Author: Veronica Higgs, DVM

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What Is Sago Palm Poisoning in Dogs? Sago palm is an extremely toxic houseplant and landscaping plant seen in tropical and subtropical environments. It is common in the southern states, such as southern Florida and Georgia, but sold across the United States. The sago palm is a member of the order Cyadacae, genera Cyads, Macrozamia, and Zamias. Examples of Cyad family commonly include: Japanese cycad (Cycad revoluta), Cycad (Cyas cirinalis), Cardboard palm (Zamia furfuracea), and Coontie plant (Zamia pumila).  How Are Sago Palms Poisonous to Dogs? All parts of the sago palm are toxic, but the seeds (nut) are the most toxic. Ingesting as little as one seed can result in poisoning and even death to dogs. A sago palm plant Image credit: Adobe/ New Africa Sago palm seeds, the most toxic part of the plant. Image Credit: Adobe/ jlf46 There are three main toxins found in sago palms: Cycasin: This is the primary active toxic agent that results in gastrointestinal signs and liver damage that leads to liver failure. β-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA): BMAA is responsible for neurologic signs, such as seizures and coma. There is also another unidentified compound present in the plant known to cause neurologic signs. Symptoms of Sago Palm Poisoning in Dogs Ingestion of sago palm typically results in gastrointestinal signs within 15 minutes, but can be delayed up to several hours. These signs can include: Drooling Inappetence Vomiting (with or without blood) Diarrhea (with or without blood) Neurologic signs may be seen within 4 hours after ingestion of sago palm and can include: Weakness/Lethargy Stumbling Collapse Tremors Seizures Coma Finally, severe liver failure can be seen within 2 to 3 days after ingesting sago palm. Additional clinical signs of liver failure may include: Distended abdomen Abdominal pain Increased drinking and urinating Yellow discoloration to eyes, gums, skin (jaundice) Black-tarry stool (melena) Bruising Bleeding from nose or mouth Bloody urine Your Dog Ate a Sago Palm. Now What? If you see your dog eat any part of a sago palm plant or seed (nut), or suspect that it may have eaten it, go to a local veterinary emergency hospital immediately. Dogs should be treated as quickly as possible, as sago palm is extremely deadly.  Do not induce vomiting at home unless you have been specifically instructed to do so by a veterinarian.  You and your veterinarian can also contact one of the animal poison control centers for additional information. Call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 when heading to the veterinary emergency hospital.  How Veterinarians Diagnose Sago Palm Poisoning in Dogs Your veterinarian will collect a thorough history and, if possible, it is helpful to take a piece of the plant (leaves and/or seed). Also take a photo to make sure that the ingested plant was indeed a sago palm. The veterinarian will start with a good physical examination to assess your dog’s mental and neurological status. A complete blood count, serum blood chemistry, and urinalysis will likely be recommended for a baseline evaluation. Immediately after ingestion, the liver values are expected to be normal, but they will need to be monitored daily for the next 72 hours to monitor for signs of liver damage or even failure. Clotting times, specialized liver function tests (such as ammonia and bile acid tests), and abdominal ultrasound may also be recommended.  Treatment of Sago Palm Poisoning in Dogs If your pet ate any part of a sago palm within a recent four-hour period your veterinarian may recommend inducing vomiting at the hospital for decontamination. If your dog is already showing neurologic clinical signs, it may be too late to induce vomiting, as there is a risk of aspiration pneumonia.  Your vet  may provide activated charcoal to bind any additional toxin in the stomach.   Unfortunately, there is no specific medication for sago palm poisoning in dogs. Treatment is largely supportive care and treating clinical signs. Aggressive treatment is typically required for sago palm poisoning as it’s extremely deadly to dogs. Your dog will likely need to be hospitalized for a minimum of 48 hours and start on IV fluids for hydration and increased blood flow to the liver.  Additional medication will be given to treat the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, as well as treatment for tremors and seizures. Liver protectant medications are a crucial part of the treatment for sago palm poisoning, as well as antibiotics to help with acute liver failure. Blood or plasma transfusions, vitamin K, oxygen therapy, and blood sugar support using IV dextrose, may be needed depending on the severity of the poisoning. Recovery and Management of Sago Palm Poisoning in Dogs Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial in treating sago palm poisoning in dogs. Ingestion of any part of the sago palm can be fatal and dogs have their best chances of survival if seen quickly by a veterinarian.  Unfortunately, even with treatment, only 50 percent of dogs with sago palm poisoning survive. Rapid decontamination and aggressive treatment may improve survival odds, as well as potentially decrease the risk of severe long-term effects. Most dogs will remain hospitalized for observation and treatment for a minimum of 48 to 72 hours, but it may be longer, depending on the degree of liver damage. Typically, the veterinarian will recheck bloodwork to reassess liver values and clotting ability. Severely affected dogs may have permanent liver damage. Liver protectant medications will likely be continued for a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks but potentially for the rest of the dog’s life.  Prevention of Sago Palm Poisoning in Dogs Prevention is key when it comes to toxicities in dogs. Sago palms are deadly, so if you have pets, do not have them in your home or as part of your landscaping. If you live in an area where sago palm plants are common, such as southern Florida and Georgia, check your backyard regularly for any leaves or seeds of the sago palm that may have blown into your yard.  The best way to prevent sago palm poisoning in your dog is to prevent them from having access to these deadly plants. 

