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Poisonous
Plants
&
Toxic
Substances
by
Maxine
K
Kinne
Not
all
green
plants
are
health
food
for
goats.
Numerous
plants
and
other
materials
are
poisonous,
and
it
is
our
responsibility
to
be
aware
of
them
and
protect
our
animals.
It
isn’t
easy
to
poison
a
well-fed
goat
because
it’s
not
hungry,
but
it
happens
occasionally,
even
with
good
management.
Why
are
underfed
goats
more
susceptible
to
poisons?
They
are
hungry
and
less
scrupulous
about
what
they
eat
–
all
they
want
is
a
meal.
Also,
their
general
resistance
is
lower.
Immediate
veterinary
intervention
is
essential
in
any
suspected
poisoning,
but
it
isn’t
always
possible
to
save
the
victim;
fatalities
sometimes
occur
despite
treatment.
The
best
preventative
measure
is
to
fence
goats
in
a
safe
area
and
to
keep
them
there
and
well-fed
all
the
time.
[.
.
.]
Toxicity,
the
level
of
poisonousness,
is
dependent
on
many
factors,
including:
the
animal’s
age,
individual
body
chemistry,
susceptibility
of
individual
animals,
potency
of
the
poison,
quantity
consumed,
growing
conditions
of
certain
plants,
season
of
the
year,
certain
plant
parts,
and
other
variables.
Some
plants
and
materials
are
very
toxic
in
small
amounts,
while
others
are
cumulative
and
require
consumption
over
a
longer
period
of
time.
Some
cause
irreparable
damage
while
the
effects
of
others
can
be
overcome
with
treatment
and
time.
It
is
best
to
consider
all
houseplants,
flowering
bulbs,
evergreen
shrubs
and
other
landscaping
plants
to
be
poisonous
to
goats
–
that
way
you
can
avoid
the
most
common
causes
of
caprine
poisoning.
Other
toxic
materials
frequently
found
around
the
home
or
on
the
farm
are:
SYMPTOMS
OF
POISONING,
may
vary
from
mild
to
extremely
severe
and
include:
-
bloat
-
chronic
wasting
-
colic
-
coma
-
constipation
-
convulsions
-
cries
of
pain
-
death
-
dermatitis
-
diarrhea
-
difficult
breathing
-
dilated
pupils
-
fever
-
frothing
at
the
mouth
-
hyper
excitability
-
lameness
-
muscle
spasms
or
tremors
-
muscle
weakness
-
photosensitization
-
rapid
pulse
-
salivation
-
staggering
-
vertigo
-
vomiting
-
weak
pulse
IF
POSIONING
IS
SUSPECTED,
THE
FOLLOWING
STEPS
SHOULD
BE
TAKEN:
1.
Prevent
further
exposure
of
the
goat
to
poison.
2.
Isolate
the
goat
and
make
fresh
water
available.
3.
Avoid
stressing
the
goat.
4.
Keep
samples
of
suspected
toxic
material
to
aid
diagnosis.
5.
Call
a
veterinarian
immediately
for
diagnosis
and
treatment.
6.
Home
remedies
may
worsen
the
condition
–
do
not
use
them.
[.
.
.]
[Webmaster
note]
Ms.
Kinne
has
been
kind
enough
to
provide
NPGA
with
a
link
to
an
updated
list
of
some
common
poisonous
plants
that
she
has
compiled.
The
list
is
for
reference
purposes
only.
It,
in
no
way,
is
a
complete
list
as
there
are
far
too
many
poisonous
plants
to
create
a
comprehensive
list.
Please
contact
your
local
Agricultural
Extension
Agent
for
specifics
on
poisonous
plants
in
your
area.
If
your
goats
(or
other
pets)
do
ingest
one
of
these
plants,
be
sure
to
call
the
National
Animal
Poison
Control
Center.
Excerpts
from:
Kinne,
Maxine,
ed.
Pygmy
Goats:
Best
of
Memo
2
(1982-1987)
National
Pygmy
Goat
Association:
pp
150-151
This
document
is
for
informational
purposes
only
and
is
in
no
way
intended
to
be
a
substitute
for
medical
consultation
with
a
qualified
veterinary
professional.
The
information
provided
through
this
document
is
not
meant
to
be
used
in
the
diagnosis
or
treatment
of
a
health
problem
or
disease,
nor
should
it
be
construed
as
such.
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