Can horses eat plums?

Yellow: with caution

A healthy horse cannot tolerate a few pitted plums or prunes, but seeds and piles of fallen fruit cannot tolerate them. The horse nutritionist Dr. Juliet Getty lists plums among the generally safe treats. This refers to the pulp.

Why the traffic light is yellow

Plums, like peaches, apricots and cherry laurel, belong to the Prunus genus. According to toxicologist Prof. Anthony Knight (IVIS), many Prunus species contain hydrocyanic acid-forming glycosides, especially amygdalin and prunasin. Amygdalin is most abundant in the seeds, while prunasin is found in young shoots and in wilted or frozen leaves. The ripe pulp around the seed is not poisonous, according to Knight. Horses have an advantage here: According to Knight, animals with simple stomachs such as horses are rarely poisoned by such glycosides because they do not quickly release hydrogen cyanide from them. The horse nutritionist Dr. Clair Thunes writes that horses are less at risk than ruminants. But less endangered does not mean safe. Purdue University specifically lists horses among the animals affected by late-blooming bird cherry.

Specifically about the plum tree, Thunes writes that, like peaches and black cherries, it has leaves from which hydrogen cyanide can be produced when they wilt.

What you should pay attention to

• Always pit: The ehorses guide recommends only pitting stone fruit and in small portions. Penn State Extension warns against choking on peach and apricot pits. A plum stone is similarly large and hard.
• Keep an eye on fallen fruit: In late summer there is often a lot of fruit under plum trees. If there is a tree on or in the paddock, collect the fallen fruit or fence off the area.
• Clear away wilted branches: After a storm or tree pruning, wilting leaves lie on the pasture. According to Thunes, these are exactly the problem.
• Quantity: According to Penn State Extension, treats should be given in small amounts and not be a main part of the ration. As a rule of thumb, she says one to two pieces per serving.
• Sugar-sensitive horses: According to the University of Kentucky, horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) need a strictly limited ration without concentrates, sugary feeds and treats. If your horse has EMS, insulin resistance or has ever had laminitis, ask your vet before every fruit treat.

What to do if your horse has eaten plums?

A few plums are usually not an emergency. If your horse has eaten its fill under the tree, including stones, or nibbled on dead leaves, call the vet's office and tell them approximately how much it was. If you are restless, salivating, breathing quickly or feeling weak, every minute counts. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, signs of throat obstruction include food coming out of the nostrils, excessive salivation and teeth grinding. Then take away the food and water immediately and call the vet.

If poisoning is suspected or if there are signs of colic, go to a veterinarian or emergency veterinary service immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Read more

• Can horses eat cherries?
• Can horses eat pears?
• What can horses eat? The overview with traffic lights
• Horse weight calculator: How to estimate your horse's weight
• Buying a horse: the checklist

Quellen, abgerufen am 05.11.2026: EquiMed, Dr. Getty's Tip on Treats: Which are safe and which are not? (Dr. Juliet Getty, Pferdeernährungswissenschaftlerin); IVIS, Guide to Poisonous House and Garden Plants: Prunus species (Anthony Knight); The Horse, Will Black Cherry Leaves Make My Horses Sick? (Clair Thunes, PhD); Purdue University, Toxic Plants: Black Cherry; ehorses, Ratgeber Obst und Gemüse für Pferde (PDF); Penn State Extension, Trick or Treat? Things to Think About When Giving Your Horse a Treat (Danielle Smarsh, Andrea Kocher); University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, Equine Metabolic Syndrome: Is My Horse Just Fat or Is He Sick? (Amanda Adams, Fernanda Camargo, ID-239); Merck Veterinary Manual, Disorders of the Esophagus in Horses