tony spencer

@Nat Renn: I’d love to help out with this! This could easily turn into an epidemic, and the only safe way to deal with it is to ban it, (just like we’re finally getting done with cigarettes!) Please drop me a line at timmahbone(at)yahoo.com, and let me know what I can do!

Thank you so much for passing on this information. I found 3 Spago Palms at Lowe’s and thought they looked “cool” I am glad I have the plants high on a shelf and out of my son’s and our dog reach. Glad my husband found this site and sent me the link.

Thanks Again!

Don’t know if anyone’s said this yet, but anyone else find it a little odd that Walmart won’t sell GTA because of unlockable Hot Coffee content (“Oh GOD, pixellated breasts!”), yet will happily sell a plant that can take down a human…?

I am completely sympathetic to anyone who loses, or almost loses, any life in their care, however, product warning labels have become so extensive as to become virtually unreadable. Children and pets require supervision. An internet search of poisonous plants — and there are quite a few — will turn up many sites. It’s our responsibility to use the information. Making everyone else responsible for our mishaps smacks of something quite scary. We are not victims, but rather uninformed, uneducated or — dare I say — lazy. There are more sources of information than ever before. Let’s use them — and take responsibility for lives in our care.

I live in a virtual jungle where there are a lot of poisonous plants. I know them and am careful. But many
people don’t even realise it. For example, oleandar is
very toxic, burning it will kill you, even touching it
will put poisons into your system. Yet people plant it
and don’t know it.

I think there has to be a serious education campaign, it’s not being overly cautious.

I think many people could buy this plant at walmart and think it is safe, why wouldn’t they?

You don’t live in a jungle where your education is need to know, so it is right to warn the public.

We should all be educated! I have had this plant in my house before with kids and pets and never knew until now it was poisonous. Yes, I can teach my kids and my pets not to chew on anything but, why risk it? It should be the suppliers or the retail stores responisbility to LABLE “CAUTION TOXIC TO HUMAN AND ANIMALS IF SWALLOWED”. Then you would have the choice to buy it or not… It is just not our kids who could be in danger, but any other child that visits.

I am so sorry to hear about your dog – that’s terrible, I have one and I know how devastated I would be. I hope you don’t mind, but I am adding your story to http://www.squidoo.com/PoisonousPlants/ to help spread the word – the page is still being finished – but hopefully your story can help others!

I don’t think we should ban the plants but more pet owners need to know the danger. My family recently adopted a dog from a shelter after a long search. We had “Camper” for 3 weeks when she ate part of a Sago Palm before we stopped her. She got sick within 1 hour and 41 hours later she was dead. She died on 10/12 and I’m still in shock. I did not know it was toxic. As a pet owner I should have know and have so much guilt. My children are devestated and my husband and I are in shock. To help us cope we are trying to educate people on the dangers of these plants with dogs around. We have removed all Sago Palms from our property and are spreading the word of how dangerous they are to dogs.

I would like to know if the seeds from a sago palm can kill our dogs, what about our 5 20 feet queen palms? Can the seeds from those trees also make oour dogs sick or kill them?

Thanks for the warning I live in Florida and have a small dog whom I take with me every morning on my 2 mile walks I have noticed a couple of these particular palms in my neighborhood. I will be extra careful.

