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TheHorse.com THE HORSE August 2015
Insects and Other Animals
Then are the pests that move along the
ground. Sometimes it's the critter itself
(or part of it) that's the poison, and other
times it's the waste it leaves behind.
Here are the common culprits.
Blister beetles These
alfalfa-loving insects
contain a toxin called can-
tharidin that is reportedly
as poisonous as cyanide.
The beetles produce
cantharidin to protect
themselves from predators.
The toxin is very stable, remain-
ing poisonous even in dead beetles found
in hay bales. Ingestion of relatively small
amounts of cantharidin (.5-1 mg/kg, or
the equivalent of approximately 700 bee-
tles for an 800-pound horse) can cause
coliclike signs, salivation, oral ulceration,
acute recumbency, polyuria (excessive
urination), and even death.
Cantharidin toxicosis is most commonly
seen in the southern United States, but it
can occur anywhere producers ship alfalfa
hay. Cantharidin is heat-stable; therefore,
even processed alfalfa, such as pellets or
cubes, can contain the toxic compound.
That said, hay producers have guidelines
for baling alfalfa with few beetles, and
NUTRITION
ISTOCK.COM
What harmful things might you fnd in your horse's hay? From top left clockwise, opossum poop
(looks like dog poop, about ¾ inch in diameter), weeds such as foxtail, afatoxin from mold, blister
beetles, Eastern tent caterpillars, and botulinum toxins are just a few of the culprits.
Just one teaspoon of toxin is enough to kill
5,000 horses.
Protect horses in your care against Clostridium botulinum type B,
the #1 cause of botulism poisoning, with
botvax
®
b — an AAEP
guideline vaccine.
Share your story- help expose this silent killer.
botvax
®
b
www.equinebotulism.com
equinebotulism@neogen.com
WIKIMEDIA
COMMONS
PHOTOS