What can’t horses eat?

Quick Peek:

Listen up, horse owners! If you want to keep your four-legged friend healthy and happy, there are some foods you should never feed them. Chocolate, persimmons, avocados, lawn clippings, fruit with pips and stones, bread, potatoes, nightshades, and dairy products are all off-limits. Chocolate can cause seizures and death, persimmons can block their digestive system, and avocados can damage their heart and lungs. Don’t even think about giving them bread, potatoes, nightshades, or dairy products, as they can cause all sorts of digestive problems. Keep your horse safe and stick to their recommended diet!

What Can’t Horses Eat?

As horse enthusiasts, we want nothing but the best for our equine friends. We spend countless hours researching the best feeds, supplements, and treats to keep our horses healthy and happy. However, it’s equally important to know what foods to avoid feeding them. Some foods can be toxic to horses, causing serious health problems or even death. Here are some foods you should never feed your horse:

Chocolate

While chocolate may be a delicious treat for humans, it’s definitely not suitable for horses. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which can be toxic to horses. Even small amounts of chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death in horses. So, keep the chocolate treats for yourself and stick to horse-friendly treats for your equine friend.

Persimmons

Persimmons are a popular fruit, but they’re not safe for horses to eat. Persimmons contain high levels of tannins, which can cause blockages in the horse’s digestive system. This can lead to colic, a serious and painful condition that can be life-threatening for horses. So, avoid feeding persimmons to your horse, and opt for other fruits that are safe for them to eat.

Avocado

Avocado is another food that’s toxic to horses. Avocado contains a substance called persin, which can cause heart damage and respiratory distress in horses. Even the leaves, bark, and seeds of the avocado plant are toxic to horses. So, make sure to keep avocados away from your horse’s reach.

Lawn Clippings

While it may seem like a good idea to feed your horse some fresh grass clippings, it’s actually quite dangerous. Lawn clippings can ferment quickly, causing them to produce gas in the horse’s digestive system. This can lead to colic, a painful and life-threatening condition. So, stick to feeding your horse hay and other horse-friendly feeds.

Fruit with Pips and Stones

Some fruits, like apples and peaches, have pits or stones in them. These pits and stones can be a choking hazard for horses, and can also cause blockages in their digestive system. So, make sure to remove any pits or stones before feeding these fruits to your horse.

Bread

Bread may seem like a harmless treat for horses, but it’s actually not a good idea to feed them. Bread is high in carbohydrates and sugars, which can cause digestive upset in horses. It can also lead to obesity and other health problems if fed in large amounts. So, skip the bread and opt for healthier treats for your horse.

Potatoes and Other Nightshades

Nightshade plants, like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants, contain a toxic substance called solanine. This substance can cause digestive upset, neurological problems, and even death in horses. So, make sure to avoid feeding your horse any nightshade plants.

Yogurt and Other Dairy Products

While dairy products may be a tasty treat for humans, they’re not suitable for horses. Horses are lactose intolerant, which means they can’t digest lactose, the sugar found in milk. Feeding your horse dairy products can cause digestive upset and diarrhea. So, stick to horse-friendly treats and avoid feeding your horse any dairy products.

Knowing what foods to avoid feeding your horse is just as important as knowing what foods are safe for them to eat. By avoiding these toxic foods, you can keep your horse healthy and happy for years to come.