Popular Southern Plant Could Kill Your Pet

It's a commonly used plant in landscaping throughout the southeast because of its hardiness -- but it turns out -- a Sago Palm can, literally, kill your pet.

One Savannah Family learned the hard way.

As News Three’s Community Reporter Alice Massimi explains they're trying to spread the word so that other families can avoid the ordeal.

Like most other puppies 4 month old Zoe loves to get into things.

Whether it’s chasing after a lizard or munching on some bark but last weekend Zoe got into something that almost killed her.

“Then I heard crunching and I thought she had probably gotten a piece of the bark because she loves to chew on the bark. When I took a closer look I realized it was a piece of the Sago Palm,” explains Kim Tate.

Three hours later Tate says poor Zoe was throwing up.

“I told my husband she had chewed on the Sago Palm and when he googled it all kinds of information came up.”

It turns out the Sago Palm, which is very popular in landscaping in the southeast, is also highly toxic. According to the ASPCA 50 to 75 percent of pets that ingest part of the Sago Palm end up dying.

Luckily the Tate's got Zoe to Veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Hazlett.

“If you can catch them at that point and get them help immediately than that is your best chance of survival. It is highly toxic because what it leads to 24/48 hours and beyond is liver failure,” says Dr. Hazlett.  

Not wanting to tempt fate the Tate's had all their Sago Palms removed ...problem is these palms are all over the place and few know of the dangers.

“It floored me. You google palm and right there, right in front of your face...toxic,” says a shocked Tommy Lewis, owner of Sodman, a landscaping company.  

Lewis says he's planted thousands of Sagos...but not anymore.

“Its going to be out of our arsenal of plants that we use for our design,” says Lewis.  

Thankful Zoe survived the Tate's are hoping by sharing their story others will be spared a really sad situation.

The Sago Palm isn’t the only dangerous plant out there the ASPCA also lists these:

Lilies
Members of the Lilium spp. are considered to be highly toxic to cats. While the poisonous component has not yet been identified, it is clear that with even ingestions of very small amounts of the plant, severe kidney damage could result.

Marijuana
Ingestion of Cannabis sativa by companion animals can result in depression of the central nervous system and incoordination, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, increased heart rate, and even seizures and coma.

Sago Palm
All parts of Cycas Revoluta are poisonous, but the seeds or “nuts” contain the largest amount of toxin. The ingestion of just one or two seeds can result in very serious effects, which include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures and liver failure.

Tulip/Narcissus bulbs
The bulb portions of Tulipa/Narcissus spp. contain toxins that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of the central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.

Azalea/Rhododendron
Members of the Rhododenron spp. contain substances known as grayantoxins, which can produce vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness and depression of the central nervous system in animals. Severe azalea poisoning could ultimately lead to coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.

Oleander
All parts of Nerium oleander are considered to be toxic, as they contain cardiac glycosides that have the potential to cause serious effects—including gastrointestinal tract irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia and even death.

Castor Bean
The poisonous principle in Ricinus communis is ricin, a highly toxic protein that can produce severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases of poisoning can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.

Cyclamen
Cylamen species contain cyclamine, but the highest concentration of this toxic component is typically located in the root portion of the plant. If consumed, Cylamen can produce significant gastrointestinal irritation, including intense vomiting. Fatalities have also been reported in some cases.

Kalanchoe
This plant contains components that can produce gastrointestinal irritation, as well as those that are toxic to the heart, and can seriously affect cardiac rhythm and rate.

Yew
Taxus spp. contains a toxic component known as taxine, which causes central nervous system effects such as trembling, incoordination, and difficulty breathing. It can also cause significant gastrointestinal irritation and cardiac failure, which can result in death.

Amaryllis
Common garden plants popular around Easter, Amaryllis species contain toxins that can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia and tremors.

Autumn Crocus
Ingestion of Colchicum autumnale by pets can result in oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage and bone marrow suppression.

Chrysanthemum
These popular blooms are part of the Compositae family, which contain pyrethrins that may produce gastrointestinal upset, including drooling, vomiting and diarrhea, if eaten. In certain cases depression and loss of coordination may also develop if enough of any part of the plant is consumed.

English Ivy
Also called branching ivy, glacier ivy, needlepoint ivy, sweetheart ivy and California ivy, Hedera helix contains triterpenoid saponins that, should pets ingest, can result in vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation and diarrhea.

Peace Lily (AKA Mauna Loa Peace Lily)
Spathiphyllum contains calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue in pets who ingest.

Pothos
Pothos (both Scindapsus and Epipremnum) belongs to the Araceae family. If chewed or ingested, this popular household plant can cause significant mechanical irritation and swelling of the oral tissues and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Schefflera
Schefflera and Brassaia actinophylla contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing and intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue in pets who ingest.