Horse Chestnut

poison-control

Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Horses

Source checked 2026-10-27

peer-reviewed

Aesculus hippocastanum seed extract: LD50 10.7 mg/g (PMID 6538769) · seeds (extract) · Tested species was Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut) in adult female Syrian hamsters. The ASPCA page for this entry names Aesculus glabra, which the same paper tested separately (next result). Species results conflict, so the status is a conflict, not a verdict.

Aesculus hippocastanum seed extract: LD50 10.6 mg/g in chicks (PMID 6538769) · seeds (extract) · Tested on 2-week-old Leghorn chicks with Aesculus hippocastanum (horse chestnut). The ASPCA entry names Aesculus glabra, tested separately in the same paper (next result).

The LD50 for a single dose of extract from horse-chestnut seeds was 10.6 mg/g of body weight for chicks and 10.7 mg/g of body weight for hamsters.

Source checked 2026-10-27

peer-reviewed

Aesculus glabra (Ohio buckeye) seed extract: nontoxic at 80 mg/g (PMID 6538769) · seeds (extract) · Ohio buckeye is Aesculus glabra, the species named by the ASPCA entry. Result is for an extract fed to adult female Syrian hamsters at 80 mg/g; it is not a statement about other doses, plant parts or animals.

Aesculus glabra (Ohio buckeye) seed extract: nontoxic to chicks at 80 mg/g (PMID 6538769) · seeds (extract) · Ohio buckeye is Aesculus glabra, the species named by the ASPCA entry. Result is for an extract fed to 2-week-old Leghorn chicks at 80 mg/g.

Extracts of seeds of Ohio buckeye were nontoxic to chicks and hamsters when fed at 80 mg/g.

Source checked 2026-10-27

peer-reviewed

Yellow buckeye (A. octandra) extract: 1 of 5 hamsters died (PMID 6538769) · seeds (extract) · Yellow buckeye is a third species, tested at 80 mg/g for 5 days. One of 5 hamsters died. Shown as a caution signal for the genus, not as a verdict for the ASPCA species.

One of 5 hamsters died after dosing for 5 days with 80 mg/g of extract of seeds of yellow buckeye/g.

Source checked 2026-10-27

specialist-charity

Tortoise Trust: listed as toxic, degree uncertain · Tortoise Trust toxic-plant list (from Highfield 2001): "Some plants on this list may be safely consumed in small or moderate quantities, but may be fatally toxic under certain circumstances or in large doses"; exact degree of toxicity unknown.

Horse chestnut

Source checked 2026-10-27

university

Cornell: genus-level listing · fruit · Cornell lists Aesculus spp.; parts poisonous: fruit; poison: Unknown, possibly saportins, narcotic alkaloids, or glycosides.. Cornell's entry is for the whole genus (Aesculus spp.); it does not name Aesculus glabra specifically, so this is shown as caution.

Aesculus spp. | Horse Chestnut, Buckeye | humans, cattle, goats | fruit | Unknown, possibly saportins, narcotic alkaloids, or glycosides.

Source checked 2026-10-27

No evidence collected in this database yet for: Rabbits, Guinea pigs, Rats, Mice, Chinchillas, Ferrets, Pet birds (general), Parrots (macaws, Amazons, African greys…), Budgerigars (budgies), Cockatiels, Lovebirds, Canaries, Finches, Pigeons & doves, Bearded dragons, Iguanas

No supported claim has been collected for these animals. Not listed does not mean safe; do not infer suitability from another species.