VMLL 1011 - Poisonous Plants: Plants Affecting the Integumentary System

1 CE Credits / Summer 2008

Delivery/Location: Online

This course will enable you to recognize the signs of photodermatitis associated with a variety of plants. Emphasis is given to plants that cause primary and secondary photosensitization in animals. The pathogenesis of plant induced photosensitization, and the diagnosis and treatment of the problem are all discussed.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  • Recognize the signs of photosensitivity.
  • Understand the pathogenesis.
  • Differentiate between primary and secondary photosensitivity.
  • Recognize the important/common plants that cause primary and secondary photosensitivity.
  • Understand the pathogenesis of chronic selenium poisoning.
  • Recognize selenium "indicator" plants.
  • Recognize the toxicity of black walnut shavings.
  • Recognize plants that are associated with calcinosis.
  • Recognize the hazards of feeding endophyte infected fescue grass to horses and cattle.

Noncredit courses do not produce academic credit nor appear on a Colorado State University academic transcript.

Instructors

Picture of the instructor Dr. Tony Knight
Anthony.Knight@colostate.edu

Dr. Knight has taught plant toxicology in the professional veterinary medical curriculum for over 20 years and has recently published a book with CD on the subject. (A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America. Published by Teton New Media). He has utilized his field experience in working with livestock owners who have had plant poisoning problems to embellish the plant toxicology course taught to veterinary students at Colorado Sate University.

He is frequently invited to speak to veterinarians, livestock producers, and Cooperative Extension personnel on the importance of toxic plants in the western United States. To help answer frequent questions on the subject of plant poisoning, Dr Knight also has a popular web page on toxic plants.