Deadly Nightshade
Atropa belladonna
Horse
Critical
Any suspected ingestion is an immediate veterinary emergency. Approximately 120 to 150 grams of the plant (a handful) is lethal for an adult horse.
Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.
What to do now
- Antidote
- Parasympathomimetics (e.g, physostigmine, pilocarpine) and sedatives. Supportive symptomatic treatment.
- Time to signs
- 15 to 60 minutes
- Prognosis
- Very poor if not treated urgently. Respiratory and cardiac arrest is rapid.
- Call a veterinarian immediately.
- Do not induce vomiting.
- Monitor breathing and heart rate.
- Keep the horse calm.
Its ID card
- Height
- 0.5 m – 1.5 m
- Flowering
- June to August
- Toxic parts
- Entire plant, especially the shiny black berries and roots.
- Toxin
- Tropane alkaloids (Atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine)
- Habitat
- Clearings, forest edges, ruins, recent clear-cuts, calcareous soils.
- Soil indicator
- Rich, basic (calcareous), often disturbed forest soils.
- Regions
- Europe (especially southern and central), North Africa
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Generally avoided, but the danger lies in forage cut at the forest edge or the curiosity of a young horse (berries are sweet).
When the risk rises
July to September (berries).
Spotting it in the field
Sometimes confused with wild blueberries (for the berries), but the plant is much larger. — smell : faint, slightly acrid smell when crushed.
- Robust and bushy plant (up to 1.5m).
- Large oval leaves.
- Solitary bell-shaped flowers, brownish to purplish.
- Round, black, shiny berries (like small cherries) nestled in a green, star-shaped calyx.
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity
Dose : Approximately 120-150g of fresh plant (a handful) for an adult horse.
- Extreme pupil dilation (mydriasis, eyes appear black)
- Totally dry oral mucous membranes (absence of saliva)
- Violent acceleration of heart rate (tachycardia)
- Complete halt of intestinal transit (impaction colic)
- Furious excitement, hallucinations, then paralysis and death
Who is affected
Other species : Lethal to humans (very dangerous for children), dogs, pigs. Rabbits appear to be immune.
In pregnant mares : abortion / Maternal death.
Getting rid of it
Method : Uproot the entire plant, including roots, wearing protective gloves. Destroy by burning or bury deeply away from animal-accessible areas. Do not compost.
- Inspect pastures and riding trail edges for Deadly Nightshade and remove it.
- Educate owners and riders about the dangers of this plant.
- Never leave potentially contaminated hay accessible to horses.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Deadly Nightshade from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Deadly Nightshade 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.