Horse Chestnut
Aesculus glabra · Sapindaceae
How it looks
Horse Chestnut is a deciduous tree with large palmately divided leaves of 5-7 lobes arranged opposite. In spring, white flowers bloom in large conical clusters, and in autumn a spiny leathery fruit holds a round brown seed (horse chestnut) inside. It reaches 33-82 ft (10-25 m) tall.
Mild caution — stomach irritation
All parts of Horse Chestnut contain aesculin and related compounds that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and muscle weakness if chewed. Large amounts can lead to muscle paralysis, so contact your vet if symptoms persist.
Guide for parents
An occasional nibble of Horse Chestnut usually doesn't lead to anything serious, but the unidentified compounds in it can irritate the stomach and mucous membranes and cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Make a habit of clearing away fallen leaves or broken stems the same day, and keep the pot somewhere your cat can't reach. If symptoms last more than 12 hours or your cat's appetite clearly drops, consult your vet.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, lethargy
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Aesculus glabra
- Common name
- Horse Chestnut
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Unknown
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, lethargy
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Consult a vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
