Wild Parsnip
Pastinaca sativa
Horse
Moderate
Get veterinary advice the same day and remove access. Direct contact with sap followed by UV exposure, or significant ingestion.
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 after sun exposure.
- Prognosis
- Good, but burns take time to heal.
- Immediately bring the horse into a shaded area, away from sunlight.
- Gently clean the affected area with cool water.
- Apply soothing creams to burns (e.g, Biafine/Aloe vera).
- Monitor for the development of blisters or signs of infection.
Its ID card
- Height
- 0.3 m – 1.2 m
- Flowering
- June to August
- Toxic parts
- Sap (stems and leaves).
- Toxin
- Furanocoumarins (Phototoxins)
- Habitat
- Roadsides, verges, wastelands, dry, calcareous meadows.
- Soil indicator
- Calcareous, dry, disturbed soils, roadsides.
- Regions
- Entire Europe
- In hay
- Not reported
- Palatability
- Medium. Horses may eat the upper parts, but the danger is often simple contact while grazing nearby.
When the risk rises
June to August (high sunlight).
Spotting it in the field
Wild Fennel (fine leaves), Dill. — smell : strong, aromatic smell reminiscent of carrot or celery, especially when crushed or cut.
- Erect plant (up to 1m).
- Grooved and hollow stem.
- Compound leaves with several pairs of toothed leaflets.
- Yellow flowers grouped in large, flat umbels.
- Large taproot with a strong carrot/celery odor.
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity via skin contact and sun exposure.
Dose : Not established for horses, but ingestion of large quantities can cause gastrointestinal upset. The primary risk is skin photosensitization.
- Redness and blisters (severe sunburns) on snips and socks
- Intense itching
- Mild oral irritation if ingested fresh
- Crusts and oozing on exposed skin
Who is affected
Other species : Photosensitization in humans (gardeners) and other herbivores.
In pregnant mares : none known.
Getting rid of it
Method : Mowing or pulling before flowering, wearing protective clothing. Destroy cut parts to prevent regrowth or spread.
- Prevent horses from grazing in areas where wild parsnip is present, especially during sunny months.
- Identify and remove the plant from pastures before it goes to seed.
- Wear gloves and protective clothing when handling the plant to avoid skin burns.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Wild Parsnip from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Wild Parsnip dangerous in hay?
Hay risk is not always reported for this entry, but suspicious forage should still be isolated until checked.
This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.