Wild onions can be found growing in pastures all over the USA. And some horses might find the green crunchy stems of onions appealing. But not every pasture plant is good for horses to eat. So, can horses eat onions? We’ll take a deeper look at this question below.
Can Horses Eat Onions?
Onions are one of the few plants that horses can’t eat. This is because they belong to the Allium family of plants, which also includes garlic, leeks, shallots and chives. All of these plants poisonous to horses, and if a horse eats too many then it can be fatal.
Garlic has many health benefits for horses and it’s a common equine food supplement. So it’s worth noting that garlic is only poisonous to horses if it’s fed in large amounts.
Why Are Onions Bad for Horses?
The reason why these plants from the allium family are so bad for horses is because they contain a compound called N-propyl disulfide. This will damage the red blood cells of horses and make them anemic. This is known as Heinz hemolytic anemia or onion poisoning. And this will make your horse very ill and in severe cases, it can be fatal. How badly your horse will be affected depends on how many onions it’s eaten.
All types of onions are bad for horse both wild onions and cultivated ones. And all parts of the onion including the bulb and leaves are poisonous to horses too.
What are the Symptoms of Onion Poisoning?
If a horse has eaten onions then one of the first things you might notice is that it has onion breath. Other symptoms of onion poisoning include pale membranes and an increased heart or respiration rate.
If your horse has onion poisoning it may also have dark brown to red urine. And it may be unstable and wobbly on its legs. Severe cases of onion poisoning can also cause pregnant mares to abort.
What do you do if your Horse Eats Onions?
If your horse has onion breath or you think it’s eaten onions then you should call your vet immediately. Your vet will examine your horse and test for onion poisoning. If your horse tests positive then the vet will begin a deep detox process. Your vet might use things such as use activated charcoal to treat your horse as well as supportive therapies such as fluids. In severe cases, horses may even need a blood transfusion.
With any kind of poisoning, time is of the essence. And your horse will have a better chance of recovery if you catch the poisoning in the early stages. The chances of recovery not only depend on how early you catch the symptoms but it also depends on how many onions your horse has eaten. The more onions your horse has eaten the more severe the symptoms will be.
How to Stop Horses Eating Onions
A lot of the time, horses won't be interested in eating onions because of their strong taste. But if a horse is hungry then it will be less picky about its food. The best way to stop your horse from eating onions is to check its pasture regularly for wild onions. You must pull these up and remove them from the pasture.
If your horse is living close by to an onion field then make sure your horse is well fed and that the fence is secure. You should also check your horse's hay and make sure that dried wild onions aren’t hiding in there.
And never feed your horse onions or any other members of the allium family. And make sure that everyone at your yard or barn know about the dangers of horses eating onions too.
Conclusion
So, can horses eat onions? The answer to this question is a very definite no. Onions are very toxic to horses, as well as lots of other animals. And if horses do eat onions they will most likely get onion poisoning. This is a severe illness that causes anemia and can be fatal. So you should avoid giving your horse onions at all costs. And never feed them any other members of the onion family to horses. This includes leeks, chives and shallots.
