Quercus spp.

Quercus spp. is toxic to horses. The reported severity is critical. Also known as Oaks, High-Latitude Oaks and White Oaks.

horses

Mild Moderate Severe Critical

If your animal ate this plant, call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. Fees may apply.

Symptoms to watch for

Abdominal Pain Diarrhea Depression Increased Urination Blood In Urine Jaundice Intestinal Obstruction Liver Failure

The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.

About

An oak is a hardwood tree or shrub in the genus Quercus of the beech family. They have spirally arranged leaves, often with lobed edges, and a nut called an acorn, borne within a cup. The genus is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, with some 500 species, both deciduous and evergreen. Fossil oaks date back to the Middle Eocene. Molecular phylogeny shows that the genus is divided into Old World and New World clades, but many oak species hybridise freely, making the genus's history difficult to resolve.

How this plant poisons

The leaves and acorns of oaks are poisonous to livestock, including cattle and horses, if eaten in large amounts, due to the toxin tannic acid, which causes kidney damage and gastroenteritis. An exception is the domestic pig, which, under the right conditions, may be fed entirely on acorns, and has traditionally been pastured in oak woodlands (such as the Spanish dehesa and the English system of pannage). Humans can eat acorns after leaching out the tannins in water.

Common Names

  • Oaks
  • High-Latitude Oaks
  • White Oaks
  • Northern Red Oak
  • English Oak
  • White Oak
  • Coast Live Oak
  • Red Oaks
  • Bur Oak
  • Evergreen Oak
  • Southern Live Oak
  • Sweet Acorn Oak
  • Pin Oak
  • Willow Oak
  • Black Oak
  • Water Oak
  • Chestnut Oak
  • Post Oak
  • Oregon Oak
  • Valley Oak
  • Swamp White Oak
  • Chinkapin Oak
  • California Black Oak
  • Texas Live Oak
  • Blackjack Oak
  • Shumard Oak
  • Holm Oak
  • Gambel Oak
  • Southern Red Oak

Also recorded as Acorn, Oak and Oak Tree.

Facts

Family
Fagaceae
Duration
Perennial
Growth habit
Shrub, Tree
In the wild
ES, FR, US, GB, PT, SE + more
Source
Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Elsewhere

Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.