Equio

Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar)

Cedrus spp.

Horse

Low

Remove access and monitor the horse; call at the first sign. Large consumption of needles or bark gnawed due to boredom.

Needles and barktoxic parts
Monitorwhat to do
Not reportedtoxic in hay

Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.

What to do now

Antidote
No specific antidote. Symptomatic and supportive treatment.
Time to signs
A few hours to 24 hours.
Prognosis
Excellent.
  1. Remove the horse from the plant.
  2. Ensure good hydration.
  3. Monitor for signs of colic.

Its ID card

Height
20 m – 50 m
Flowering
Not applicable for toxicity, but cones develop over a long period.
Toxic parts
Needles and bark.
Toxin
Terpene essential oils (Cedrol, pinene).
Habitat
Large gardens, castle parks, forest reforestations (south).
Soil indicator
Well-drained soils, tolerates summer drought.
Regions
Europe (Parks and planted forests)
In hay
Not reported
Palatability
Very low (strong resinous taste), but horses sometimes attack it in winter due to a complete lack of forage.

When the risk rises

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Winter.

Spotting it in the field

Do not confuse with

Larch (which sheds its needles in winter), Pine (much longer needles). — smell : pronounced resinous smell from needles and bark.

  • Monumental tree with horizontally spreading branches.
  • Short, prickly needles, grouped in rosettes.
  • Enormous, barrel-shaped, upright cones.

Signs to watch for

Acute toxicity.

Dose : Significant quantity of needles or bark (several kilograms).

  • Moderate colic
  • Very strong-smelling urine (pine scent) and sometimes darker
  • Mild diarrhea
  • Drooling if sharp needles irritate the mouth

Who is affected

Other species : Irritant to sheep/cattle in cases of scarcity.

In pregnant mares : terpenes in high doses can have a slight irritant effect on the uterus, but cases of abortion are very rare.

HorseDonkeyPonySheepCattle
Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) : equine care and management documented with Equio app. Documentation équine avec Equio, l'application d'aide à la décision pour les chevaux.

Getting rid of it

Method : Not applicable as an eradication method, but access management is key.

  • Avoid overstocking horses in areas where cedar is present.
  • Provide adequate forage, especially in winter, to reduce boredom and the urge to gnaw.
  • Fence off tree trunks if bark-gnawing behavior is observed.

Frequently asked questions

Can Equio identify Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) from a photo?

It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.

Is Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) dangerous in hay?

Hay risk is not always reported for this entry, but suspicious forage should still be isolated until checked.

Veterinary priority

This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Related pages

Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) and foal and young horseProfile-specific horse risk page.Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) and pregnant mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) and lactating mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) and non-pregnant mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) and senior horseProfile-specific horse risk page.Cedar (Cedar of Lebanon, Atlas Cedar) and horse in recoveryProfile-specific horse risk page.Poisonous plants for horsesEnglish Equio plant catalogue and risk pages.Sensitive profilesFoals, pregnancy, lactation, senior horses and recovery.Photo methodHow to document a plant without relying on one image only.Equio AppScan feed, plants and care products — keep your horse's history.Equio FAQAnswers about scans, profiles, subscriptions and AI limits.
What to do? The Equio app