Greater Celandine
Chelidonium majus
Horse
Moderate
Get veterinary advice the same day and remove access.
Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.
What to do now
- Antidote
- No specific antidote. Symptomatic and supportive treatment (gastric protection, fluid therapy, analgesics).
- Time to signs
- A few hours to 24 hours.
- Prognosis
- Good. The ingested quantity is often minimal. Few deaths have been reported in adult horses.
- Rinse mouth if fresh sap ingested.
- Monitor for signs of colic.
- Contact a veterinarian.
Its ID card
- Height
- 30 cm – 1.2 m
- Flowering
- May to October.
- Toxic parts
- The entire plant, particularly the root and stem (containing the yellow-orange latex).
- Toxin
- Isoquinoline alkaloids (Chelidonine, Sanguinarine).
- Habitat
- At the foot of old walls, rubble, shaded hedges, around old farms, on soils very rich in nitrogen.
- Soil indicator
- Cool, very nitrogen-rich, shaded, and calcareous soils.
- Regions
- Entire Europe
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Very low (acrid and burning latex). Accidental intoxication can occur in shady paddock corners lacking grass.
When the risk rises
May to October.
Spotting it in the field
Can be confused with some wild mustards or buttercups due to the yellow flower, but none have orange latex. — smell : acrid and unpleasant smell of the latex.
- Erect and brittle stem.
- Soft leaves, divided into large rounded lobes, bluish-green underneath.
- Yellow flowers with 4 petals.
- Absolute criterion: a broken stem releases abundant bright yellow/orange juice.
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity.
Dose : Difficult to determine precisely due to low palatability and irritant effect. Likely several hundred grams of fresh plant for a horse.
- Oral burns, hypersalivation
- Violent colic and profuse diarrhea
- Jerky and irregular breathing
- Drowsiness and apathy (narcotic effect of alkaloids)
- Possible medium-term liver damage
Who is affected
Other species : Toxic to dogs and humans when taken internally (recognized as hepatotoxic).
In pregnant mares : no specific abortifacient effect documented, but it should be avoided.
Getting rid of it
Method : Uproot the entire plant, including the root, wearing gloves to avoid contact with the latex. Destroy the uprooted plant (burning is ideal) to prevent dissemination.
- Inspect paddocks and grazing areas to identify and remove the plant.
- Be vigilant during haymaking, especially if meadows are near old walls or unmaintained areas.
- Avoid letting horses graze in areas where the plant is abundant and grass is scarce.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Greater Celandine from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Greater Celandine 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.