Equine Botulism-Contaminated Feed and Dead Animals

Botulism is caused by a bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This bacteria is closely related to the bacteria that causes Tetanus in horses. Clostridium botulinum is a normal contaminate in soil and intestinal contents of animals and birds. This bacteria only grows well in decaying material without oxygen, and it is the toxin released by the bacteria that is toxic.

Signs of toxicity are; stiff gait, trouble walking, difficulty in eating and eventually a down animal that cannot get up.

This is the time of year horse owners must be particularly observant for contaminated spoiled feed and dead animals around feed or in paddocks or pastures.

Horse owners have had hay stored for the winter and with snow and or rain some of the hay can become moldy and a good place for the Botulism bacteria to grow and produce a toxin. Even if the moldy hay is not fed, the hay in adjoining sections or bales can contain the toxin. Therefore now is the time to watch the hay carefully for mold and not feed those bales. I have found dead animals in bales of hay and I always discard those bales.

If you have been feeding on the ground or in round bale feeders mold and Botulism bacteria could be growing on the bottom of wet material accumulated over the winter.

Also watch your paddocks and pastures for dead animals and remove them if found. These dead animals could be birds, cats, rodents, deer or any dead animal. Although the horses may not actually eat the dead animal the toxins can contaminate grass or hay around the dead and decaying animal.