VMLL 1012 - Poisonous Plants: Plants Affecting the Nervous System

In this course the important neurotoxic plants capable of causing a variety of neurological problems in animals are discussed. Plant recognition, the principle plant toxin and the clinical signs produced by the neurotoxic plants are all covered.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Recognize "locoweeds", their distribution and the clinical syndromes in livestock and horses consuming the plants.
• Explain the pathogenesis of locoweed poisoning.
• Differentiate locoweed poisoning from sage poisoning.
• Identify the plants causing nigropallidalencephalomalacia.
• Develop a list of other plants capable of causing neurologic signs in animals.

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

Instructors

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.