I TOO FOUND MY PUPPY VOMITING PROFUSELY AFTER PLAYING OUTSIDE AND WONDERED WHAT IT COULD BE WHEN HE ATE THE SAME DOG FOOD AS THE OTHER TWO DOGS DID. I SEARCHED MY YARD TO FIND A SAGO PALM ROOT CHEWED APART. MY CHIHUAHUA HAD PULLED IT OUT OF A CLAY POT WHERE IT WAS PLANTED AND PROCEEDED TO CHEW ON IT. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF COULD THIS PLANT BE POISONOUS TO DOGS? DOING RESEARCH ON THE COMPUTER I FOUND THIS ARTICLE AND ONE OTHER ONE THAT MADE ME CALL THE 24 HOUR VET HOSP IN OUR CITY. THEY SAID COME NOW! WE RUSHED OUR DOGS TO THE VET AND THE CHIHUAHUA’S LIVER’S BLOODWORK WAS TWICE WHAT IT WAS SUPP0SED TO BE, LUCKILY OUR OTHER DOG HAD NOT INGESTED THAT MUCH SO HER LEVELS WERE OK. THEY KEPT BOTH DOGS OVERNIGHT, HAD ONE ON IV FLUIDS AND CHECKED BOTH OF THEIR LEVELS THE NEXT MORNING. IF IT WEREN’T FOR MY KIDS AND I READING THESE ARTICLES OUR DOGS MIGHT NOT HAVE MADE IT. EVERYONE I HAVE TOLD THIS TO HAS NEVER HEARD THAT SAGO PALMS WERE POISONOUS. SO DEFINITELY SPREAD THE WORD.

Interesting. I have not pets or children, but if I do some time I think I will be a little more aware about those things one should care about (Which are not so easy to realize).
One other thing: I don’t know how you feel about it, but really think what’s most valuable here is that you share your opinions and ideas. So maybe sarcasm is not out to date, but even so I agree with Lauri (DON’T YOU PEOPLE READ THE OTHER POSTS and think it was enough?). I know in this state of discussion my comment is little bit outdated, but even so: I think you shouldn’t have been so aggressive and repetitive with Erin, who did nothing but express an opinion and then be attacked by everyone (Which I wouldn’t like to happen to me).
I think it’s a good article, and it has interested losts of people. Well written.

Parents of kids and pets are ultimately responsible for the things that their kids AND pets do and eat. Laying the blame on others and wanting others to take the responsibility is the AMERICAN WAY I know, but I know that not only am I responsible for my own behavior, but I am going to reap the consequences of my behavior. If I am diligent and careful my kids and pets will be healthy and happy. If I expect others to be responsible I will be very disappointed and perhaps even have a child or pet DIE. Those would be the consequences of lax diligence with kids and pets. Why do people NOT want to do what is RIGHT anymore? BE RESPONSIBLE-don’t just expect others to take care of you.
Personally I watch my puppy every minute until it is old enough to be trusted to not eat what it shouldn’t and the same goes for my kids. For heaven sakes- chocolate, onions and garlic and raisens and grapes are poisonous to dogs, so I see to it my dogs do not have access to them. Also puppies and small kids will ingest almost anything they can get into their mouths-SO it is up to the parents to watch them EVERY MINUTE!!

Jukia you must be an angry and bitter girl- I didnt see any implication or blame in this article, just a story and a heads up for others.

Go and find a cause that is appropriate for your vitriol and leave the mild mannered alone and while you are reading this WHOSE LOOKING AT YOUR DOG FOR YOU?

I gotta say there are some mean and nasty types reading this blog- all the bashing of Erin is a bit over the top. If every post represented a small cut she would be dead any minute by “death from 1000 cuts”. I dont agree with her but unless she has a history of being a narrow minded pest and all the regular readers know her for this then I fail to see why so many people were compelled to vent a chorus of anger at one insignificant remark. Perhaps the chorus and julia along with the petition writer can get together and make a positive stand for our world or whatever cause you can agree on.

Tony, glad to hear your dog made it through OK. He’s too cute, and I know how worrisome these things can be.

I would just like to say that my grandmother has lots of indoor plants, some of which are poisonous to animals or children. She also has numerous cats and dogs. She has “mother in laws tongue” and aloe vera which are both poisonous to animals. Also, someone always gives her a poinsettia for Christmas which is dangerous for cats. All her animals have been fine. It’s about training them and supervision. Also, I have a sago palm potted at home and my cat chews on the leaves all the time and she is fine. She chews on every plant I have. Someone explain that one.

Yall’re Crazy

Then why is marijuana illegal?

People should monitor themselves, their pets, and their kids so they don’t eat poisonous plants and die… Pot never killed anyone and yet I bet most people on this blog would say ‘ban it! it’s dangerous!’ What’s the difference? You want to take responsibility for poisons, also take responsibility for avoiding drugs. It’s up to you, but the fact that any plants are illegal is ludicrous.

I found all this blogging to be very interesting. Erin, I agree that people need to be warned and commend you for trying to protect others by posting this information on the internet, but I do also agree that banning is probably not the best course. Though consumers should be aware of what they buy, most people would agree that most people don’t think about these dangers when buying plants. I live in Arizona and everything is poisonous. I believe we all have a personal responsiblity to know what we are doing, especially if our actions include protecting our pets or children. If I were a retailer selling plants that could unknowingly kill someone, I wouldn’t have a problem adding a poison symbol and warning to the product. Better safe than sorry.

Goodness – Let’s move on. Thanks for reminding us all that houseplants are sometimes dangerous and that animals are often curious and unpredictable, but now can we channel all this angst into developing a plan for feeding the hungry, finding the cure for emotionally perverted child pornographers and or world peace? Surely with all the time to spare and all this passion for plants, we could do something significant.

This Blog is amazing, I have never witnessed such hateful responses to our Freedom of Speech rights. For Gods sake, this is only an attempt to warn people of a dangerous situation. If you don’t care for someones opinion, then ignore it. I agree that the majority of the people probably have never attempted to read a book on the plants they purchase. I own 4 of the Sago Palms and they are gorgeous plants.

I think you’re right about making sure you’re kids know whats up with certain plants, but if you know they are poisonous, you probably shouldn’t keep them in a place where kids might get into them.

Last weekend my 5-month old pup ate half of a sago palm seed pod and started to vomit in less than 1-hr. For all those fools trying to criticise a person when they are attempting to help others, by warning them of the dangers of these plants, they should have witnessed my dog suffering for the next two days and see the effect it had on my two young daughters. You cannot be within visual contact at all times with a young pet and when training them it takes time. If I had known of the dangers I could have done a better job in protecting my children and pets by removing them from my yard. Why do people waste their time criticising and ridiculing others instead of doing something constructive? If an accident ever happens to one of their family they will realize what is important. Thank you to Tony for trying to help others. I will be informing everyone I ever come into contact with of the dangers……..I hope nobody ever tells me to my face that I should be more responsible and ridicule me. Of course the negative bloggers on this site wouldn’t have the guts to do that, they will be too busy sniping anonymously behind their keyboards. My condolences to all on this site whose pets have suffered because of this.

Dear All,

Just use common sense, if you have small kids or dogs that chew on plants, do not pick this plant for your yard. The toxins are complicated but the bottom line is the plant causes acute liver failure, which has no antedote, just supportive care, and most dogs do die from the intoxication. We are currently looking at hemo-dialysis is a form of treatment. No plant should be banned, but please note that ALL PARTS of the sago are poisionous, even when its pulled up out of the ground and dead (yes I’ve seen animals get into the compost heap), so burn the plant if you are not going to re-plant where there are no kids/animals.

DVM

There are two species of plants called sago palms. The edible type, Metroxylon sagu, is non toxic but generally not sold in stores. The decorative plant found in retail stores is Cycas revoluta, which is toxic to people and animals. it also contains a starchy substance that is eaten, but it must first be treated to remove its toxins. Best advice: know your plant, and watch your pets and kids. It should be the consumer’s responsibility to know what they are buying.

Kudos to David who did his research. Yes there are two species called sago palms. We live in Florida where the poisonous Cycas revoluta is sold as an ornamental plant. It is very beautiful, and used widely in landscaping. New homeowners might purchase a home without realizing the dangers of the landscape plants already in the ground. This is an excellent post. We need to be educated to the dangers in our surroundings. I know a snake might be poisonous. I know the common poisonous plants. I did not realize the Sago was this toxic to animals or children, until today when a friends dog was rushed to the emergency vet and may or may not make it after having chewed on the sago in her yard. I have raised my children in Florida and my grandchildren live here now, and we never knew this. I have dogs, several in fact, and I was not aware of this danger. Thanks to all the positive posts and information. I am only sorry I didn’t find it until after my friend’s dog was poisoned.
Perhaps a little publicity on this topic wouldn’t hurt. I would hate for it to have been a grandchild who chewed on the plant unknowingly.

Hi I live in UK, looked up Sago Palm so surprised at the response especially the nasty ones.Look up Dumb Cane it’s a common house plant world over but if you chew it your throat swells and may even choke you.Warning labels would be a good practice for both sides but banning is too extreme. As others have said so many day to day things are a hazard. Peace and Love to both animal & plant lovers
Clive

I happen to be a Veterinary Technician and have seen a dog die from sago palm toxicity. I heard from the specialists that symptoms can start as late as 4 months after ingesting the poison in the sago!!! By that time it’s too late.
So to the guy or girl that wrote in that sago is edible, go for it!! but I wont be coming over for dinner anytime soon.
Robert Fisher
Houston,Tx.

This is for Hana, who just left us this morning at 8:27 after fighting for three days, yet she had massive internal hemorrhaging, never again do I want to see something like that again and I am 56.

She ate a bunch of the Sago Palm seeds, and I did not know until she threw them up and I thought it was just dog stuff, as Sadie throws up often and is fine. Well it was too late even after just six hours, the some vets say it is too late after thirty minutes.

As to anyone calling anyone a wack job, usually it is the people calling names who actually deserve the name, so you may want to reassess your thought process, maybe you will grow up…

Same thing happened to my puppy 2 years ago. Luckily, we knew exactly what she had eaten (b/c we had just bought the plants from Lowe’s) and she survived. We were also given the prognosis that she would likely die. It was so scary – do not buy sago palms if you have dogs, especially puppies!

It’s interesting that I found this blog while having a similar argument over at Gardenweb.com about the need to label the most toxic plants at the point of sale. I was also jumped all over for suggesting that not everyone knows about foxglove or datura or azaleas or lillies (especially to cats) and that a warning label would be helpful information. I don’t understand in the least the idea that this is creating a “nanny state”. It’s just information.

To suggest that any parent or pet owner has absolute control 100% of the time seems unrealistic to me. As a landscaper, I oppose banning plants, but I know from firsthand experience that many people barely know the names of the majority of plants in their yards, much less their characteristics.

If treated correctly, sago palm is like acorns or cassava and is safe to eat. I’m sure we’ve all eaten tapioca without ill effects, but untreated cassava would make us sick.

4-6-08
Thanks to this site my little Yorkie may live. Today he ate this palm trunk, not the seed but became very sick. I had no clue to the seriousness of it. He’s in the hospital and we hope to detox his liver. I had NO idea about this plant. Even animal posion control does not list it on the web.

This is my first visit. Is there always so much ranting and raving about simple opinions? I was hoping the conversations would be insightful, innovative and eloquently stated. I will come back later to see if there is any improvement.
‘
Disagreeing with anothers opinion, no matter how simple simple and uninformed you may think the person to be, is not sufficient to justify being.

I am sure there are plenty of blogs out there that would welcome rude individuals.

My 5 year old daughter bumped up against an ornamental indoor potted sago palm, while playing, and it scratched her face in a couple of places. by the next morning, her face was all red and swollen and eye 1/2 shut, with angry red rashes on the whole side of her face. She also felt really lethargic. We took her into the hospital with a peice of the plant, the label and they looked it up and determined it was from the Sago Palm. They put her on Prednesone, and took blood and it was a terrifying ordeal for her and for me, as she screamed and resisted the needle. After a week or so, it finally calmed down. The Dr. said if we had not treated her, that her eye could have had damage. The plant had no label that warned against that. I got it at Home Depot.

im here just to say that trying to kill dogs is very WRONG, you wouldnt like it if dogs killed you would it…
SO STOP TRYING TO KILL THEM.

