FrançaisIs sago palm poisonous to dogs?
Yes, and it can be deadly. The sago palm contains cycasin, and eating any part of it, especially the seeds, can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea, nervous system signs, liver failure and death [1]. If your dog chewed a leaf, a seed or the trunk, call your vet or a pet poison line now, even if it seems fine. Take a photo of the plant and note the time.
Do not wait for signs: liver damage can take a day or two to show on the blood tests [4], and dogs given activated charcoal by the vet at the first visit survived more often in two studies [5, 7]. Do not try to make your dog vomit at home; leave that decision to the vet.
Where dogs meet the plant
Cycads, also called sago palms, grow around the world, especially in tropical and subtropical areas, as wild or ornamental plants [3]. Cycad palms are commonly used in landscaping [5]: in a poison control series of 60 dogs, 89.7% lived in the southern United States [4]. They are also kept in pots: at the Milan poison centre in Italy, Cycas revoluta was among the plants most often involved in calls about poisoned animals [11, 12].
- Names: Cycas revoluta, cycad, Japanese sago palm, king sago palm [1].
- Related plants with the same danger: the coontie plant and the cardboard palm [1].
- Other animals: the plant is also toxic to cats and horses [2].
For other dangerous garden and house plants, see toxic plants for dogs and cats.
Why the sago palm harms the liver and the nerves
All parts of the plant can be toxic, but the seeds and roots seem to hold the highest amounts of toxins [3]. In the 60-dog series, 38.7% had eaten seeds, and dogs that ate seeds were likely to develop more serious problems [4].
Three types of toxins are known. Cycasin is turned in the gut into methylazoxymethanol (MAM), which harms the liver and the nervous system. Another toxin, BMAA, overstimulates brain cells in a way that can kill them, and appears to play a role in the nerve signs [3]. We did not find a reliable figure for how many seeds are dangerous. Call your vet or a pet poison line whatever the amount.
Signs and timing
Signs usually come in stages. Dogs that ate part of a cycad stem vomited repeatedly within hours [8], and a dog that ate seeds vomited 2 hours later, seven times in less than 3 hours [3]. In the 60-dog series, signs were seen within 1 day, could develop over 1 to 3 days and could last several days [4].
- Gut, first hours: vomiting, sometimes with blood, diarrhea, black stools, drooling and increased thirst [1, 2, 8].
- Liver, next days: yellow gums or eyes (jaundice), then liver failure [2]. Liver and gut problems were seen in 95% of dogs in one series [4].
- Bleeding: bruising and clotting problems [2]; one dog showed blood in the urine and small skin bleeds on day 3 [3].
- Nerves: stumbling, weakness, tremors and seizures [1, 3]. Abnormal nerve signs were seen in 53.3% of dogs [4].
A dog that vomits and then seems better can still be developing liver damage. Keep the vet informed and go to every recheck.
What the blood tests show, and why
Blood tests confirm liver damage and measure how well the liver still works. High bilirubin, ALP and ALT were the most common blood changes in poisoned dogs [4]. But the values often stayed normal for the first 24 to 48 hours after the plant was eaten [4], and after a sudden liver injury ALT peaks at about 48 hours [9]. That is why vets repeat the tests over several days and look at the lowest and highest values, not just the first ones [6].
- Abbreviation ALT, also written ALAT or SGPT: the main enzyme that leaks from injured liver cells in dogs [9].
- Result 640 U/L in this illustrative line: well above the interval. In 130 poisoned dogs, those with an ALT below 125 U/L at arrival survived more often [7].
- Unit U/L, units of enzyme activity per liter. Check the unit before comparing with another laboratory.
- Laboratory interval The example uses the 10–125 U/L interval reported in a cycad case [3]; each laboratory sets its own.
- Flag H: above the interval. A first normal ALT does not rule out poisoning, because it can rise 24 to 48 hours later [4].
| Test | What can be found | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| ALT | High, often after 24 to 48 hours | Leaks from damaged liver cells [9]; dogs that died had higher ALT at arrival [5] |
| AST | High | A high AST was linked to a worse outcome [5] |
| ALP | High | One of the most common changes [4] |
| Bilirubin | High, sometimes with jaundice | Common [4]; higher at arrival in dogs that died [5] |
| Albumin | Low | The liver makes albumin [10]; the lowest albumin was lower in dogs that died [5, 6] |
| Glucose | Can be low | Low blood sugar is the most common glucose change when the liver fails [10] |
| Clotting times (PT, aPTT) | Prolonged | The liver makes clotting factors [10]; more dogs that died had long clotting times [5] |
| Platelets | Low (thrombocytopenia) | Seen after cycad poisoning [8]; a count below 200,000/µL was linked to more deaths [7] |
In 14 dogs from Texas, the lowest albumin was about 1.25 g/dL in dogs that died against 2.6 g/dL in survivors, and the lowest platelet count about 21,000/µL against 62,000/µL [6]. In a failing liver, the leakage enzymes such as ALT can even be normal [10], so the vet reads the whole panel together.
What the vet does
There is no antidote. If the dog ate the plant recently, the vet may make it vomit and give activated charcoal to bind what is left in the gut. Charcoal given at the first visit was linked to longer survival in one study [5], and to 82% lower odds of death in another [7]. Even after this, many dogs still became ill, which suggests the toxins are absorbed quickly [6].
