Poroporo
Plant description:
Soft-wooded shrub, up to 3m tall with dark green irregularly-lobed leaves. Has white to pale purple flowers and an ovaoid yellow-orange berry.
Animal species affected:
Cattle and sheep
Symptoms of poisoning:
Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrheoa, weakness, inco-ordination, trembling, drooling, nasal discharge, jaundice, deep depression, difficulty breathing and cardiac failure leading to death. Ironically, the faster the toxin passes throught the body (the worse the diarrhea), the less toxin is absorbed and the better the prognosis.
Treatment:
Call the vet - symptomatic treatment and drugs to minimise toxin absorption.
