Why is my horse slobbering excessively?

What causes slobbers in horses?

Causes: Slobbers or Slaframine Poisoning occurs when a horse eats a white or red clover, alsike clover and alfalfa growing in its pasture or preserved in its hay. During wet cool weather, clover grows quickly, and along with it can grow a fungus called Rhizoctonia leguminicola, more commonly called black patch.

What are slobbers and why do they happen?

One of the more common reasons for this is known as slaframine poisoning or slobbers, and is often caused by clover in your horse’s paddock.

Does your horse have slobbers?

Does Your Horse Have the Slobbers? A variety of substances can cause horses to drool. Why Do Horses Drool? Grazing animals can sometimes consume plants that have spines, burrs or sharp awns on the seeds that can injure the tissues of the mouth causing the horse to drool.

Why does my Hay have slobbers?

Legume hay has also been known to cause slobbers because slaframine can remain hay for several years, most commonly in red clover hay. Later cuttings of hay are most likely to contain high levels of slaframine compared to first cuttings.

What happens if a horse eats Clover?

One is sometimes found in clover, although it isn’t clover itself that poses the problem. Instead, it is the host for a parasitic growth that will cause slobbers, the illness named for the results of a horse eating it. Slobbers isn’t a harmful disease and will go away on its own.

Why is my horse drooling red clover?

When horse’s drool profusely over long periods of time, the culprit is usually a fungus that grows on white and red clover and less frequently on alfalfa. White clover and red clover are perennial plants. White clover can tolerate intense grazing and is often found in overgrazed pastures.

Why do people put slobber straps on reins?

Lightweight reins, when picked up on and released by a rider, may be so light that both horse and rider don’t get a good “feel” through them. Slobber straps can add enough weight that both horse and rider can more easily feel communication through the reins. Some styles of reins, such as mecates, are not easily attached directly to a bit.

How dangerous are Clover slobbers in horses?

The most immediate danger from clover slobbers is dehydration since the horse is losing fluids from the salivation. The first thing to do to “cure” slobbers is to take the horse out of the pasture.

What causes profuse salivation in horses with slobbers?

Clinical syndromes that can cause profuse salivation are: the virus disease, vesicular stomatitis; mechanical or chemical irritation of the mouth, e.g., by plant awns; or slaframine poisoning, most commonly associated with clover pasture or hay. Figure 1. Horse clinically affected with Slobbers. Photo courtesy of Steven S. Nicholson, DVM, LSU.

What are slobbers in horses?

Slobbers or Slaframine Poisoning occurs when a horse eats a white or red clover, alsike clover and alfalfa growing in its pasture or preserved in its hay.

Why does my horse have slobbers and a runny nose?

Niki, a runny nose could be allergies or upper respiratory infection. You should check with your vet if it doesn’t clear up in a few days. My horse has the slobbers and a runny nose… is that from eating clovers? Donna Campbell Smith (author) from Central North Carolina on June 28, 2011:

Is it normal for horses to slobber in the pasture?

It is not abnormal for some horses in the pasture to be more affected than others, since horses vary in their sensitivity to the toxin and preference for clover. If you have major concerns over the “slobbering” then you should contact your veterinarian.

What causes a horse to have profuse salivation?

Clinical syndromes that can cause profuse salivation are: the virus disease, vesicular stomatitis; mechanical or chemical irritation of the mouth, e.g., by plant awns; or slaframine poisoning, most commonly associated with clover pasture or hay. Figure 1. Horse clinically affected with Slobbers.

What causes slobbers on horses?

Slobbers often results from horses ingesting the compound slaframine, produced by the Rhizoctonia fungus found on legumes such as red and white clover and alfalfa.

Why does Clover make horses drool?

The fungus infects red clover, white clover, alsike clover, and alfalfa. The slaframine stimulates the salivary glands and causes horses to drool. Although this is a nuisance, horses rarely suffer any health effects from grazing infected clover.

What happens if a horse eats red clover?

Three of the most common problems found in horses eating clover involve: The toxin slaframine in Red Clover infested with Rhizoctonia leguminicola which causes excessive salivation A photosensitivity response created by Alsike clover ( Trifolium hybridum ) that is secondary to liver damage

Can horses eat clover hay?

Clover’s energy, protein and fiber content make it a good feed source for horses. Mold-infected clover can cause slobbers, liver damage and bleeding in horses. Mold grows when the temperature is above 80 F and the humidity is above 60 percent. Bleeding only happens in horses eating moldy sweet clover hay.

Why does my horse slobber so much hay?

Hay made from contaminated forages is also suspect, and the slaframine can remain in hay for several years. When consumed while grazing or as hay, clover infected with this fungus will often cause horses to slobber excessively. This is known as Slaframine poisoning. The fungus infects red clover, white clover, alsike clover, and alfalfa.

What causes red clover poisoning in horses?

Red clover poisoning in horses occurs when the red clover becomes infected with the fungus Rhizoctonia leguminicola or black patch disease. This fungus becomes more prevalent during wet, cool years but can also occur during times of drought.

How to keep horse reins out of the water?

For example, if a horse takes a drink while wearing reins with slobber straps, the slobber straps will help keep the reins out of the water. They are designed to be easily removed and replaced.

What are slobber straps for horses?

Slobber straps are pieces of leather that you put on your bit and attach the reins through. They are helpful as a tool to give your horse a release of pressure. They also help to aid some weight to your reins. If your reins are lightweight, it can cause a delayed response from your horse when you pick up on them.

Why does my red clover have slobbers?

Red clover seems to be the most likely species to cause this condition, but all clovers and legumes can host the fungus that causes slobbers. It is not actually the plant itself causing this problem, but a fungus that grows on the plant, or hay made from red clover.

Is Clover Bad for horses?

Clovers can sometimes mold, which causes slobbers, photosensitivity (reactive to light) and bleeding. These conditions can occur after horses eat affected clover either fresh or as hay. Even with the chance of these problems, clover is still a useful forage for horses. Plus sign (+) if content is closed, ‘X’ if content is open.