Daffodil (Narcissus)
Narcissus pseudonarcissus / Narcissus spp.
Horse
Severe
Any suspected ingestion is an immediate veterinary emergency. Ingestion of a few bulbs or large quantities of leaves/flowers.
Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.
What to do now
- Antidote
- No specific antidote. Intensive symptomatic and supportive treatment (fluid therapy, antiemetics, gastric protectants, cardiac monitoring).
- Time to signs
- 30 minutes to a few hours
- Prognosis
- Guarded. Vomiting efforts in horses can cause fatal stomach rupture.
- Call veterinarian urgently if massive ingestion is suspected.
- Treat colic (poultices, activated charcoal).
- Provide cardiac support.
Its ID card
- Height
- 30 cm – 50 cm
- Flowering
- March to May
- Toxic parts
- Entire plant. The bulb (resembling a small onion) is particularly deadly.
- Toxin
- Phenanthridinone alkaloids (Lycorine, narcissiclasine)
- Habitat
- High-altitude meadows, light undergrowth, property edges, gardens, embankments.
- Soil indicator
- Cool, humus-rich, acidic to neutral soils.
- Regions
- Entire Europe
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Low (very bitter plant and irritating sap). Horses often avoid it, but young animals may be fooled or consume it with short spring grass.
When the risk rises
March-May.
Spotting it in the field
Onions (bulb), Snowdrops (also toxic). — smell : slightly aromatic but acrid smell when leaves are crushed; the bulb may have an alliaceous odor.
- Early flowering (March-April).
- Long, flat, fleshy, and glaucous leaves.
- Flower stalk bearing one (or a cluster of) yellow or white flower(s).
- Star-shaped corolla with a long, trumpet-shaped central 'tube'.
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity.
Dose : A few bulbs or a significant quantity of leaves/flowers. For a 500 kg horse, ingestion of 100-200g of bulbs can be fatal.
- Intense gagging/vomiting efforts (very painful in horses, which cannot vomit)
- Severe colic and abundant diarrhea
- Muscle tremors and incoordination
- Sudden drop in blood pressure and pulse
- Prostration and, at high doses, convulsions
Who is affected
Other species : Highly toxic to cattle, sheep, dogs, and humans (confusion of the bulb with onions/shallots in cooking guarantees severe poisoning).
In pregnant mares : abortion highly probable due to violent abdominal contractions.
Getting rid of it
Method : Pull up plants before flowering if possible, wearing gloves. Dispose of bulbs and plant debris by incineration to prevent regrowth and spread.
- Avoid letting horses graze in areas where daffodils are abundant, especially in spring.
- Remove daffodil bulbs from areas accessible to horses during gardening or cleanup.
- Closely monitor young horses who may be more curious or less selective in their grazing.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Daffodil (Narcissus) from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Daffodil (Narcissus) 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.