Then comes hospital care: fluids, medicines to protect the stomach and control vomiting and tremors, and supportive care, with repeat blood tests over several days [3, 4]. Because cycad poisoning is serious, it should be treated aggressively [4]. Other toxins that cause delayed liver failure, such as death cap mushrooms, are watched the same way.
Outlook and survival rates
Survival figures vary widely between studies:
- 60 dogs, US poison control records (1987–1997): reported mortality 32.1%; 68% responded well to treatment and supportive care [4].
- 34 dogs, Louisiana (2003–2010): 50% died or were euthanized because of the poisoning [5].
- 14 dogs, Texas: 64% died; 3 survivors kept high liver enzymes, a sign of lasting liver damage [6].
- 130 dogs, two Texas referral centers: overall mortality 12.3% (1.5% died, 10.8% were euthanized) [7].
High ALT, AST and bilirubin, low albumin, low platelets and long clotting times were all linked to a worse outcome [5, 6, 7]. Dogs can recover fully: a dog with severe nerve signs went home 7 days after arrival, and its blood tests were normal 2 and 8 weeks later [3]. Some survivors need follow-up for chronic liver disease [6].
Related articles
More dangerous plants: toxic plants for dogs and cats.
En français : cycas et chien.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
- What are my dog’s ALT, bilirubin and albumin today, and when will you recheck them?
- Are the platelet count and the clotting times (PT, aPTT) normal?
- Is the blood sugar normal?
- Which results would worry you most over the next few days?
- After recovery, when should we recheck the liver values?
Get your dog’s liver results explained.
AI DiagAnimals reads ALT, ALP, bilirubin, albumin, glucose and platelets together with your laboratory’s intervals, follows them from one test to the next, and prepares the questions for your vet. The service opens soon: leave your email to be told first.
Frequently asked questions
Are sago palm seeds poisonous to dogs?
Yes. Every part of the sago palm is toxic, and the seeds are the most dangerous [1, 3]. In a series of 60 dogs, those that ate seeds were likely to develop more serious problems [4]. Call your vet or a pet poison line whatever the amount, even for a single seed.
How quickly will a dog show signs of toxicity?
Vomiting can start within hours: one dog vomited 2 hours after eating seeds [3, 8]. Signs were seen within 1 day in a series of 60 dogs, and could develop over 1 to 3 days [4]. Liver values often stay normal for 24 to 48 hours [4], so call before signs appear.
What is the survival rate for dogs with sago palm poisoning?
It depends on the study: 12.3% of 130 dogs died [7], 32.1% of 60 dogs [4], 50% of 34 dogs [5] and 64% of 14 dogs [6]. Charcoal given early by the vet was linked to better survival [5, 7], so quick action matters.
What are the symptoms of sago palm poisoning in dogs?
Vomiting, sometimes with blood, diarrhea, black stools, drooling and thirst come first [1, 2, 8]. Then jaundice, bruising and liver failure can follow, and some dogs stumble, tremble or have seizures [1, 2, 4].
What is the most poisonous plant for a dog?
The studies we read do not rank plants. The sago palm is one of the most dangerous: up to half or more of poisoned dogs died in some series [5, 6]. Other dangerous plants are listed in toxic plants for dogs and cats.
Sources
- Pet Poison Helpline. Sago Palm. petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/sago-palm
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Sago Palm. aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/sago-palm
- Maeso C, Morales C, Obrador R, Abarca E, Carrera I. Presumptive Cycad Toxicosis in a Dog. Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings: A Case Report. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:468. doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00468
- Albretsen JC, Khan SA, Richardson JA. Cycad palm toxicosis in dogs: 60 cases (1987-1997). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;213(1):99-101. doi.org/10.2460/javma.1998.213.01.99
- Ferguson D, Crowe M, McLaughlin L, Gaschen F. Survival and prognostic indicators for cycad intoxication in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2011;25(4):831-837. doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00755.x
- Clarke C, Burney D. Cycad Palm Toxicosis in 14 Dogs from Texas. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2017;53(3):159-166. doi.org/10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6517
- Lake BB, Edwards T, Atiee G, Stone R, Scott L. The characterization of cycad palm toxicosis and treatment effects in 130 dogs. Aust Vet J. 2020;98(11):555-562. doi.org/10.1111/avj.13007
- Botha CJ, Naudé TW, Swan GE, Ashton MM, van der Wateren JF. Suspected cycad (Cycas revoluta) intoxication in dogs. J S Afr Vet Assoc. 1991;62(4):189-190. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1770498
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Alanine aminotransferase. eclinpath.com/chemistry/liver/liver-injury/alanine-aminotransferase
- eClinPath, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Liver function tests. eclinpath.com/chemistry/liver/liver-function-tests
- Caloni F, Cortinovis C, Rivolta M, Alonge S, Davanzo F. Plant poisoning in domestic animals: epidemiological data from an Italian survey (2000-2011). Vet Rec. 2013;172(22):580. doi.org/10.1136/vr.101225
- Bertero A, Davanzo F, Rivolta M, et al. Plants and zootoxins: Toxico-epidemiological investigation in domestic animals. Toxicon. 2021;196:25-31. doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.03.019
Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.