Savine Juniper
Juniperus sabina
Horse
Critical
Any suspected ingestion is an immediate veterinary emergency. Very low: 100 to 200 grams of twigs are sufficient to kill a horse or cause abortion.
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 (activated charcoal, IV fluids, renal protection).
- Time to signs
- A few hours to 24 hours
- Prognosis
- Grave. Renal damage is often irreversible.
- Absolute veterinary emergency.
- Activated charcoal.
- Gastric lavage if recent ingestion.
- IV fluids for renal support and hydration.
- Intensive monitoring of vital functions.
Its ID card
- Height
- 0.3 m – 1.2 m
- Flowering
- Inconspicuous flowering, generally in spring (April-May), followed by berry formation.
- Toxic parts
- Entire plant (twigs and berries). Remains toxic when dried.
- Toxin
- Essential oil rich in sabinol and sabinene.
- Habitat
- Garden rockeries, cemeteries, wild mountains (Alps, Pyrenees) on calcareous soils.
- Soil indicator
- Dry, rocky, sunny, calcareous soils.
- Regions
- Europe (Mountains and widely planted in gardens)
- In hay
- Yes — stays toxic once dried
- Palatability
- Strong odor and burning taste; intoxication is rare when grazing but possible via pruning waste.
When the risk rises
All year round (evergreen foliage).
Spotting it in the field
Common Juniper (which has prickly needles, whereas Savine has soft scales), Thuja. — smell : strong, resinous, and acrid smell when branchlets are crushed.
- Creeping conifer or small, spreading shrub.
- Branchlets covered in tiny, overlapping scales (like Thuja), dark green.
- Very strong, unpleasant, acrid odor when branchlets are crushed.
- Bluish-black berries.
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity.
Dose : 100 to 200 grams of fresh or dried twigs for a horse.
- Violent colic and bloody diarrhea
- Bloody urine (hematuria) and kidney destruction
- Fulminant abortion in mares
- Respiratory distress
- Convulsions and coma
Who is affected
Other species : Lethal and abortifacient for all animals (cattle, sheep, dogs) and humans.
In pregnant mares : major and extremely violent abortifacient (lethal for the fetus and often the mother).
Getting rid of it
Method : Uproot the entire plant, including roots, wearing gloves. Burn pruning waste and uprooted plants to prevent recontamination.
- Imperatively identify and remove Savine Juniper from paddocks and stable surroundings.
- Never use wood chips or mulch derived from this plant.
- Inform staff and visitors about the risks associated with this plant.
- Closely monitor horses, especially if they have access to areas where the plant is present.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Savine Juniper from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Savine Juniper 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.