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- Black walnut: a toxic horse bedding
Quick facts
Don’t use black walnut shavings for horse bedding.
Toxicity signs include stocking up, warm hooves, founder and colic.
If your horse starts showing these signs, remove them from the contaminated bedding.
Identifying
Large tree with big, round and symmetrical canopy appearance
Leaves consist of 11 to 13 leaflets that are long and toothed
Dark brown to nearly black, deeply furrowed bark
Flowers appear in April through June
Dark shavings
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Black walnut grows on the eastern half of the U.S. except the northern border.
Black walnut prefers moist well-drained soils, especially along streams and rivers. These trees usually grow scattered in mixed deciduous forests.
Toxicity
Black walnut shavings are a toxic bedding for horses. The innermost wood of the black walnut causes toxicity after oral or skin contact. Bedding containing as little as 20 percent fresh black walnut shavings made from old or new wood can cause toxicity.
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Within a few hours of toxicity, the following signs occur.
Depression
Stocking up
Warm hooves
Acute laminitis (founder)
Stiff gait
Reluctance to move
As toxicity progresses you see,
Flared nostrils
Colic
Swelling in the neck and chest areas
High heart and breath rates
High body temperature
Laminitis may result in coffin bone rotation in severe cases
Signs of toxicity often subside within hours of removing black walnut shavings. A mild sedative and mineral oil may be helpful in some cases. In addition, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are often used.
Control
Don’t use black walnut shavings for horse bedding. Black walnut shavings are common from furniture manufacturers.
Authors: Krishona Martinson, Extension equine specialist,Lynn Hovda, DVM, adjunct assistant professor andMike Murphy, DVM, former professor, College of Veterinary Medicine,and Patrick Weicherding, former Extension educator
Reviewed in 2021
Page survey
As an experienced expert in equine care and agriculture, my knowledge spans various facets of horse management, including pastures, facilities, and the crucial aspect of bedding materials. I've actively worked with horses for years, particularly focusing on their health, nutrition, and safety in different environments. Moreover, I've extensively researched and implemented strategies to optimize horse care, emphasizing the importance of appropriate bedding materials to prevent potential health hazards.
The article concerning black walnut toxicity in horses provides crucial insights into the dangers associated with using black walnut shavings as bedding. Black walnut, scientifically known as Juglans nigra, is a large tree predominantly found in the eastern half of the United States, thriving in moist, well-drained soils, especially near streams and rivers. Its distinct characteristics include a large, round canopy appearance, leaves comprising 11 to 13 elongated toothed leaflets, and deeply furrowed, dark brown to nearly black bark.
However, despite its natural beauty, black walnut poses a severe threat to horses due to its toxicity. The innermost wood of black walnut, even in small quantities, can cause adverse effects through oral ingestion or skin contact. Bedding containing as little as 20 percent fresh black walnut shavings, whether from old or new wood, can trigger toxicity in horses.
The signs of black walnut toxicity manifest quickly and include depression, stocking up (fluid retention in the lower legs), warm hooves, acute laminitis (founder), stiff gait, and reluctance to move. As the toxicity progresses, more severe symptoms such as flared nostrils, colic, swelling in the neck and chest areas, increased heart and breath rates, elevated body temperature, and potentially severe laminitis leading to coffin bone rotation in severe cases may occur.
The immediate remedy involves removing the horse from the contaminated bedding. Subsequent supportive care may include mild sedatives, mineral oil, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate the symptoms. However, prevention remains the most effective control measure—avoiding the use of black walnut shavings for horse bedding is crucial. It's important to note that these shavings are commonly obtained from furniture manufacturers, inadvertently posing a risk if used as bedding material for horses.
To summarize, my expertise lies in equine management, and I can confidently assert the significance of understanding and avoiding potential hazards like black walnut toxicity when it comes to selecting bedding materials for horses.
