Lambsquarters
Chenopodium album
Horse
Moderate
Remove access and monitor the horse; call at the first sign. Prolonged massive ingestion. The plant alone is rarely fatal; accumulation is the problem.
Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.
What to do now
- Antidote
- No specific antidote. Removal of the plant and symptomatic support.
- Time to signs
- Several days to a few weeks of continuous ingestion.
- Prognosis
- Good. Horses tolerate lambsquarters better than amaranth.
- Remove the plant from the diet.
- Provide good quality hay ad libitum.
- Monitor the horse for any signs of weakness.
Its ID card
- Height
- 30 cm – 1.2 m
- Flowering
- June to September.
- Toxic parts
- Leaves and stems.
- Toxin
- Oxalates and Nitrates
- Habitat
- Cultivated fields, wastelands, roadsides, debris, soil heaps, old vegetable gardens.
- Soil indicator
- Loose soils, rich in potash and nitrogen, worked lands.
- Regions
- Entire Europe (Cosmopolitan)
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Medium. Quite palatable when young and tender.
When the risk rises
June to September.
Spotting it in the field
Amaranth (which lacks the white powdery coating), Orache. — smell : slight herbaceous odor, not very pronounced when crushed.
- Erect stem, often streaked with green and red.
- Young leaves covered with a white/powdery, mealy coating that can be rubbed off with a finger.
- Leaves are diamond-shaped or goose-foot shaped.
- Small greenish flowers in granular clusters.
Signs to watch for
Chronic (cumulative) toxicity due to nitrates and oxalates.
Dose : Difficult to quantify precisely, depends on nitrate/oxalate concentration and duration of ingestion. Chronic ingestion of moderate amounts is more concerning than a single acute ingestion.
- Mild depression and weakness
- Cyanotic (bluish) or very pale mucous membranes
- Tremors linked to hypocalcemia
- Dark or very cloudy urine
- Mild colic
Who is affected
Other species : Kidney problems and nitrate poisoning in ruminants and pigs.
In pregnant mares : possible abortion due to anoxia (nitrates).
Getting rid of it
Method : Pull the plant before flowering, preferably wearing gloves to avoid skin irritation. Dispose of waste appropriately (hot composting or incineration).
- Avoid overgrazing pastures where this plant is present.
- Identify and remove the plant from paddocks and grazing areas.
- Ensure a balanced and varied diet to prevent a monodiety.
- Monitor mown areas to prevent hay contamination.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Lambsquarters from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Lambsquarters 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.