Boxelder seeds found to cause disease in horses

Researcher at the U of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Clinic have found a link between toxins in boxelder seeds and seasonal pasture myopathy in horses.   In areas where other vegetation is sparse and hay is not given in adequate amounts, horses will eat the boxelder seeds and become ill.  The symptoms are awkward gate, dark colored urine and difficulty breathing.  The case fatality rate is 90%.  The article, Seeds from tree trigger devastating disease, was published in horsetalk.co.nz.

The boxelder photos below are from Audubon.org

Boxelder leaf - Member of the maple family

Boxelder seeds