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Puppy Dies After Chewing On Sago Palm In Backyard

January 24, 2006, 12:0AM MT

By Jessica Cliver

It is an increasingly common landscape and patio plant but one that is terribly toxic.

It is an increasingly common landscape and patio plant but one that is terribly toxic. The sago palm is sold at garden centers all over Southern California, often with no warnings about the possible danger to children and animals.
LOS ANGELES --NBC4's Kelly Mack has more.

KELLY MACK: Her name was Josephine, a five-month-old chocolate Labrador with a personality that her owner, Terry Gasparovic, instantly fell in love with.

TERRY GASPAROVIC: "She was real curious, liked to get up early, stay up late, wanted to walk a lot. She was just an active, happy little puppy."

MACK: Terry made his home in Torrance safe and comfortable for Josephine...installing gates, doggie doors, a gazebo for shade and even a remote camera to check up on her. Before planting his backyard garden, he checked the labels on the plants he bought at the local Lowe's store to make sure they were safe for animals.

GASPAROVIC: "We really tried to make sure that everything was safe for a puppy."

MACK: Terry planted a sago palm and Josephine, being a puppy, chewed on it one day.

GASPAROVIC: "I went in the back yard and looked around and saw where she had thrown up on the grass." "So I rushed her to the vet... The vet called and told me her liver had shut down..."

MACK: It turns out that the sago palm is one of the most toxic plants known, especially dangerous for animals and children...but often it carries little or no warning.

DR. JONNIE QUANTZ, ANIMAL EMERGENCY REFERRAL CENTER: "It destroys the gastrointestinal tract, it destroys the liver, they go into liver failure, massive bleeding abnormalities..."

MACK: Veterinarian Jonnie Quantz treated Josephine with plasma and blood transfusions...but it was not enough to beat the poison in the sago palm.

DR. QUANTZ: "When I look them up on the Internet, I see how to grow them, how much they're worth. You have to look through pages and pages of websites to find just a few pages on their toxic properties."

MACK: "Terry contacted managers at Lowe's and asked them why a warning isn't posted for sago palms. According to Terry, Lowe's managers told him if the product is 'natural' they are not required to post a warning."

DR. QUANTZ: "I believe that they owe the public a warning."

MACK: Other plants that are equally toxic are also sold at garden centers without warning labels. A certain Azalea, for example, had no label at all, and it is poisonous to animals. Common lilies are also dangerous.

DR. QUANTZ: "They cause kidney failure...particularly in cats. There should be a sign that these are toxic to children and animals "

MACK: Back at Terry's home, the doggy biscuits remain on the counter and the food bowl sits on the kitchen floor, but Josephine is not coming home.

GASPAROVIC: "I hate it, its just too quiet in the house. At nighttime you miss her just walking around, crawling under the bed. She was really a great little dog. We just loved her to death."

A Lowe's spokeswoman tells NBC4 that the dog's death was unfortunate, but said that there's no legal requirement to post warnings on plants when such warnings are publicly available elsewhere. She also said it's not realistic for Lowe's to alert the public to every potentially dangerous plant, especially when the danger can vary from animal to animal.

www.nbc4.tv

Comments

Posted January 01, 2007, 9:35PM by bridget1

I live in Houston and just lost my three year old Cavelier King Charles to Sago Palm poisioning. We found the pieces of the seed in her bed. She came in contact to the plant near our home. We have never heard of this danger. She survived nine days in ICU then passed away 12/20/06 We are completely devastated. I think the only solution to this problem is to spread the word among dog owners to rid our households and neighborhoods of this lethal plant. I can be contacted at bridget@styles.com

Posted June 14, 2009, 3:52PM by Guiltridden

I joined this network after reading about pets dying from eating sago palm seeds. My daughter and her boyfriend left his French Bulldog--Zoe--with us while they were at a funeral for their best friend who passed away at 24 y/o. Zoe chewed a sago palm seed in our backyard and became extremely ill. It appears she may make it, but there are no guarantees yet. I had no idea these were poisonous! We've had our dogs out there with them for 14 years and take the seeds from them regularly just so they won't choke on them! We have a new Schnauzer puppy and she has had numerous seeds in her mouth. Our Weimeriner--Maggie--will actually stand on her back legs, pick out a seed for the puppy and give it to her to play w/ like a ball! Maggie has chewed and cracked many of them open when I am working in the yard, but has never gotten sick! My question--if anyone knows--is whether the toxin will build up in their liver and cause damage? We have removed all the seeds and are so grateful Zoe is feeling better, but I was so guilt ridden yesterday, that is how I chose my username!

Posted April 23, 2009, 9:7PM by help4pets

I just lost my cat to a Sago Palm Plant. I'm racked with guilt! I brought it in because of the cold. The next morning, my cat began vomiting. I didn't connect the dots until 48 hours later. It was too late. I have now launched a website: www.mo-driver.com/sago-palm-plants-kill.htm . Please spread the word about these killing plants. I would like to unite others to get legislation moving to have the ASPCA's 17 most dangerous plants posted at retailer points of sale.

Vince

Posted March 02, 2006, 3:14PM by Miasmom

On monday 2/27 we lost our 6 month old cane corso mastiff puppy. She too ate part of a Sago Palm purchased at Walmart. I would like to discuss what happended in both cases with Josephines owner in hopes of raising awareness. My name is Karee and I live in upstate NY. My e-mail address is cjac609@cs.com

Posted March 07, 2006, 3:21PM by bboliver

My 11-month old boxer puppy ate 2 of our sago palms yesterday. She has been at our University vet. hospital since last night and is extremely sick. I am so mad that nothing was listed on the label of the sago palm. I am losing hope that she is going to pull through, as all I have read about this poisoining is that it leads to death.

Posted October 16, 2006, 7:31AM by heartbrokenmom

My mom brought over sago palm seeds thinking we would want to plant them (we are horrible gardeners!).. they sat around and our 7 month old chihuahua/dachshund somehow got a hold of them and died Friday, October 13, 2006. :( We are so heartbroken.. If only I had known how poisonous they were! I am telling everyone I know with a dog and even those w/out to spread the word.