A plant in the genus Cycad, the sago palm plant (Cycas revoluta) is often grown as an outdoor landscaping plant in warmer climates. But what many pet owners may not realize is that this group of palm-like plants is extremely toxic to both dogs and children.
Although it originated in Southern Japan, this semi-tropical plant that produces both seeds and cones is widely available as a houseplant across the United States. Due to its slower rate of growth, sago palm plants often appear in bonsai arrangements, so many pet owners bring these plants into their homes without even realizing the dangers to their four-legged friends. Sago palm is also commonly used for landscaping, exposing dogs to the toxic plant while on walks or in their own yards.
Sago palm and all other Cycad plants are extremely poisonous. These plants contain a poisonous agents cycasin and BMAA. Cycasin is a carcinogenic glycoside that causes gastrointestinal upset and liver damage, while BMAA is a neurotoxic amino acid.
Though some dogs may find cycad plants palatable and enjoyable to chew on, the sago palm's leaves, trunk, roots, and seeds are extremely toxic. Its sprouting leaves and reddish seeds are especially poisonous—in fact, ingesting even just one seed can prove to be fatal for your pet. Sadly, the mortality rate of pets that have ingested the sago palm is generally estimated to be up to 50 percent.
Although many pet owners are aware of the foods that are toxic to dogs (such as chocolate or grapes), that doesn't necessarily mean they know the dangers of certain plants—or the safest plants to grow around dogs. As a result, instances of sago palm poisoning are on the rise among dogs, cats, and even children. Larger animals such as horses, sheep, and cattle have also been affected because they sometimes accidentally ingest sago palm that's been planted in decorative landscaping.
Therefore, the best prevention for sago palm poisoning is to never use this particular plant in your indoor bonsai arrangements or outdoor landscaping. Anyone with children, pets, or farm animals should avoid these plants all together. You may also want to educate yourself on exactly what the plant looks like so, you can warn neighbors about the risks of sago if you happen to spot these plants in your neighborhood.
As always, it's a good idea to keep your dog leashed on walks, keep a close eye on them at the park, and ensure that your backyard enclosure is escape-proof so they can't find and accidentally eat sago palm or any other potentially deadly plants. Don't let your dog sniff around unfamiliar landscaping or ingest plant material while on walks.
If your pup has accidentally consumed a part of a sago palm, you're likely to see symptoms anywhere from minutes later up to several hours after ingestion. In some cases, severe symptoms do not develop for up to three days. Among the initial symptoms of poisoning by sago plant include:
Since Cycasin irritates the gastrointestinal tract, drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea are typically among the first signs of poisoning. Although these symptoms may seem minor, the toxicity will almost certainly progress to liver failure if left untreated. Initial symptoms can also progress into other more serious conditions that often accompany liver failure and nervous system toxicity, such as:
If you suspect your dog has chewed on any portion of a sago palm plant, you'll need to call your veterinarian, veterinary emergency clinic, or pet poison control center immediately. Although survival rates are grim since the sago palm is extremely poisonous—and there is no antidote for sago palm toxins, only supportive treatment—the sooner your pet receives emergency treatment, the more likely they are to survive. Many dogs that have received immediate emergency treatment have recovered from sago palm poisoning.
There is no specific test to identify sago plant poisoning, so you'll have to be able to provide your veterinarian with detailed information as to the ingestion of the sago palm and the symptoms you've already witnessed in your dog.
The treatment for sago palm poisoning revolves around removing the poison from your pet's system as quickly as possible. If determined to be safe, your veterinarian will induce vomiting to try to recover as much plant material as possible, or they may opt to pump your dog's stomach (a procedure known as gastric lavage). Then the veterinarian may give activated charcoal to help absorb the poison from within the gastrointestinal tract along with cathartic medication to help quickly evacuate the bowels.
Prolonged hospital stays are common after sago palm ingestion. Dogs with sago palm poisoning require supportive care such as IV fluids, anti-nausea medications, stomach protectants, and liver protectants such as N-acetylcysteine or S-adenosylmethionine. Dogs that have seizures often require anticonvulsants. Dogs that develop liver failure may need Vitamin K or a plasma transfusion to prevent or address bleeding issues.
After your dog has been discharged, you'll want to schedule follow-up visits to monitor his or her liver function through blood tests.
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