Sago Palm Poisoning in Dogs

The sago palm is a popular plant in homes and gardens around the country. But while this palm is an eye-catching addition to any space, it's also extremely dangerous for our canine companions.

Sago palm is highly toxic to dogs. This plant contains multiple toxins, including cycasin, which leads to liver failure and can be fatal. As a result, any dog that has ingested sago palm must be taken to a veterinarian immediately for emergency treatment.

Unfortunately, most pet parents are generally unaware of the toxicity of this plant until it's too late. Poisoning cases are especially common in spring and summer when pups and their people are outdoors.

Sago palm poisoning results in a range of symptoms, starting with gastrointestinal upset and progressing to serious central nervous system signs until the dog ultimately develops liver failure. Without prompt treatment, sago palm poisoning in dogs can be fatal, which means it's vital that you seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog consumes any part of a sago palm.

The symptoms of sago palm poisoning may appear as soon as 15 minutes after ingestion, though in some cases they may take up to 12 hours to develop. If you suspect that your dog has ingested any part of the sago palm plant, take them to a veterinarian immediately. Symptoms include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Drooling
• Weakness/lethargy
• Sudden lack of appetite
• Depression
• Seizures
• Jaundice
• Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
• Blood in stool
• Blood in urine
• Bruising
• Nosebleeds

A member of the cycad family, the sago palm grows in tropical and subtropical climates but is also quite popular as an indoor houseplant and for use in outdoor landscaping.

Sago palm poisoning is caused by ingestion of the plant, which contains multiple toxic compounds. While all parts of the plant are dangerous to dogs, the seeds are particularly toxic and are the part of the sago palm that many pets tend to eat.

Sago palm contains the toxin cycasin, which can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and depression. If the dog doesn't receive treatment, neurological signs like ataxia and seizures will develop along with liver failure. Sadly, sago palm poisoning can be fatal, so seeking emergency veterinary treatment is essential to ensuring a good prognosis.

If you suspect that your dog has ingested any part of the sago palm plant, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Diagnosis without proof of ingestion is difficult and tends to rely on the symptoms alone. If you aren't sure whether your dog has consumed part of the plant, your veterinarian will run blood and urine tests to confirm that the liver has been impacted.

Due to the high fatality rate of sago palm poisoning in dogs, aggressive treatment is vital for dogs that have ingested any part of this plant. A veterinarian will typically induce vomiting an injection such as Apomoprhine (or less commonly, using hydrogen peroxide or ipecac) while activated charcoal may also be given to your dog to soak up any of the poison internally.

If liver damage has occurred, liver protectants, blood and plasma transfusions, vitamin K injections, gastroprotectants, anti-seizure medications, and fluid therapy may be required. Your veterinarian will also evaluate your dog to determine if anti-nausea medications or pain management drugs should be administered.

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According to the Pet Poison Helpline, the survival rate for dogs with sago palm poisoning — even with aggressive treatment — is approximately 50%.

While sago palm poisoning is a very serious condition, pets that are given emergency treatment can make a full recovery. Dogs recovering from sago palm poisoning may be monitored overnight or for several days by a veterinarian. Additional tests will likely be performed to determine if any permanent damage has occurred to the organs. Follow-up visits may be required in the initial recovery stages.

You can also protect your pet by removing all sago palms from your home and yard along with all other toxic plants. And if you're traveling with your dog, particularly if you're visiting a warmer climate, make sure you can identify sago palms and keep your pet well away from them.

Want to find out more about common household and garden plants that are toxic to dogs? Use Wag! Vet Chat to get the lowdown online from a veterinary professional.

The cost of treating sago palm poisoning in dogs depends on how quickly the dog receives treatment and how much of the plant they ingested.

Emergency veterinary services are, by default, more expensive than regular services. If your dog requires multiple days of hospitalization, including overnight care, the total cost of poisoning can run to thousands of dollars. If the dog has limited exposure and only needs activated charcoal and general monitoring, the treatment cost can be as low as a few hundred dollars.