There's a plant, Cycas revoluta (no, not revolta), that goes by the name
of sago palm or King sago palm; but this poseur — it's not even a palm, but a cycdad instead — is poisonous.
Within two to three days of ingestion of even a tiny amount of any part
of a sago palm, a cat may be in acute, severe liver failure.
Every part
of the sago palm is incredibly toxic to cats, with the seeds or nuts being the most poisonous.
Attempt to induce vomiting to try and remove as much
of the sago palm as possible from your cat's stomach before it can be absorbed.
Within fifteen minutes of eating any part
of a sago palm, a cat may display the following gastrointestinal signs:
Cats, horses, and humans can all be victims
of sago palm poisoning.
Sago palm poisoning requires immediate medical attention, so if you realize that your pet has ingested any part
of a sago palm, call an emergency veterinary clinic as soon as possible.
Some of the dog symptoms
of sago palm toxicity are vomiting, bloody diarrhea, depression, and yellow mucous membranes.
If you think your pet may have chewed or ingested parts
of a sago palm, contact your veterinarian immediately.
All parts
of sago palm (Zamia spp.) are considered poisonous, with the seeds (nuts) being the most toxic part of the plant.
One pit bull terrier in Florida became ill and subsequently died from liver failure after chewing on the leaves and base
of a sago palm in his yard.
From 600 logs
of sago palm per day, an estimated 15.6 tons of woody bark, 237.6 tons of waste water and 7.1 tons of starch fibrous sago pith residue are generated.
Spreading the word about the toxicity
of sago palms for pets may help encourage sellers to label these hazardous plants before distributing them.
Not exact matches
Waste material generated by Malaysia's
sago palm industry has potential for use as an adsorbent for cleaning up oil spills, according to a study published in the Pertanika Journal
of Science and Technology.
Flowers such as azalea, oleander, tulips, and several varieties
of lilies can be poisonous, while other plants like
sago palm, castor, yew, or ivy can be toxic as well.
In a study
of 60 dogs with
sago palm toxicosis, 95 %
of them developed liver failure and gastrointestinal problems.
Several
of the most common toxic plants and flowers in Texas are, oleander,
sago palm, lilies, onions and garlic, ivy, azalea, lantana and aloe vera.
For those who are thinking
of bringing a
sago palm into their home or yard, be sure to exercise extreme caution around animals and small children.
If you believe that your pet may have ingested
sago palm, it is important to let the veterinarian know
of the possibility right away.
The
sago palm is also gaining in popularity as a houseplant because
of its beauty and slow growth.
When WWII came to Borneo, the Japanese occupiers commandeered much
of the food, forcing local residents to fall back on the
sago palm and ambuyat.
Kelly O'Neal's photos
of dried
sago palms.