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Dogs are naturally very curious, which can lead to eating things they are not supposed to eat. Non-food objects like rocks, socks, and underwear can all cause an intestinal blockage (obstruction) that could result in emergency surgery. Common food items that are dangerous for dogs include grapes, gum or candy containing xylitol, chocolate, and foods that contain garlic or onions.  Dogs can also get into their own prescriptions or human medications, such as Tylenol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), birth control, benzodiazepines, cold and flu medication, antidepressant medications, and marijuana. Ingestion of chemical poisons such as rat poison, fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, and antifreeze is also a major concern.  When dogs eat something they’re not supposed to, one of the mainstays of treatment at the emergency clinic is often to induce vomiting. So you may think that you can just skip the trip and expense and try to make your dog throw up at home. Here’s some useful information on the pros and cons of making dogs vomit, and what to do if you suspect your pet may have eaten something dangerous.  Should You Make Your Dog Throw Up? When dogs eat something they’re not supposed to, your first instinct might be to make them throw it up. Often, this is correct and exactly what your veterinarian will recommend. However, inducing vomiting has some potentially serious risks and should not be done in every situation. If you think your pet has ingested a foreign object or potentially toxic substance, contact your veterinarian immediately.  Your vet can help you determine if making your dog throw up is the right thing to do, then monitor for any side effects.  However, in some cases, inducing vomiting may cause more damage than ingesting the toxin did. Situations where your vet may caution against inducing vomiting include: Certain caustic chemicals, such as toilet bowel cleaners or drain cleaners, may cause ulceration and lesions if your pet vomits. Other toxins, such as zinc or aluminum phosphides found in mole and gopher baits, can create a deadly phosine gas when they mix with stomach acid. In this case, making your pet vomit can cause damage to the lungs of people and pets who breathe in the gas. Sharp objects, like glass or pointed plastic, may damage your pet’s esophagus if they are made to vomit. Smooshed-faced dogs such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, and Boston Terriers are at higher risk for aspiration pneumonia due to their short noses and high incidence for brachycephalic airway syndrome. Aspiration pneumonia can be deadly in dogs. Some toxins are also more likely to cause aspiration pneumonia if the dog vomits, whether they have a flat face or not. For example, when dogs ingest Tide pods, the liquid detergent can become very foamy and more easily travel into the lungs. Your vet will need to determine on a case-to-case basis if the risks of inducing vomiting outweigh the benefits. It may also be too late to induce vomiting. If your pet ingests a foreign object or toxic substance, timing is important. A general recommendation is to induce vomiting within 2 hours of ingestion. If a foreign object has already moved from the stomach into the intestines, vomiting is no longer effective. Likewise, if a toxin has already been absorbed or your pet is showing clinical signs (especially neurologic signs like seizures), vomiting is no longer an effective or safe option. There are exceptions, but time is of the essence in the case of ingestions.  Can You Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Make a Dog Throw Up? Ultimately, it’s safer to skip the hydrogen peroxide and contact your veterinarian. Hydrogen peroxide has been used for many years to induce vomiting at home. However, hydrogen peroxide causes severe ulcers in the stomach when administered orally to dogs. And recent studies have shown that it may be more dangerous than people used to believe, especially at higher concentrations or if you administer too much. Aside from hydrogen peroxide, also avoid these dangerous methods: Salt: Salt should never be used to induce vomiting, as ingestion of large amounts of salt can lead to life-threatening sodium levels in your dog’s blood (hypernatremia), resulting in tremors, seizures, and even coma.  Gagging pets: Sticking your finger down your dog’s throat will NOT make them vomit. Dogs do not have the same gag reflex as humans. This is traumatic for the dog and can result in injury to their throat as well as them reflexively biting you.  Olive oil: Olive oil is not good for pets and may lead to pancreatitis, diarrhea, and increased risk for aspiration pneumonia if the pet does vomit.   Ipecac: This old method of inducing vomiting is very unsafe. Ipecac ingestion can cause potentially deadly heart issues such as slow heartbeat and abnormal heart rhythm.  What to Do if Your Dog Ate Something They Shouldn’t Have If your pet eats something they should not have, don’t panic! The best thing to do is to immediately call your veterinarian. Quickly gather information on the product your pet ate, if known, how much they ate, and approximately when they ate it. Then call your veterinarian and share everything you’ve learned. They will advise you if vomiting is the best option and the best way to go about that. Most likely, your vet will recommend an immediate visit to their office or the local emergency hospital so they can handle the situation properly. If you cannot reach your veterinarian, call the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 for more help determining if your pet needs to go to the emergency room. In life-threatening situations, the animal control center may be able to make recommendations to induce vomiting at home under specific guidance.  Inducing vomiting should always be done under the guidance of a veterinary professional. Making a dog vomit is a veterinary procedure that comes with potentially life-threatening risks if done incorrectly.  However, in cases of toxicity and foreign body ingestion, safely inducing vomiting under the supervision of your veterinarian can be lifesaving.  How Vets Make Dogs Throw Up The vet clinic will be able to administer medication to more safely induce vomiting in your dog. The most common drugs used in the veterinary clinic for this are: Apomorphine: This medication is typically given as an injection in a clinic and is effective in inducing vomiting in 94% of cases, typically within 15 minutes.  Clevor (ropinirole ophthalmic solution): This medication is FDA-approved in dogs and is administered as an eyedrop. It is effective in inducing vomiting in 95% of dogs within 30 minutes. Featured Image: iStockPhoto.com/Sonja Rachbauer