Clinical Signs of Acute Cyanide Poisoning
Postmortem Findings
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention of Cyanide Poisoning
Plants: Acacia, Western Service Berry, Mountain Mahogany, Wild Blue Flax, Western
Choke-Cherry, Elderberry, Johnson Grass, Poison Suckleya, Arrow Grass
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin
Plant-Associated Nitrate Poisoning
Nitrate Toxicology
Clinical Signs
Chronic Nitrate Poisoning
Treatment
Diagnosis
Prevention of Nitrate Poisoning
Common Weeds that Accumulate Nitrate
Plants: Ragweed, Wild Oat Grass, Lamb's-Quarter, Canada Thistle, Field
Bindweed, Barnyard Grass, Sunflower, Kochia, Mallow, Russian Thistle
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin
Plants Containing Toxic Alkaloids
Larkspur Poisoning
Plant: Larkspur
Habitat; Description; Toxicity; Clinical Signs; Treatment;
Prevention of Larkspur Poisoning; Control
Plants: Aconite, Poison Hemlock, Water Hemlock, Copperweed
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs
References
Chapter 2 Plants Affecting the Cardiovascular System
Cardiac Glycosides
Toxicity of Cardiac Glycosides
Clinical Signs of Poisoning
Treatment
Diagnosis
Plants: Dogbane, Spreading Dogbane, Lily of the Valley, Foxglove, Oleander,
Yellow Oleander, Milkweeds, Yew, Avocado, Death Camas
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
References
Chapter 3 Plants Affecting the Digestive System
Excessive Salivation
Protoanemonins
Clinical Signs
Treatment
Plants: Blister Buttercup, Bur Buttercup, Baneberry, Tung Nut, Chinaberry, Pokeweed,
Corn Cockle, Bouncing Bet, Sesbania
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxins; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Gastrointestinal Impaction and Obstruction Caused by Plants
Plants: Mesquite, American Persimmon
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxins
Vomiting
Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment; Prevention
Plants: Orange Sneezeweed, Bitter Sneezeweed, Sneezeweed (H. autumnale), Sneezeweed
(H. microcephalum), Colorado Rubberweed, Bitterweed, Desert
Baileya, Field Bindweed
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxins; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Nightshades
Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Plants: Jimson Weed, Sacred Datura, Angel's Trumpet, Deadly Nightshade,
Black Henbane, Black Nightshade, Bitter Nightshade, Silver Leaf Nightshade,
Horse Nettle, Buffalo Bur, Tropical Soda Apple, Ground Cherries
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxins; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Diarrhea
Plant: Leafy Spurge
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxins; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Lectins
Principal Toxins; Clinical Signs; Diagnosis; Treatment
Plants: Castor Bean, Precatory Bean, Black Locust, Mayapple, Privet
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxins; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Rhododendron Grayanotoxins
Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Diagnosis; Treatment
Plants: Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, Japanese Pieris, Fetter-Bush,
Maleberry, Common Box
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxins; Clinical Signs; Treatment
References
Chapter 4 Plants Affecting the Skin and Liver
Photosensitization
Primary Photosensitization
Secondary Photosensitization
Pyrrolizidine Poisoning
Biliary Occlusive Photosensitization
Alsike Clover Poisoning
Mycotoxin Photosensitivity
Blue-Green Algae Poisoning
Clinical Signs of Photosensitization
Diagnosis
Treatment
Control of Photosensitizing Plants
Plants: Bishop's Weed, Buckwheat, St. John's Wort, Lechuguilla, Fiddleneck, Rattlebox,
Senecio, Hound's Tongue, Lantana, Sacahuista, Horsebrush,
Puncture Vine, Panic Grasses, Kochia, Hairy Vetch, Leucaena, Scorpion Weed, Poison
Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs
References
Chapter 5 Plants Affecting the Blood
Onion Poisoning
Plant: Allium spp.
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Brassica Poisoning
Glucosinolate Poisoning
Clinical Signs; Treatment; Preventive Measures
Red Maple Poisoning
Plant: Acert rubrum
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Yellow Sweet Clover
Plant: Melilotus Officinalis, Bracken Fern, Brake Fern, Eagle Fern
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Bracken Fern Poisoning
Principal Toxins
Clinical Signs of Bracken Poisoning in Cattle and Sheep
Bracken Fern Poisoning in Sheep
Bracken Fern Poisoning in Horses
Bracken Fern Poisoning in People
References
Chapter 6 Plants Affecting the Nervous System
Section I: Locoweeds
Locoweed Poisoning
Principal Toxin
Clinical Syndromes Attributable to Locoweed Poisoning
Diagnosis of Locosim
Treatment of Locoism
Prevention and Management of Locoweed Poisoning
Astragalus Species Containing Nitro Compounds
Prinicpal Toxins
Clinical Signs
Treatment
Postmortem Findings
Prevention and Control
Plants: Blue or Spotted Locoweed, Woolly or Purple Locoweed, White
Locoweed, Purple Locoweed, Timber Milk Vetch, Crown Vetch
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Section II: Other Plants Affecting the Nervous System
Sagebrush Poisoning
Plants: Sand Sage, Fringed Sage, Big Sagebrush, Coyotillo, Bracken Fern,
Common Horsetail
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
Yellow Star Thistle and Russian Knapweed Poisoning
Plants: Yellow Star Thistle, Russian Knapweed
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
White Snakeroot Poisoning
Plants: White Snakeroot, Jimmy Weed
Habitat; Description; Principal Toxin; Clinical Signs; Treatment
