Quote:
Originally Posted by Serenoa
I really wouldn't worry too much about the toxicity of a common sago (cycas revoluta). Thousands are grown & sold annually by nurseries, which I doubt would continue if they posed any serious danger to humans or pets. But if you really don't want anything toxic growing in your landscape then many other common, popular plants would also have to go....such as tulips, daffodils, azaleas, iris, oleander, wisteria.....even oak trees.
here's a more complete list: http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications...cfm?pk_ID=7851
also, in regard to the scale problem on sagos: it can be easily controlled by semi-annual spraying of dormant oil. safe & easy. |
Yes, there are many common house and garden plants that are toxic to pets. In some plants, only parts of them are toxic (such as bulbs or seeds), and there are different degrees of toxicity. With the Sago Palm, any and all of it is extremely toxic and results in a very high fatality rate, even when the pets are given immediate medical attention.
To give you an idea of how dangerous this plant is to animals, here is an excerpt from this site:
Dr. Nelson's Veterinary Blog: Sago Palms Are Poisonous To Animals
"Sago palms, also called cycad palms are very poisonous. The seeds, fruit and base are loaded with cycasin, a toxin that causes liver failure. Ingestion of just one seed may cause death in a dog. Vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, depression and neurologic signs develop within a few hours of ingestion. Abnormalities in the blood work lag behind clinical signs by about 24 hours making it hard to diagnose. Death occurs within hours to days depending upon the amount of poison ingested.
In a study of 60 dogs with sago palm toxicosis, 95% of them developed liver failure and gastrointestinal problems. Neurologic signs including posterior paresis, depression, problems with coordination called ataxia and seizures occurred in 50% of the animals studied. Unfortunately, once clinical signs occur, one third of dogs will die."