As dog owners we know there are things that dogs shouldn’t eat. One plant which usually goes under the radar is the cycad, also commonly called sago palms. They are a mesozoic era plant, 65-230 million years ago, i.e. dinosaur days, which are now only naturally found in tropical and subtropical areas with moderate to high rainfall. While they used to be a main food source for dinosaurs, all parts of the plant and especially the seeds are poisonous to dogs, humans too. Unfortunately people think they are attractive and use them in landscaping or as house plants in colder climates.
All parts of cycads are poisonous!
The primary toxin is cycasin and the seeds contain the highest concentrations. This toxin attacks three organ systems, gastro-intestinal, liver and central nervous system.
- lethargy
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- jaundice of the gums
- seizures
Survival rates range from 32-50% and may result in chronic liver disease.
Why I’m bringing this up now
Besides this being important knowledge to have, I’m bringing this up because I know a dog fighting for her life right now. Her family moved here from the east coast with no exposure to cycads. The house they are leasing is landscaped with them and Lucy, their 18 month old Golden Retriever, like most puppies, gets into everything. She ate various parts of the plant including the seeds. The only clinical signs she had was vomiting and loss of appetite. Even now after 12 days in the hospital, she outwardly seems fine but her blood results show that her liver has suffered damage is struggling to deal with the toxins. Her family has already been dealing with a long and expensive treatment with no immediate ending in sight.
I held off posting this wanting to wrap it up with a happy ending but I’m not sure there will be one. I know it would be harder for me to post this if there isn’t a happy ending but I also want to warn people about the dangers of this group of plants. If you suspect your dog ate any part of a cycad please get to a veterinarian immediately. Survival rates are better the sooner treatment starts.
