AT A GLANCE
Dogwood is non-toxic to horses in moderation. They can eat both the leaves and bark of twigs without suffering any damage. Red dogwood fruits are edible even for humans after decoction and are rich in vitamin C.
How toxic is the dogwood to humans and horses?
Most varieties of dogwood are light poisonous and inedible. The concentration of toxins varies in different parts of the plant. With some varieties, you can even make jam from the fruits of the plant. However, correct processing is absolutely necessary for this. Otherwise, the plant can cause diarrhea or, in the worst case, even cause symptoms of poisoning.
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Can horses eat poisonous dogwood?
It's not a problem if horses dogwood leaves wolf down. The leaves of the plant cannot harm the large animal. It is therefore harmless if the animal eats dogwood leaves. Therefore, the opinion is often held that the dogwood is basically non-toxic to horses. Also keep in mind that horses have a natural sense of what is good for them and what is not.
Are Dogwood Twigs Poisonous to Horses?
Dogwood twigs and branches are fine for horses edible. The poisonous substances of the plant are mainly concentrated in the middle part of the branch. However, horses typically only nibble on the outside of the branches and eat the bark. In this respect, they absorb little toxin even if they eat a lot of twigs. Typically, twigs and branches are often used as feed for overweight horses. They form a kind of diet food. The branches of the dogwood can be used for this purpose.
Tip
Fruits of some varieties also edible
The fruits of Red Dogwood are not poisonous. They are edible for both humans and horses. However, if you want to enjoy them as a person, you should boil the berries before consumption. Then get edible berries, which contain a lot of vitamin C.