Poisonous Plants
Below is a list of plants known to be poisonous to goats. Most goats will only eat a poisonous plant if they are starving. Some symptoms of poisoning are similar to the symptoms of bloat. If a goat has eaten something poisonous they will most likely be kicking at the ground, foaming at the mouth, vomiting and the rumen may appear to be swollen. They must be treated immediately with a charcoal gel or like substance or death will occur.
Not all parts of the plant or varieties of a species of plant is harmful. Certain parts of some plants may be dangerous such as the flower, fruit, root, stalk, or leaves but not the entire plant is harmful.
Any type of foodstuff can also cause problems in the rumen if fed in large quantities such as grain, fresh grass, moldy feed or hay, etc. If bloating has occured due to feeding large quantities, goats must be treated with bloat release. The most common cause of bloat is leaving goats out on fresh pasture. If you are wanting to introduce your goats to fresh pasture, to prevent bloating feed them grain and hay first and then put them on fresh pasture to limit the amount of fresh lush grass that they are able to consume.
Poisonous Plants:
ACONITE
ALDER
ARUM
AZALEAS
ANEMONE
BRACKEN
BEET LEAVES
BLACK NIGHTSHADE
BROOM
BUTTERBUR
BUTTERCUP
BUCKTHORN
BOX
BYRONY
CELANDINE
CHARLOCK
CUPRESSES
DAFFODIL
DOGS MERCURY
DEADLY NIGHTSHADE
ELDERBERRY
ERGOT
FOXGLOVE
FOOLS PARSLEY
FUNGI
GROUND IVY
GLADIOLUS
GOURDS
HELLEBORES
HEMLOCK
HOLM OAK
HORSETAIL
HYDRANGEA
IRIS
JUNIPER
KNOTGRASS
KNOTWEED
KINGCUP
LABURNUM
LOCOWEED
LORDS AND LADIES
LILAC
LUPINS (YELLOW)
MARSH MALLOW
MANGOLD LEAVES
MILKWEED
MOUNTAIN LAUREL
MULLEINS
MUSHROOMS
NIGHTSHADES (ALL)
OLD MANS BEARD
POPPY
PENNYCRESS
PRIVET
POTATO
RAGWORT
RHODODENDRON
RHUBARB
RUSH
SPINDLE BERRY
SPURGE LAUREL
THORN APPLE
TANSY
TOMATO (ALL)
TORMENTIL
WATERDROP WORT
WILD CHERRY (WILTED LEAVES)
YELLOW FLAG
YELLOW JASMINE
YEW
Back To Health Articles: