Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Plant safety · Toxic

Is Horse Nettle Poisonous to Alpacas?

Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense) — a weed. Here is what alpaca owners need to know.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team
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Yes — horse nettle is toxic to alpacas.

Keep it out of pastures, hay and reach of fences, and never feed trimmings.

Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense)
Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense). Photo: The original uploader was Richardelainechambers at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Status
Toxic
Scientific name
Solanum carolinense
Family
Solanaceae
Plant type
Weed
Also known as
Carolina horsenettle
Toxic parts
Leaves and berries (yellow fruit)
Toxic compound
Glycoalkaloids

Why it matters

A spiny pasture weed; berries stay toxic in hay.

Signs of horse nettle poisoning in alpacas

  • Drooling and loss of appetite
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Depression, weakness, trembling
  • Dilated pupils

Signs can appear within minutes (cyanide, cardiac toxins) or only after weeks of exposure (liver toxins). Many poisoned camelids are simply found dead, so prevention is everything.

What to do if your alpaca ate horse nettle

  1. Move the herd away and remove any remaining plant material, clippings or fallen leaves.
  2. Call your veterinarian immediately, even if the alpaca looks normal. Say what was eaten, roughly how much and when.
  3. Bring a sample or clear photo of the plant to help identification.
  4. Do not give home remedies, oils or try to make the alpaca vomit unless your vet tells you to.
  5. Keep the animal quiet, in shade or shelter, with water available. Write down the time and every symptom you see.
  6. Check every other alpaca that had access, then remove the plant permanently (including roots).

Emergency: call your veterinarian immediately. If you cannot reach them, contact an animal poison control service (in the U.S., the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or Pet Poison Helpline; fees may apply). Bring a sample or photo of the plant.

About the plant

Solanum carolinense, the Carolina horsenettle, is not a true nettle, but a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, native to the southeastern United States, though its range has expanded throughout much of temperate North America. The plant is considered to be invasive in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The stem and undersides of larger leaf veins are covered with prickles.From Wikipedia — “Solanum carolinense”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where it grows

GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, holds 63,121 recorded observations of Solanum carolinense L. worldwide, including 59,362 in the United States. It belongs to the Solanaceae family, together with Angel's Trumpet, Tobacco, Bittersweet Nightshade, Black Nightshade, Deadly Nightshade. See the occurrence map on GBIF.

Frequently asked questions

Is horse nettle poisonous to alpacas?
Yes. Yes — horse nettle is toxic to alpacas. A spiny pasture weed; berries stay toxic in hay.
What part of horse nettle is toxic to alpacas?
Leaves and berries (yellow fruit).
What are the symptoms of horse nettle poisoning?
Drooling and loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation, depression, weakness, trembling and dilated pupils.
Is dried horse nettle safe?
No — the toxin in this plant remains active when dried, so contaminated hay and dried clippings are still dangerous.

Keeping pastures safe

  • Walk every paddock and fence line each season and remove toxic plants, including roots.
  • Never throw garden, hedge or lawn clippings over the fence.
  • Check pastures after storms for fallen branches (cherry, red maple).
  • Buy hay from known sources and inspect it for weeds.
  • Keep pastures well managed — hungry alpacas eat plants they would normally avoid.

Browse the full toxic plant checker, the printable list of poisonous plants and the list of safe plants.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your animals. Camelid medicine uses many drugs “extra-label”, so dosing must come from your vet. In an emergency, call your vet first. Read our disclaimer · How we write and review content.

Data: plant status compiled from veterinary toxicology references (see sources); taxonomy and occurrences from GBIF; identifiers from Wikidata Q1044376.