THEY ARE A HARMFUL CREATURE WHO IS JUST TRYING TO LIVE A LIFE JUST LIKE US…

Unfortunately we learned the hard way. It was March 28 and I was cleaning our deck since we were hosting a church get together that night. Our 11 month old Cairn Terrier got hold of 2 of the seeds we think and ate them. She was fine for a couple of hours but when she refused a treat, which was unheard of for her, we knew something was wrong. We called the vet and were told to watch her closely and call back soon so they could get her in that day. In the meantime my wife called poison control and learned that they are toxic to humans. Within 48 hours we had to put her to sleep. We have been trying to warn people about this and have since learned a neighbor had a dog of hers get sick from them. This dog is now on daily medication and has checkups monthly.

Just to give you an update. We are going to the vet once a week for IV flushing, today we found that the liver is well elevated, 400 points, but he is eating and the vet also has him on liver meds along with special kidney/liver dog food. Again my dog only ate past the outer skin level and I’m still shocked over this. I live in AZ and we have poisonous plants that my dogs in the past had minor problems with. Just remember this palm is sold as a small 6″ house plant.

I have a Sago that outgrew being in the house over winter (DFW area) and we created a planter in the backyard, poolside for it. My 18 month old granddaughter learned very fast she didn’t want to touch this plant after getting stuck by one of the spiny needles, so try some behavior modification – it might even work on dogs.

First thank you for spreading the message, you may save the life of others. My beautiful loving dog died last week. They vet suspected she ate something that lead to her senseless early death. However, I could not figure it out and asked about sago palms. We do not have sago palms in our yard but there are some in our neighborhood. I had rule-out her having been in contacted with a Sago plant but the vet warned that the nuts are the most fatal portion of the plant. Nonetheless, birds brought the Sago Nut to my balcony, which I found two this morning when I woke. Lola loved to explore, chew and kiss so her curious nature leads a great loss. Lola was a red-nose bit bull, who was the ambassador of the dog trail and neighborhood. She never knew violence and was totally submissive. She broke the stereotype of the breed. Behavior is learned for the most part and genetics do not solely determine a person or dogs disposition. Hitler held that belief about people, who held religious belief and genetic phenotype. Please educate yourself and others about the threat of Sago nuts and inspect your dog’s area for items brought in by birds.

I was at Lowe’s this weekend and my husband saw this plant, we both thought is was a cool plant to put by the pool. I even made my husband stay by it (there was only one left) while i went to get a cart. He turned his back and I ran over to claim it before the other gentleman who was admiring it took it first. As I was saying “oh no you don’t that is mine! He said he would was checking to see if that was a sago palm, he said the same thing, dogs love to chew on it and it will kill them, so I was like yeah right, you just one this plant. The guy was adamant and said he had just read this article that morning. I reluctantly walked away. THANK GOD! I have a great dane who has a bad habit of chewing plants if his mom and dad have been shopping all day at Lowe’s and he is mad at them. He is needless, to say, my baby and I would have been devastated if I was the cause of his death. I am one of the very many thankful people who have been blessed with this article,

THANK YOU TONY, God bless you!

I just took my 70# yellow lab to the vet for eating this plant. My lab has a 50/50 chance to make it. The process can take 3-5 days for recovery. If you have pets and Sagos, bury the Sago not your pet.

Heartbroken-Johnny

Johnny,

My thoughts and heart is with you and your big furry 70 pound yellow lab buddy. I hope that you guys have many more days of play ahead. If you need any emotional support blog me back. I live in costal northern San Diego County and can’t imagine your worries but my posting is number 93.
Sincerely,
Lola’s Mom, Meta Kalaher

thank you so much, i just got the plant and put it in the backyard a week ago. i was looking on the internet about how to stop your dogs from eating my plant, when i can arcoss this, i got up and told both of the plants to the front yard. my puppy is 10 months and he already stated eating it not much to make him sick. thank you, and bless you, his name is jake.

