The symptoms of poisoning by buckwheat greens are caused by the photosensitivity that is induced by the fagopyrin in the plant. Symptoms of photosensitivity will noticeably diminish when not exposed to UV light. These symptoms can include:
- Agitation
- Cell death
- Discomfort
- Jaundice
- Lesions
- Photophobia (fear of sunlight)
- Scabbing
- Sloughing of the skin
- Swollen skin
Dogs with severe photosensitivity will make frantic efforts to find shade or shelter due to the discomfort.
Types
People have been ingesting buckwheat plants in many forms, both the seeds of the plant, which do not contain fagopyrin, and the leaves, which do. The cooked seeds of the buckwheat plant are actually quite nutritious and are a gluten-free alternative to wheat and rice for dogs as well as people. The leaves of the buckwheat plant are also called buckwheat lettuce and in moderate amounts, they are a mild but tangy addition to salads and in some locales these leaves are also ground into a fine green flour and used in products like pancakes and breads. Unlike many compounds, heat does not reduce the efficiency of the toxin, however, the concentration of fagopyrin in food is unlikely to cause harm unless a very large amount is ingested or it is ingested on an ongoing basis. Buckwheat sprouts have also been added to juicing diets, but the overuse of this method of ingestion has led to cases of phototoxicity in humans as well.