Seasonal sycamore risk

 The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is reminding horse owners to keep horses away from sycamore trees as their seeds can cause fatal illness, known as atypical myopathy. 

Seeds (masts or helicopters) from the common sycamore tree (Acer pseudoplatanus) produce a toxin called Hypoglycin A, which can remain present in high concentrations in seedlings. When horses eat these, either by accident or because they are lacking other forage options, some individuals will develop severe and often fatal muscle damage, called atypical myopathy. 

 

Symptoms include muscle soreness, weakness, breathing issues, and dark urine. Immediate veterinary care is crucial, as 75% of affected horses die.

 

“With leaves still on trees now is the time to identify sycamores in the vicinity of your horse’s fields and predict the future risk,” said Lucy Grieve, Veterinary Projects Officer at BEVA “Once the leaves start to turn and then drop it will be much more difficult to spot sycamores.”

 

To prevent atypical myopathy, she advises:

 

·      Identify sycamore trees near fields and anticipate risk before leaves fall.

·      Collect seeds or exclude horses from affected areas using electric fencing or stabling. 

·      provide supplementary forage to prevent seed ingestion.

·      Don’t fell seed-laden trees, as it may worsen contamination.

·      Monitor horses carefully even after they have been moved from affected pasture as disease can occur up to four days after exposure.

 

For further information you can download the Royal Veterinary College’s fact sheet on  Atypical Myopathy: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/Comparative%20Neuromuscular%20Diseases%20Laboratory/Atypical%20Myopathy%20fact%20file%20updated%202022.pdf

 

For further information visit www.beva.org.uk.