Pets Poisoned By Common Plant
Sago Palm Seeds Poisonous For Animals, Babies
POSTED: Tuesday, February 8, 2005
UPDATED: 8:32 am CST February 10,
2005
HOUSTON -- Most people would do anything for their pets, so imagine the horror of finding out a common plant found in many yards could endanger your dog, Local 2 reported Wednesday.
Sherra Miller has had Yorkshire Terriers for the past 30 years."They just steal your heart. She is more independent than any yorkie I have ever had," Miller said of her dog Abbie.Mitch Rainey had two dachshunds when he took in Sadie."It was either that or she'd have been put to sleep someplace," Rainey said.In December, both pet owners had to face their worst fears."I saw her playing with something outside," Miller said. "I had no idea it was something that would be dangerous or deadly, really. Within an hour, she was throwing up."Both Abbie and Sadie had eaten seeds from a sago palm -- a hearty plant found in yards across Houston."My husband counted 49 sago palms in the front yards of my small street," Miller said.
The plants are perfect for hot, humid climates.What most people are not aware of is the seeds in the center of the sago palm are deadly to animals and sometimes even small children."We were totally shocked because you see sago palms everywhere," Rainey said."I don't know why people don't know this. Even landscapers don't know this and a lot of veterinarians don't know it," veterinarian Dr. Laurie Noaker said.Noaker is the chief of staff at the Katy Freeway Emergency Animal Hospital. She said the toxins in the seeds destroy a dog's liver."We have just got to get the word out because we are just tired of watching dogs die, no matter what we do," Noaker said."I cried a million tears in the last month," Miller said.Abbie was one of the few dogs to survive."(She was) on plasma, on IVs, on all kinds of medicine just trying to save her life," Miller said.It took thousands of dollars, and a week and a half of treatment that nearly broke the Millers' hearts."I don't want anybody else's pet to go through this. It is just too horrendous. It is a horrible death," Miller said.Rainey agrees. His dog, Sadie, did not make it."She had laid her head on my leg and we knew she was hurting at the time," he said. "We knew then the prognosis wasn't good, but you're not ready to give her up then."The couple had brought in their plants to avoid a freeze on Christmas Eve. That's when Sadie found the seeds."I contacted my brother, who is a horticulturist, who said it was extremely poisonous. We were like, 'You never told us.' He said, 'You never asked.' You wouldn't think to," Rainey said."Tell people if you have this plant, don't bring it in the house. And if you have it as landscaping, keep it away from the pets," Noaker said."It is like a plate of poison bubbling on a plate in your backyard, waiting for a little toddler or puppy to go up and take a bite," Miller said.Abbie has a weakened liver, which can still fail. So, for now, it is a routine of daily medicines and weekly tests.But Miller believes her dog will make it."She has a great life. She doesn't want to give it up," she said.Sago palms are not the only dangerous plants out there. Lilies are especially poisonous to cats, causing kidney failure with just a nibble on the plant. The oleander can cause severe gastro-intestinal distress and possible cardiac arrest. The azalea, which is a rhododendron, can cause vomiting and cardiac problems.
