Symptoms of grass palm poisoning are very vague; many things can cause the listed symptoms. There are a number of diagnostic tests the veterinarian may need to perform to come to a proper diagnosis. When you first arrive at the clinic, she will begin by collecting a history from you. She will want to know any and all details of what your dog possibly could have come into contact with within the past 24 hours. She will perform a physical exam on your dog to check his vitals and note any other symptoms he may be experiencing.
A blood sample will be taken so lab work can be performed to give information on how the internal organs are functioning. A complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel will be the first two tests run to give a broad look as to how your dog’s system is handling the toxin. She may also want to run a urinalysis for additional information on the kidneys.
In addition to these tests, the veterinarian may want to take a radiograph of your dog’s abdomen to check for any abnormality or blockage that may be causing the vomiting. The presence of blood in the vomit can be indicative of ulceration or injury to the gastrointestinal tract. When this symptom develops without any prior signs, it typically indicates some sort of irritation from something he ingested.
If you suspect your dog ingested a part of the grass palm plant, bring it with you to the veterinarian’s office. This will allow for proper identification of the toxin your dog ingested.