Animal Health Problems: Photosensitivity

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Symptoms
3. Other Animal Health Problem Recommendations
   • Life Threatening Illnesses
   • Non Life-Threatening Illnesses
   • Problems Caused by Specific Forages
4. Related Links
   
   

Introduction

When eaten in large quantities alfalfa, red clover, birdsfoot trefoil, alsike clover and perennial ryegrass can occasionally cause sensitization of an individual animal's unpigmented skin.

Symptoms

The affected skin area becomes swollen, reddened, itchy and, in advanced stages, the skin area hardens and peels away.

Alsike clover can also cause a more serious form of poisoning in horses. Affected horses show nervous symptoms, loss of appetite, emaciation and jaundice. Paralysis and death can follow.

Related Links

... on forages and pastures, visit Forages and Pastures (OMAFRA)
... on weed control, order Publication 75 Guide to Weed Control: Forage Crops
... on agronomy for field crops, order Pub. 811 Agronomy Guide for Field Crops: Chapter 3 Forages
... on field crop protection, order Publication 812, Field Crop Protection Guide
... on livestock, visit Livestock (OMAFRA)