Vets in the UK are starting to report cases of ACORN (from OAK (Quercus robur) and SYCAMORE SEED POISONING (from Sycamore (UK) or Sycamore Maple (USA), Acer pseudoplantus).
The amount of acorns and sycamore seeds and risk of accidental ingestion and poisoning may be increased this year due to the weather conditions this summer.
Risk Factors
- Paddocks with oak and/or sycamore trees in or around them.
- Heavily grazed/over-grazed pasture
- Autumn – when the seeds mainly fall
- High winds – which bring down the seeds
Reducing Risk
- Remove seeds/acorns by raking – this can be aided by a blower or a paddock vacuum
- Fence off areas with seeds/acorns on the ground
- Move horses to paddocks without OAK/SYCAMORE
- In over-grazed paddocks provide forage in the field and away from the OAK/SYCAMORE
- Limit turnout time to <6h a day
Article posted in Vet Times – https://www.vettimes.co.uk/…/equine-vets-warn-owners…/
Further resources:
Sycamore seeds – https://www.bhs.org.uk/…/equine…/atypical-myopathy/
Acorns – https://www.bhs.org.uk/…/equine-diseases/acorn-poisoning/