Copyright 2006 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Popular Plants Could Be Dangerous, Deadly For PetsThe plants are perfect for hot, humid climates.What most people are not aware of is the seeds in the center of the sago palm are deadly to animals and sometimes even small children."We were totally shocked because you see sago palms everywhere," Rainey said."I don't know why people don't know this. Even landscapers don't know this and a lot of veterinarians don't know it," veterinarian Dr. Laurie Noaker said.Noaker is the chief of staff at the Katy Freeway Emergency Animal Hospital. She said the toxins in the seeds destroy a dog's liver."We have just got to get the word out because we are just tired of watching dogs die, no matter what we do," Noaker said."I cried a million tears in the last month," Miller said.Abbie was one of the few dogs to survive."(She was) on plasma, on IVs, on all kinds of medicine just trying to save her life," Miller said.It took thousands of dollars, and a week and a half of treatment that nearly broke the Millers' hearts."I don't want anybody else's pet to go through this. It is just too horrendous. It is a horrible death," Miller said.Rainey agrees. His dog, Sadie, did not make it."She had laid her head on my leg and we knew she was hurting at the time," he said. "We knew then the prognosis wasn't good, but you're not ready to give her up then."The couple had brought in their plants to avoid a freeze on Christmas Eve. That's when Sadie found the seeds."I contacted my brother, who is a horticulturist, who said it was extremely poisonous. We were like, 'You never told us.' He said, 'You never asked.' You wouldn't think to," Rainey said."Tell people if you have this plant, don't bring it in the house. And if you have it as landscaping, keep it away from the pets," Noaker said."It is like a plate of poison bubbling on a plate in your backyard, waiting for a little toddler or puppy to go up and take a bite," Miller said.Abbie has a weakened liver, which can still fail. So, for now, it is a routine of daily medicines and weekly tests.But Miller believes her dog will make it."She has a great life. She doesn't want to give it up," she said.Sago palms are not the only dangerous plants out there. Lilies are especially poisonous to cats, causing kidney failure with just a nibble on the plant. The oleander can cause severe gastro-intestinal distress and possible cardiac arrest. The azalea, which is a rhododendron, can cause vomiting and cardiac problems.Plants That Are Poisonous To Pets
- Aloe Vera (Medicine Plant) Amaryllis Andromeda japonica Apple (Seeds) Apple Leaf Croton Asparagus Fern Autumn Crocus Avocado (fruit and pit) AzaleaBaby's Breath Bird of Paradise Birds nest sansovioria Bittersweet Branching Ivy Buckeye Buddhist PineCaladium Calla Lily Carnation Castor Bean Ceriman Cherry (seeds and wilting leaves) Chinaberry Tree (berries, bark, leaves, flowers) Chinese Evergreen Christmas Cactus Christmas Rose Chrysanthemum Cineraria Clematus Coleus Cordatum Corn Plant Cornstalk Plant Croton Cuban Laurel Cycads CyclamenDaffodil Daisy Day Lily (cats) Dracaena Dragon Tree Dumb Cane (all types) DieffenbachiaEaster Lily (especially cats) Elaine Elephant Ears Emerald Feather English Ivy Fiddle-leaf Fig Flamingo PlantFlorida Beauty FoxgloveGeranium German Ivy Glacier Ivy Glory Lily Golden PothosHahn's Self-Branching Heavenly Bamboo Hibiscus Holly Hosta Hurricane Plant Hyacinth HydrangeaIndian Laurel Indian Rubber Plant IrisJapanese Show Lily (especially cats) Jade Plant Jerusalem CherryKalanchoe (Panda Bear Plant)Lily of the ValleyMacadamia Nut Madagascar Dragon Tree Marble Queen Marijuana Miniature Croton Mistletoe Morning Glory Mother-in-Law's TongueNarcissus Needlepoint Ivy Nephthytis Nightshade Norfolk PineOleander Onion Oriental Lily (especially cats)Peace Lily Peach (wilting leaves and pits) Pencil Cactus Philodendron (all types) Plum (wilting leaves and seeds) Plumosa FernPoinsettia (low toxicity) Poison Ivy Poison Oak Pothos Precatory Bean Primrose (Primula)Red Emerald Red Princess Rhododendron Ribbon PlantSago Palm Satin Pothos Schefflera Silver Pothos String of Pearls/Beads Sweetheart Ivy Swiss Cheese PlantTaro Vine Tiger Lily (especially cats) Tomato Plant (green fruit, stem and leaves) TulipVariegated Rubber Plant Wandering Jew Weeping FigYesterday, Today and Tomorrow Yew YuccaThis list only represents the more common toxic plants. For a more complete list, contact the National Animal Poison Control Center at (800) 548-2423 or (900) 680-0000.
Copyright 2006 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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