Are Cherry Trees Poisonous to Horses?

The scene is one which would appear normal to almost anyone: a horse grazing peacefully in a pasture shaded by trees. But if those trees are cherry trees, the horse is in danger. Cherry trees are very toxic to horses and can quickly create a medical emergency.

  1. Appearance and Location of Cherry Trees

    • According to UnderstandingHorseNutrition.com, cherry trees usually bloom as white or pink colored flowers during the spring. The fruit produced by cherry trees and bushes is reddish-purple in color once ripe. Cherry trees are found across the United States.

    Why Cherry Trees Are Toxic

    • The article, "Toxic Trees: Keeping Your Horses Safe at Pasture," identifies just why cherry trees are so toxic to horses. When the leaves of cherry trees wilt, they produce cyanide. A few hours after a horse ingests the wilted leaves, the cyanide prevents the red blood cells from transporting oxygen through the horse's system, so the horse suffocates as a result.

    Symptoms of Affected Horses

    • Symptoms identified by UnderstandingHorseNutrition.com include labored breathing, loss of bowel control, flaring nostrils, trembling, agitation and the loss of coordination. The poisoning progresses very quickly and horses affected by it are often already dead by the time they are found.

    What to Do

    • A veterinarian can treat the poisoning if summoned quickly enough. Prevention is a preferable method of dealing with cherry trees, though. Fencing off areas where cherry trees grow or removing the trees completely can help to avert possible disaster further down the line.