Red Maple
Red maple (Acer rubrum) trees are common throughout most of eastern North America and south to Florida and Texas. They adapt to moist or dry areas and may reach a height of 100 ft (30 m) at maturity. The characteristic leaves are three- to five-lobed and shiny green above; they turn a brilliant red in the fall. Flowers are red, grow in clusters, and appear before the leaves. Fruits are red with two smooth wings.
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Poisoning occurs when horses eat wilted or dried red maple leaves. The fresh green leaves apparently are not toxic, but once dried they remain toxic for up to 30 days. The bark from red maple trees is also apparently toxic. Fatal poisoning from consumption of several pounds of dried red maple leaves may occur within 1 to 5 days. After eating even relatively small amounts of dried maple leaves, horses become anemic and exhibit clinical signs within 1 to 2 days. Poisoning is characterized by an acute hemolytic anemia due to (red blood cell destruction) that causes weakness, increased respiratory and heart rates, cyanosis, icterus, and a red-brown coloration to the urine. Pregnant mares may abort without showing typical hemolytic anemia signs. Blood changes include a marked hematocrit reduction and Heinz bodies in the red blood cells.
The prognosis is always guarded to poor for horses with red maple poisoning. Successful treatment of horses with red maple poisoning must be initiated early in the disease.
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