OLEANDER INTOXICATION IN HORSES - THE EVIDENCE OF OLEANDER LEAVES IN THE STOMACH - A CASE-REPORT

The incidence of a deadly poisoning of two mares with dried oleander ( Nerium oleander L.) leaves is reported. The symptoms observed were res tlessness, ataxia, somnolence, tremors, increased respiratory rate, an d suppressed peristaltic murmurs. Abnormalities in the heart and circu lation function could not be recorded. The pathologic examination show ed a flabby heart, multiple haemorrhages in the myocardium and a weak inflammation in the colon. In the stomach content fragments of oleande r leaves could be unequivocally identified on the basis of the charact eristic cavities with trichomes on the lower leaf surface.