I had no idea that the sago was toxic. My 4 lb. puppy got a hold of this palm and is at the Louisiana State University Vet hospital recieving blood transfusions and plasma. We are not sure if he will make it or not. If i would have known about this plant I would have gotten rid of it before I brought him home last year!!!!!!!!!! Vets should warn pet owners of this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone know how to get rid of this plant? The previous owners of our new home decided it would be a good idea to plant it in the front yard, and it has taken over (and is starting to kill other plants as it slowly moves across the yard). Death doesn’t say, “Welcome to my home!” I’m a new homeowner and unfamiliar with taking care of (or destroying) outdoor plants. Any help is greatly appreciated. I’ve already dug up about 20 of them (and as much of the roots as possible) but they keep spreading…HELP!

And to everyone who has lost a pet to this plant, I am deeply sorry. I adore and love pets and would be devastated if my dogs died an unnecessary and tragic death.

And to the person who suggested that a ban be put on the plant? How about training your dog or teaching your child not to eat plants?

I live in Houston, Texas in a condo on a property that has LOTS of plants and ground cover, immaculately tended and is quite lovely. As a FIRST time pet owner I have a 6 month old puppy whom I ADORE. On one of our walks… I sat by watching her chew on this green stem thinking that she must be getting something her body needs. WRONG! It was a sago (pup) where all the little seeds are embedded in a juicy aloe like sap.

After 20 minutes or so I walked her to her play date where I later learned she vomited for the entire 2 hours she was there. The only thing she had eaten other than her puppy food was this plant. Another neighbor heard me describe her snacking and told me IF it was sago then it is very toxic.

I called the emergency vet and brought her there immediately. I then went home, retrieved the now empty and dried chewed stem from under a sago palm… had NO idea that was what it was called or of its toxicity. Within a second it was confirmed that my 10 pound dachshund had indeed ingested sago and would likely die. The only hope for her survival would begin with a 3 day treatment protocol which would produce UNCERTAIN results but was the only possibility for her life being saved. Did I want her to receive CPR in the event her heart stopped while in treatment? The reality of this was as profound as it gets.

Of course, the answer was yes. And where was the money for her treatment going to come from? I earn $10.00 hr. so, with my good credit I was able to sign my life away with newly incurred credit card debt of $4000.00 + guaranteed to the vet BEFORE treatment. Now, if that’s not LOVE … what is?

I do NOT believe in making these or other plants illegal. I believe I was absolutely ignorant and did I mention STUPID for NOT investigating the plants on my own property to determine possible issues.

My proposal then is this…. To provide ALL pet owners with a detailed list of and corresponding pictures of the most common indigenous /poisonous plants in local regions. I had been to the vet 4 times in 6 months. NO one EVER WARNED ME ABOUT THE FATAL TOXICITY OF THESE OR ANY PLANTS. The subject never came up. All vets should at the very least mention one or two of the worst offenders in an area and provide suggested reading for the rest!!!

OVERWHELMED!!! I was so concerned with house breaking / TRAINING I did not even consider other important categories of questions to ask.

So, right now, my beautiful EVALANI is in the best place she can possibly be to get well ….in Houston, it is VERGI Veterinary Emergency Referral Group Inc. Behind Goode Co. Katy Freeway, 77024. Say a little prayer please. She is my baby.

We just lost our beloved Caesar to liver failure after eating Sago palm seeds. Our ten month old doberman is fighting for his life too. We have the list of poisonous plants to dogs, however, there are only a small number that are almost always lethal. These are the plants that should have special warnings on. Our dogs are well cared for but even good dog owners don’t watch their dogs 100% of the time. I think that there should be more publicity about this palm. We are devastated that we may lose both of our dogs in the same week that we are supposed to give birth to our first child.