Equio

Tulip

Tulipa spp.

Horse

Low

Remove access and monitor the horse; call at the first sign. Large ingestion (several bulbs or entire bouquets).

Monitorwhat to do
Not reportedtoxic in hay

Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.

What to do now

Antidote
No specific antidote. Symptomatic and supportive treatment.
Time to signs
A few hours to 24 hours.
Prognosis
Excellent.
  1. Rinse the animal's mouth.
  2. Remove the animal from the danger zone.
  3. Monitor for symptoms.

Its ID card

Height
20 cm – 70 cm
Flowering
March to May.
Toxic parts
The bulb is toxic and irritating (the toxin is highly concentrated under the bulb's 'skin'). Flowers and stems are weakly toxic.
Toxin
Lactones (Tuliposide A) and glycoproteins.
Habitat
Parks, gardens, spring beds, flower fields.
Soil indicator
Light, sandy, well-drained soils.
Regions
Entire Europe (Gardens and production fields)
In hay
Not reported
Palatability
Curiously, tulip leaves and flowers are quite palatable to herbivores (deer and rabbits adore them and make a feast of them), which increases the risk if the bulbs are accessible.

When the risk rises

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April-May (discarded flowers) and Autumn (forgotten/discarded bulbs during planting).

Spotting it in the field

Do not confuse with

Daffodils (finer leaves). — smell : odorless.

  • A very well-known spring bulbous plant.
  • Large, smooth, somewhat fleshy, and often bluish leaves.
  • Stiff stem bearing a single cup-shaped flower.
  • Flower colors are very varied (often solid or flamed).

Signs to watch for

Acute toxicity.

Dose : Several bulbs or entire bouquets for a horse.

  • Hypersalivation (drooling)
  • Loss of appetite (oral irritation)
  • Very mild colic and bloating
  • Transient diarrhea
  • Possible redness around the nostrils

Who is affected

Other species : Contact irritation (bulb eczema) in gardeners. Toxic bulbs for dogs/cats.

In pregnant mares : no known risk.

HorseDonkeyPonyDogsCatsRodentsRuminants
Tulip : equine care and management documented with Equio app. Documentation équine avec Equio, l'application d'aide à la décision pour les chevaux.

Getting rid of it

Method : Uproot bulbs carefully, ideally before flowering. Wear gloves to avoid skin irritation. Dispose of bulbs safely.

  • Prevent horses from accessing tulip planting areas.
  • Remove uprooted bulbs from compost piles or grazing areas.
  • Closely monitor horses during critical periods (spring and autumn).

Frequently asked questions

Can Equio identify Tulip from a photo?

It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.

Is Tulip dangerous in hay?

Hay risk is not always reported for this entry, but suspicious forage should still be isolated until checked.

Veterinary priority

This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.

Related pages

Tulip and foal and young horseProfile-specific horse risk page.Tulip and pregnant mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Tulip and lactating mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Tulip and non-pregnant mareProfile-specific horse risk page.Tulip and senior horseProfile-specific horse risk page.Tulip and horse in recoveryProfile-specific horse risk page.Poisonous plants for horsesEnglish Equio plant catalogue and risk pages.Sensitive profilesFoals, pregnancy, lactation, senior horses and recovery.Photo methodHow to document a plant without relying on one image only.Equio AppScan feed, plants and care products — keep your horse's history.Equio FAQAnswers about scans, profiles, subscriptions and AI limits.
What to do? The Equio app