Poisonous plants

1. Poisonous plants Red maple trees and Hemlock by Kayla Medlyn and Rebecca Smith

2. How to physically identify it • Where it grows : Found on the east coast and north east , they enjoy sandy soils. • Why its dangerous : It causes acute hemolytic anemia with methemglobinemia and Heinz body formation in some horses, which can result in death. The toxin that causes the disease is not yet known. lysis, or the destruction of red blood cells. Methemoblobinemia is a condition where the hemoglobin, the part of a red blood cell that contains iron and carries oxygen, is changed so that oxygen cannot be carried to tissues and the blood becomes brown in color. • Symptoms:Symptoms of acute hemolytic anemia include depression, anorexia (refusal to eat) and dehydration. In addition, the horse will be jaundiced (a condition that turns the whites of the eyes yellow), his heart will beat faster, and his respiration will increase due to the lack of oxygen in his bloodstream. Hemoglobinuria (reddish-brown urine) might also occur because of the lysis of the red blood cells. • Treatment :Activated charcoal is effective, if the ingestion is recent, but blood transfusions are sometimes required. The horse will also need intravenous fluids to prevent shock and lessen dehydration - high volumes of fluids also help prevent kidney damage caused by the hemoglobin. Vitamin C is often given to help oxidize the blood and resolve the methemoglobinemia. • Pictures