Sago Palm Poisoning in Cats

Sage Palm Toxicity

 

Cats often chew on plants and will sometimes swallow pieces of the plant as well. Sometimes they unwittingly chew on plants that have toxic properties to them. Sago palms are one of these plants. The leaves from the sago palm can cause severe damage to the liver, the damage of which can potentially lead to death when the plant has been ingested by a cat.

 

The sago palm is also known colloquially as coontie palms, cardboard palms, cycads, or zymias.

 

Symptoms and Types

 

Symptoms seen with ingestion of sago palms include:

 

• Vomiting
• Blood in feces
• Bloody diarrhea
• Icterus (yellow coloration of skin and gums)
• Increased thirst
• Increased urine
• Bruising
• Bleeding easily (coagulopathy, DIC)
• Neurological signs such as depression, circling, paralysis, seizures, coma
• Death

 

Causes

 

The symptoms seen are the result of liver damage caused by a toxin called cycasin, which is found in the sago palm. Liver disease may lead to bleeding deficits (disseminated intravascular coagulation - DIC), that is, abnormal bleeding and clots in the bloodstream, and neurological abnormalities.

 

Diagnosis

 

Diagnosis is based on a history of ingestion of the plant and on blood and urine test results supportive of liver disease.

 

 

Treatment

 

If ingestion has just occurred and symptoms are not present, vomiting may be induced by a doctor using hydrogen peroxide or ipecac. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you suspect or know that your cat has eaten any part of a sago palm. Activated charcoal may also be used to absorb the poison in the stomach. Gastric lavage (“pumping the stomach”) may also be necessary.

 

If evidence of liver disease is evident via clinical signs or abnormalities in blood and/or urine tests, then additional treatment will be necessary. Fluid therapy and blood or plasma transfusions will be required. Controlling vomiting with anti-emetic medications is recommended. Antibiotics, gastrointestinal protectants and vitamin K may be administered by your veterinarian also. S-Adenosylmethionine, Ursodeoxycholic acid, or vitamin E may be of benefit as well.

 

Prevention

 

Avoid ingestion by keeping sago palms out of the reach of your cat. Ideally, all sago palms should be removed from your yard if they are present.