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Thursday - June 11, 2009

From: Saluda, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Poisonous Plants
Title: How toxic are wild cherries for horses?
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I purchased a beautiful piece of heaven in the rural suburbs. I have three horses and grow my own hay. Unfortunately, I have just learned the woods surrounding my field is lined with Black Walnut, Wild Cherry, and Black Locust. I had the walnut trees cut down and one cherry, only to discover an entire tree line of cherry trees 25-30 feet high. We bale the hay in the early spring (May), and it seems to be considered weed free. How dangerous is it to have even a few dried cherry leaves in it? I thought they were toxic when fresh, but you say dried is even higher toxicity. I can have a lot of trees cut down or sell the property. I am now afraid to put them on the field or produce my own hay.

ANSWER:

I can only tell you what the horse experts say. Here is what the article "Poisonous Plants" by Willis Lamm of Trail Blazer Magazine says about choke cherry and wild cherry (Prunus):

"Chokecherries, growing in bushes up to 12 feet high, are popular for their jelly producing berries. They are common throughout the US, often found along roadsides or creek bottoms. Unfortunately the leaves, which are particularly toxic when stressed or wilted, as well as the bark from chokecherries and wild cherries are cyanide producing.

Death in horses can occur literally in minutes after the horse has ingested the leaves. The horse will appear to have trouble breathing, show flared nostrils and lose bowel and urinary control. Lack of coordination and trembling may also appear, along with agitation. A severely poisoned horse will drop to the ground, kick a few times, then die.

Poisoned horses can be saved, however usually veterinary help cannot arrive in time as the effects of cyanide poisoning progress rapidly."

The Poisonous Plants of Pennsylvania has more information about the chemicals responsible for Prunus spp. toxicity. Other toxic plant databases (Poisonous Plants of North Carolina, Cornell University Plants Poisonoous to Livestock, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System) also list various Prunus spp. as poisonous.