How to Treat Black Locust Poisoning

Often found along America's east coast, Black Locust trees, often called false Acacia or Robinia trees, are small trees with toxic leaves, bark and seeds. The toxins are harmful to horses, dogs and cows and in extreme cases can cause renal failure. Below are tips on what to do when your beloved pet or valuable farm animal ingests Black Locust leaves. In rare cases, children can have a toxic reaction to Black Locust. Most of the tips below also apply to treating humans.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Stomach tube
• Laxatives

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Instructions

• 1

  Remove any remaining leaves root or bark from the black locust from the animal's mouth. If you catch the animal before it ingest too much of the tree, treatment possibilities are better.

• 2

  Attempt to get the animal to vomit by administering 3 tbsps. of hydrogen peroxide. Induce human vomiting with a water flush or by pressing two fingers against the back of the throat.

• 3

  Call emergency animal services if the animal is not breathing. Of course, if the victim is human immediately call 911 for directions as you administer CPR. Ambulance service personnel will take over treatment in this case.

• 4

  Contact poison control if the animal appears to get worse after vomiting and plant removal. They may ask you to describe the symptoms.

• 5

  Take a piece of the black locust tree with you to any facility visit to aid treatment. Even if you recognize and can tell the vet or emergency personnel that the poisonous plant was Black Locust, it is always best to take the plant with you for official identification.

• 6

  Contact your local vet or doctor to ensure correct procedure and gain a better evaluation of the victim's symptoms and progression.

• 7

  Consider the use of laxatives or a stomach tube to rid the body of the plant toxins after consulting a veterinarian or qualified doctor.