Pasture Walk

Indications for performing a pasture walk:  Indicated in instances of multiple or single animal disease outbreaks exhibiting clinical signs compatible of with toxicosis.  

    The pasture walk should be performed by a person educated in the species of toxic plants indigenous to the area.  A good resource for this information, if the veterinarian is not comfortable with the task, is the local county extension agent.  The pasture should be examined for any sign of toxic or potentially toxic plants.  It is also important for the individual to be able to recognize these plants in various stages of growth.  Examine the pasture along fence lines and heavily grazed areas.  In the mean time, it is also a good idea to observe other materials in the pasture that could cause a problem in a grazing animal, such as pieces of batteries (a common cause of lead poisoning in cattle), small objects that could be consumed by an inquisitive youngster, or such things as rodenticide baits. 

    It is important to remember that finding the toxic plant or plants, or any other potentially toxic substance, does not indicate exposure.  Further diagnostic work needs to be done to definitively determine whether the toxin is contributing  to the observed clinical signs.

Below are some common toxic plants that may be found in local pastures.