Cleavers
Galium aparine
Horse
Low
Remove access and monitor the horse; call at the first sign. High presence in dry 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 1-2 days.
- Prognosis
- Excellent, although minor oral lesions may hinder chewing for a few days.
- Remove the prickly forage.
- Monitor intestinal transit.
- Prevent fibrous impactions.
- Consult a veterinarian if a large quantity has been ingested.
Its ID card
- Height
- 0.3 m – 1.5 m
- Flowering
- June to September.
- Toxic parts
- Stems and leaves covered in hooked hairs.
- Toxin
- Irritating mechanical action (siliceous micro-hooks).
- Habitat
- Hedges, wastelands, cultivated fields, bushes, path edges.
- Soil indicator
- Soils rich in nitrogen, often loose or freshly turned.
- Regions
- Entire Europe, Cosmopolitan
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Ignored when fresh in pasture due to its roughness and unpleasant texture. Dangerous when dried and hidden in late-season hay.
When the risk rises
All year round in poor quality hay.
Spotting it in the field
White bedstraw (more visible white flowers, smooth non-hooked stem), Madder. — smell : slightly acrid smell when crushed, but often masked by the smell of hay.
- Very loose climbing/trailing plant.
- Square stem covered in small hooked hairs.
- Leaves arranged in whorls (star-like around the stem) of 6 to 8.
- Tiny white flowers.
- Globular fruits covered in hooked hairs.
Signs to watch for
Chronic mechanical toxicity from repeated ingestion of small amounts, or acute from massive ingestion of dry hay.
Dose : Not applicable for mechanical toxicity. Ingestion of large amounts of dry, irritating hay can cause impactions.
- Mechanical inflammation of gums and lips (micro-cuts)
- Drooling (reactive hypersalivation)
- Possible formation of phytobezoars (indigestible fiber balls blocking transit) if large dry quantities are ingested
- Mild spasmodic colic
Who is affected
Other species : Troublesome (causing impactions) for other herbivores. The seeds, which cling to fur, pose a problem for woolly livestock (sheep).
In pregnant mares : none.
Getting rid of it
Method : Mow before fruiting to prevent seed dispersal. Wear gloves for handling.
- Inspect hay before feeding, especially if from potentially contaminated sources.
- Keep pastures and fence lines clean to limit plant proliferation.
- Regularly brush horses' manes and tails to remove clinging stems.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Cleavers from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Cleavers dangerous in hay?
This entry flags hay vigilance. Isolate suspicious forage and ask for professional advice if exposure is possible.
This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.