Is Red Maple Toxic to Dogs and Cats? (2026)
Acer rubrum
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Quick facts
| Toxic to dogs | No |
|---|---|
| Toxic to cats | No |
| Toxic to horses | Yes |
| Toxic component | Gallic acid derivatives (cause oxidative red blood cell damage, primarily documented in horses) |
| Onset of symptoms | Wilted or dried leaves are far more dangerous than fresh ones — often 1-2 days after a horse eats fallen, wilted leaves such as after a storm |
| Indoor / outdoor | outdoor |
If your pet ate this plant
Both lines are staffed 24/7. A consultation fee applies to each. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before calling.
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Symptoms in horses
- Hemolytic anemia
- Dark red-brown urine
- Weakness
- Colic
- Can be fatal
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What to do
This is specifically a horse hazard, most dangerous with wilted or dried leaves (as after a fallen branch or in autumn leaf litter) — fresh leaves on a healthy tree are much lower risk. Not established as a dog or cat toxin.
Toxic component and mechanism
The toxic component in Red Maple is gallic acid derivatives (cause oxidative red blood cell damage, primarily documented in horses).
What makes this plant different
Red Maple is uniquely dangerous to horses specifically through wilted or dried leaves — a storm that brings down fresh branches, or autumn leaf litter, creates a meaningfully higher-risk exposure window than leaves on an undisturbed, healthy tree; dogs and cats show no such reaction at all.
Plant identification
- Scientific name
- Acer rubrum
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Also known as
- Red Maple, Swamp Maple, Scarlet Maple, Water Maple, Soft Maple
- Typically found
- outdoor
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Related plants
Amur Maple
Acer ginnala
Horse Chestnut
Aesculus glabra
Acorn Squash
Cucurbita pepo
African Daisy
Gerbera jamesonii
African Violet
Saintpaulia spp.
Last verified: July 2, 2026 · Cross-referenced with ASPCA Animal Poison Control