Is Sago Palm Toxic to Dogs and Cats?

Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) is toxic to both cats and dogs.

If your pet has eaten a toxic plant, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away and bring a photo or piece of the plant. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).

Why

Despite its name, the sago palm is not a true palm but a cycad. All parts contain cycasin, which damages the liver. The seeds (nuts) contain the highest concentration, and eating just one or two can be serious for a dog.

Sago palms are popular as houseplants and in warm-climate gardens, and dogs are most often poisoned by chewing the seeds or leaves.

How to recognize it

Sago palm has stiff, glossy, dark green feather-like fronds that grow in a rosette from a short, thick, shaggy trunk, and female plants carry orange-red seeds in the center. It is often sold as a small potted "palm" or bonsai and planted in warm-climate gardens.

Signs to watch for

• Vomiting (sometimes with blood) and diarrhea
• Drooling and loss of appetite
• Lethargy and weakness
• Yellowing of the gums or eyes, bruising or bleeding as the liver is damaged
• Tremors or seizures in severe cases

What to do

• Treat any ingestion as an emergency and contact a veterinarian immediately.
• Remove seeds and fallen leaves promptly if you keep this plant outdoors.
• In homes with pets, choose a non-toxic palm such as the areca palm instead.

Why is a sago palm seed so much worse than a leaf?

The whole plant is toxic, but the seeds carry the most cycasin. Female plants produce a cluster of bright orange-red seeds in the center of the crown, and they drop to the ground when ripe. To a dog they look like a toy or a treat.

Young plants and bonsai-style pots rarely make seeds, so indoor exposure is usually a chewed frond or a nibble at the trunk. That is still an emergency. In gardens, fallen seeds and pruned fronds left on the lawn are the common problem.

Why can a dog seem fine for a day or two?

Vomiting and diarrhea often start within hours. They may settle, and the dog can look close to normal. Meanwhile the liver damage keeps developing, and signs such as yellow gums, bruising or bleeding can show up two to three days later.

That delay is why vets recommend treatment right after the plant is eaten rather than waiting to see what happens. Cats are less likely to chew a sago palm, but the same poison and the same delay apply to them.

What does a vet usually do?

There is no antidote for sago palm poisoning. Care is aimed at limiting absorption and supporting the liver while it recovers. The vet decides whether to induce vomiting or give activated charcoal. Many dogs are hospitalized for fluids, anti-nausea medicine and liver-protective drugs.

Liver values and clotting tests are usually rechecked over several days, because the numbers can worsen after the first visit. Pets with bleeding problems may need plasma or other blood products.

• Other cycads, such as cardboard palm and coontie (Zamia), contain the same type of toxin
• A true palm such as the areca palm is a safer choice for a home with pets

Pet-safe alternatives

Looking for something similar without the risk? These plants are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

• Non-toxicAreca palm
• Non-toxicMoney tree (Pachira)

Common questions

Is sago palm poisonous to pets?

Cats: Toxic. Dogs: Toxic. Yes. Sago palm is highly toxic to both dogs and cats and can cause liver failure.

Is it safe to keep sago palm in a home with cats and dogs?

Not within your pets' reach. In homes with pets, choose a non-toxic palm such as the areca palm instead.

What should I do if my pet chews sago palm?

Treat any ingestion as an emergency and contact a veterinarian immediately. Remove seeds and fallen leaves promptly if you keep this plant outdoors.

Which pet-safe plants can I grow instead of sago palm?

Areca palm and money tree are listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

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Sources

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List (dogs, cats).
• Merck Veterinary Manual. Toxicology section.