Common Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Horse
Low
Get veterinary advice the same day and remove access. Several kilograms of foliage or a significant consumption of white berries.
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. The outcome is almost always benign for an adult equine.
- Withhold feed
- Close monitoring
- Provide hydration if needed
- Call veterinarian if symptoms persist
Its ID card
- Height
- 1 to 2 m
- Flowering
- June to August.
- Toxic parts
- Mainly the white berries. Leaves are weakly toxic.
- Toxin
- Irritating saponins and alkaloids (trace amounts of chelidonine).
- Habitat
- Garden hedges, parks, peri-urban scrubland.
- Soil indicator
- Tolerates almost all soils, prefers calcareous soils.
- Regions
- Europe (in gardens and naturalized), native to North America
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Low (unpleasant taste).
When the risk rises
August to December (berries).
Spotting it in the field
Mistletoe (also has white 'balls' but grows on trees, not as a shrub). — smell : odorless.
- Bushy shrub (1 to 2m)
- Oval, bluish-green leaves
- Bell-shaped pink flowers
- Large, spherical, spongy white berries, clustered in dense racemes (August to winter)
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity.
Dose : Several kilograms of foliage or a significant consumption of white berries for an adult horse.
- Irritation of the mouth and throat
- Gagging/vomiting efforts and nausea
- Moderate colic
- Transient diarrhea
- Mild sedation or apathy
Who is affected
Other species : Toxic to dogs and causes vomiting in children who play with the berries.
In pregnant mares : no major known risks.
Getting rid of it
Method : Uproot the shrub and burn the waste. Wear gloves when handling the plant.
- Avoid planting this shrub in paddocks or near grazing areas.
- Do not allow horses access to areas where the shrub is present.
- Dispose of pruning waste properly to prevent ingestion.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Common Snowberry from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Common Snowberry 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.