Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:43:48 -0400
From: Sam Groce
Subject: Horse Slobbers
In response to the question about Horse Slobbers, the fungus that can cause slobbers in horses is Rhizoctonia leguminicola. It produces the mycotoxin slaframine which causes slobbering from the horse’s mouth.
This is known as Slaframine poisoning or “slobbers”. Although Slaframine poisoning is caused by Rhizoctonia leguminicola, the slobbering can also be caused by other factors. If the clover was sprayed and killed a month ago I would look more toward another factor causing it rather than the fungus. This slobbering could be caused by mechanical or chemical irritations.
The mechanical irritation comes from plants that have small barbs or sharp spines. When the horse eats the plant the barbs will irritate the mouth and can sometimes even be left behind stuck in the inside of the mouth. Some plants that can cause this type of irritation that are common to our area include foxtail barley, little barley, foxtail millet, hedge mustard, shepherds purse, pigweed and horse nettle. Buttercups, Pennsylvania smartweed or marigolds can cause a chemical irritation.
Also since you recently moved here there is going to be a period of adjustment for your horses from one region to another. If the slobbering continues at the same rate or increases I would suggest contacting your veterinarian for professional help in this situation.
It should be noted that most literature does not list this malady as a lethal problem. For additional information please feel free to contact the Chatham County Center of North Carolina Cooperative
Extension.
Samuel E. Groce
Extension Agent – Agriculture
Livestock & Forages, Field Crops, Pesticide Coordinator
Chatham County Center
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
North Carolina State University
Post Office Box 279
Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312
Telephone: 919.542.8202 Fax:919.542.8246
webpage: http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/ http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/
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