Acorns are a sure sign that the seasons are changing and Autumn is upon us. Oak trees and the acorns they produce are always a worry for any discerning horse owner. Acorn poisoning is rare in horses however in areas where there is poor pasture horses may be tempted to eat them.

Poisoning can occur in Spring when young oak leaves are eaten, but it mostly occurs due to ingestion of the acorns in the Autumn. Acorns contain tannic acid which causes kidney and liver problems.

If horses are eating acorns, the husks can often be seen in their droppings. Many horses are unaffected but clinical signs to look out for include depression, loss of appetite, mouth ulcers, abdominal pain (colic), consipation followed by diarrhoea which may contain blood, blood in the urine, weakness and incoordination.

The only way to prevent acorn posioning is to prevent your horses from having any access to the oak trees and the acorns that fall from them. This will undoubtedly involve fencing off the trees and the area of ground where the acorns fall or alternatively picking up fallen acorns daily and remove low branches.

Individual animals have different levels of tolerance. Therefore it is not possible to say how many can be eaten in a given period of time without causing symptoms, however small amounts do not usually cause problems. Acorns can become addictive, some horses will actively search for them once they have acquired the taste.

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