What Happens If A Horse Eats Bad Hay?

Moldy hay can kill a horse. It’s a cause of colic that can be fatal, and some types of mold are toxic to horses. And inhaled mold spores enter horses’ respiratory systems when they eat, causing heaves or other chronic respiratory diseases.

What are the symptoms of a horse eating moldy hay?

Why Is Moldy Hay Dangerous?

• Coughing.
• Nasal discharge.
• Increased respiratory rate.
• Labored breathing.
• The presence of a “heave line” caused by abdominal muscles enlarging to help with breathing.

Can moldy hay make a horse sick?

Don’t feed moldy hay to horses. Most moldy hay problems are from mold spores, which can produce respiratory disease in horses. Many of the common mold toxins develop in the field during a delayed harvest. If you suspect a mold toxin problem, review your horse’s nutrition and health.

Can horses colic from moldy hay?

What should you do? Moldy hay can cause digestive upset that can lead to abdominal pain (colic), sometimes serious. In rare cases, hay containing toxic molds can cause life-threatening illness.

Can a horse colic from bad hay?

A change in the type of hay may cause colic for many reasons. Hay of poor quality is often less digestible, predisposing to impaction. Changing types of hay as in alfalfa and bermuda, may be related to colonic pH changes resulting from calcium differences in the two hays.

What are the signs of poisoning in a horse?

Symptoms of poisoning in horses may include:

• Abdominal pain.
• Constipation.
• Diarrhoea.
• Straining.
• Rectal prolapse.
• Weight loss.
• Restlessness.
• Unsteadiness.

Can horses get botulism from hay?

Figure 1: Horses eating from round-baled hay are more susceptible to developing botulism, especially if the hay was not baled appropriately or if a dead animal was baled together with the hay. Botulism is a deadly disease caused by the toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Can horses eat old hay?

If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.

Will a little mold hurt horses?

Horses are particularly sensitive to dust from mold spores and can get a respiratory disease, like asthma in humans, called Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), commonly referred to as heaves.

What happens if animals eat moldy hay?

“While only some molds produce mycotoxins, these are visually unable to be differentiated, and the presence of mycotoxins is difficult to assess.” Animals that consume contaminated feeds can experience liver and kidney damage, neurologic disorders and estrogenic effects.

What should I do if my horse eats moldy hay?

If your horse ate moldy hay, you should contact a vet right away. He may try to remove the hay with a tube or administer a laxative so the toxin will pass before it is absorbed. If the horse ate a small amount of moldy hay, he might advise you to give the horse mineral oil and watch for symptoms.

What are the first signs of colic in a horse?

Signs of colic in your horse

• Frequently looking at their side.
• Biting or kicking their flank or belly.
• Lying down and/or rolling.
• Little or no passing of manure.
• Fecal balls smaller than usual.
• Passing dry or mucus (slime)-covered manure.
• Poor eating behavior, may not eat all their grain or hay.

How can you tell if hay is moldy or dusty?

Cut open a bale of hay and separate the flakes. Look for the presence of mold in any of the flakes. Moldy hay generally presents as darker areas which are grey or black. If you find mold, refuse the bale – mold indicates that the hay was baled when it was too wet.

What does bad horse hay look like?

Good quality hay should be bright green in color with little fading. A bleached, yellow, brown or black color may indicate aged hay, mold or poor storage conditions.

How do you know if a horse has a twisted gut?

The pain often originates from the intestine but it can come from other abdominal organs such as the liver or ovaries. Typical signs are pawing with front legs, kicking up with back legs, turning to look at the flanks, lying down, rolling, and sweating.

Can bad hay cause ulcers in horses?

High Grain Consumption
Saliva production during consumption of hay is approximately double that produced during intake of an equivalent amount of grain. In addition, grain empties out of the stomach more rapidly than hay leaving longer periods of time with an empty stomach that is susceptible to ulcer formation.

How long does it take for a horse to show signs of botulism?

These clinical signs can occur within several hours or up to 7-10 days post ingestion of the contaminated feed. Horses can get botulism in any of three ways.

How do horses get rid of toxins?

Detoxing Your Horse Can Be Beneficial…

1. 1-2TBS of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar to feed.
2. 1-2TBS of Baking Soda on feed will help clean out toxins and can help relieve ulcer issues.
3. If you own your own land, you can plant some detox herbs along the fence line for the horse to free choice graze on.

What are three symptoms of parasite infestation in horses?

The signs of parasitism are common among different parasites infecting the horse and include:

• Weight loss.
• Dull, rough hair coat.
• Potbelly.
• Decreased stamina or lethargy.
• Coughing.
• Diarrhea.
• Colic.
• Tail rubbing.

Can a horse recover from botulism?

Horses mildly affected with botulism may recover, although associated muscle wasting can take weeks to resolve. Without timely treatment and supportive care, botulism in horses is usually fatal. The prognosis for horses that become recumbent and are unable to stand is usually grave.

Can moldy hay make a horse cough?

Horses that suffer an allergy to hay can be allergic to either the hay dust or to the mold that can grow in the hay. Signs of wheezing, sneezing and coughing are indications that your horse is having an allergic reaction to airborne dust or mold.