It’s toxic plant Monday again and time to take a look at some of the more wicked members of the plant family. Last week it was apples and this week another seemingly innocent culprit, the Apricot Tree.
A Little About The Apricot Tree
Prunus armeniaca is the Apricot Tree which grows dense branches, heart shaped leaves, white/pink flowers in the spring and golden fruit in the fall.
How Dangerous Is It?
Apricots aren’t a particularly common horse treat (if you do feed them, remove the pits first) so they don’t generally pose a threat. Like apple trees, horses shouldn’t be allowed access to apricot trees or groves.
Seeds and wilting leaves are toxic & can be fatal to equines.
What To Look For
You know your animal the best, so you should know when something is amiss. Toxicity from apricot seeds or leaves cause symptoms that can include respiratory problems, anxiety, colic & convulsions.
Learn More
Be sure to check out the Apricot Tree page to learn more about the plant and while you are at it why not check out more toxic plants?
*It should be noted that I’m not a veterinarian. This information is written specifically for horses and should be used for reference purposes only. If you think your horse has eaten something toxic call your vet right away.