Is Red maple safe for dogs and cats?
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
ASPCA reports Red maple (Acer rubrum): listed as non-toxic to dogs and non-toxic to cats. The ASPCA has no Japanese maple page, so this entry is for red maple, a common maple tree on its list. It is non-toxic to dogs and cats but toxic to horses, and wilted leaves are the most toxic part. Check the exact plant name too, because common names are shared.
Checked October 29, 2026.
Also called: maple. Acer rubrum.
What in it is the problem
Tannins and gallic acid (toxic to horses).
Good to know
The ASPCA has no Japanese maple page, so this entry is for red maple, a common maple tree on its list. It is non-toxic to dogs and cats but toxic to horses, and wilted leaves are the most toxic part.
Did your pet chew it?
Call your vet or a pet poison line, and say what plant, how much and when. If you aren't sure which plant it was, take a photo of it.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
For the children
"Some plants can make pets sick, and lilies are very dangerous for cats. Ask a grown-up before you bring a plant or flowers inside."
A job: Be the plant checker. Help a grown-up look up each plant in the house on this site, and write the ones to keep away on a list.
This page is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. Common names are shared by different plants, so check the Latin name.
Sources
- ASPCA: Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Red Maple (checked October 29, 2026)