Toxicity to pets

The buckeye (Aesculus spp.), commonly called the Horse Chestnut, contain toxins in their leaves, bark and seeds/nuts. There are a variety of species but Aesculus pavia (Red buckeye) being the most toxic. These can be ornamental shrubs and trees found in the midwest, east to Appalachian Mountains and south to Texas. The fruit, or nut, produced is not an edible chestnut which are in the genus Castanea.

In small animals, ingestion causes gastrointestinal irritation with the potential for bowel obstruction if the seeds are swallowed whole. Large ingestions may result in mild to severe neurologic signs. Grazing animals and birds are more likely to have neurological signs ranging from incoordination to seizures and paralysis. Horses and cattle can also experience cardiovascular signs.