Peony
Paeonia spp. (officinalis, lactiflora)
Horse
Moderate
Remove access and monitor the horse; call at the first sign. Generally several large handfuls of foliage/flowers or ingestion of the fleshy roots.
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
- Very good. Fatal intoxication is virtually impossible in an adult horse due to the quantity required.
- Immediate removal of the plant from the diet.
- Dry hay diet.
- Symptomatic treatment for colic if it persists.
- Close monitoring of the general condition.
Its ID card
- Height
- 0.5 m – 1.5 m
- Flowering
- May to July.
- Toxic parts
- Entire plant, especially roots (tubers) and black seeds.
- Toxin
- Irritant glycoside (Paeonol)
- Habitat
- Flowerbeds, ornamental garden borders, old farmsteads.
- Soil indicator
- Rich, deep, heavy (clay), well-drained soils.
- Regions
- Entire Europe (Gardens)
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Low. Sometimes nibbled over a fence or out of boredom.
When the risk rises
May-June (peak flowering, discarded bouquets).
Spotting it in the field
No common pasture plants. — smell : slightly aromatic, but not particularly pronounced.
- Large herbaceous clump or small shrub.
- Deep green, highly dissected leaves.
- Enormous solitary, very double flowers in bright colors (pink, red, white, yellow).
- Fleshy, tuberous roots.
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity.
Dose : Several kilograms of the whole plant or a significant quantity of roots for an adult horse.
- Mild to moderate colic (abdominal pain)
- Gastroenteritis (transient diarrhea)
- Moderate depression
- Possible tremors or weakness if large ingestion
- Hypersalivation
Who is affected
Other species : Irritating to dogs (which sometimes eat the roots) and cats.
In pregnant mares : historically considered slightly abortifacient in traditional human medicine; a precautionary principle applies to mares.
Getting rid of it
Method : Uproot the entire plant, including the roots, and destroy by incineration. Wear gloves.
- Keep peony beds away from pasture fences.
- Educate neighbors about the dangers of garden waste for horses.
- Supervise horses when they are near areas planted with peonies.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Peony from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Peony 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.