Plant Poisoning of Small Ruminants

Many factors determine whether animals are poisoned by plants including the quantity and rate of the plant eaten; the stage of growth of the plant; the growing conditions of the plant; and whether or not the plants have been fertilized or treated with herbicides. The species of the animal, age, sex and general body condition of the animal also determine the outcome of plant poisoning. Lastly the nature of the toxin(s) in the plant in question will have profound effects on the animal eating it. The objective of this presentation is to review plant poisoning in small ruminants based upon the primary presenting clinical signs. The major, generally non-ornamental poisonous plants affecting small ruminants in North America are summarized in Table 1. The list is not intended to be exhaustive, and additional information sources on poisonous plants affecting animals are listed in the references. A listing of toxic ornamental garden plants that should not be accessible to sheep, goats and camelids is given in Table 2