Posted on 10/12/2004 4:58:57 PM PDT by ambrose
Posted on Tue, Oct. 05, 2004
Officials investigate why 11 horses suddenly died
Associated Press
MADELIA, Minn. - Veterinarians and university researchers are still trying to determine why 11 of Ann Hoppe's 32 horses suddenly died last week.
"That's the hardest part," Hoppe said. "The (veterinarians) were just absolutely dumbfounded. ... They thought they would find obvious signs when they got into the autopsy. They haven't found that yet."
On Sept. 27, three of Hoppe's horses became ill. Veterinarians from New Ulm couldn't determine the cause of the sickness. The next day, those horses and eight others died. The vets concluded that some kind of poison was responsible because of the quick onset of symptoms.
Hoppe said the veterinarians suggested white snakeroot as a possible culprit, but other officials aren't so sure.
White snakeroot is a toxic plant that is abundant in the area, primarily in ditches and wooded areas, said Bob Beck, regional naturalist with the Department of Natural Resources. The plant can be lethal to livestock, but most animals know to stay away from it, Beck said.
White snakeroot has been growing in Hoppe's pastures for years. She's even seen her horses nibble at it. But because none had exhibited symptoms of poisoning from the plant in the past - such as trembling, sweating, depression, heart failure or jaundice - Hoppe is skeptical that snakeroot is to blame.
"I remember this plant since I was a little kid," she said. "I never was told it was dangerous."
Doctors at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory aren't sure snakeroot is the cause, Hoppe said. After completing an autopsy, doctors have ruled out many causes, including herbicides and pesticides. White snakeroot hasn't been ruled out entirely, she said.
The stomach and some other parts of the autopsied horse have been sent to the University of Michigan for a second opinion, she said.
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Threat matrix.
Just by coincidence, I suppose-- a relative in Northern Wisconsin had two of her dogs die this past week from an unknown poison.
>>>What on earth are you two talking about? :~D
Pay no attention to the wacky soccer mom, who is up too late, behind this keyboard ;)
Good point. Thanks!
>>>I would like to know more about these 32 horses. Was she a breeder or what?
Seems she was. Here is one of her online adds.
http://www.usahorseclassifieds.com/photoad_detail.cfm?id=14280
Ann Hoppe
xxx-xxx-xxxx
Sorry, it is all my fault, I mixed up my threads.
The below is from the thread that I read minutes before this one.
"Race Horses Die Mysteriously"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1243172/posts
The stables received a new delivery of feed on Friday afternoon and the horses ate some of this on Friday night.
The first two horses became ill on Saturday morning and one of them died the same morning. Five more have died since.
Dr Norman Datnow, a local veterinarian specialising in racehorses, explained that the symptoms were similar to that of food poisoning.
"We cannot say for certain at this stage, but it seems as if the horses ingested Warfarin, a type of rat poison."
Thanks for the link. She has some beautiful paints. What a shame. How heartbreaking for her. I hope they find out, what caused this tragedy.
No problem. She comes up in quite a few searches. I saw someone wondering about what feed she used. If I see that anywhere, I'll post it.
I see feed advertisers on a few sites associated with her. I can't tell if they are her suppliers, so I don't want to post them and hurt their business.
We don't know for sure if it was the feed anyway.
Do horses ever eat the same feed as cattle?
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-national.cfm?Id=1063&yr=2004
Cattle Group Addresses Worries About Protein That BSE Cow Ate
USAgNet - 10/12/2004
Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund of the United Stockgrowers of America, Billings, Montana, reported that it has fielded numerous calls from members and media inquiring about recent news reports that indicate byproduct proteins of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy-positive cow discovered in Canada in May 2003 were rendered into livestock feed and may have been mistakenly fed to cattle.
(snip)
Posted here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1243734/posts
Yes, horses would eat cattle feed, if put in front of them. With the quality of horses, this lady owned, I doubt that she would be feeding cattle feed. I do hope we hear more, when the results of the tests are in. Keep me posted if you see anything. Thanks.
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