Sago Palm Poisoning

[Debbie Bennett]

BEANIE’S STORY
A Jack Russell’s Fight for Life

I am a 5 year old, super healthy Jack Russell Terrier, or at least I was until… On November 16th, 2008, my Dad was working in the yard. One of our many Sago Palms had put out new, baby palms at its base (called off-sets). Dad had dug them up and set them aside to replant. They did not have leaves on them yet and they looked like little balls or pinecones. Since I LOVE balls, I drug a couple off, chewed them up and ate them. Within about 2 hours, Mom and Dad noticed I had no appetite for dinner and was trembling. They called the Emergency Vet Hospital and they said to bring me in as fast as the car could go. The moment I arrived, they grabbed me, pumped my stomach, gave me liquid charcoal and hooked me up to IV fluids. They said the prognosis was grim as they have lost many dogs, large and small, from ingesting Sago Palms. My doctors say the fact that I am still alive to tell this story makes me somewhat of a miracle dog. I ingested enough to kill me, but I am still hanging on 19 days later. However, since then, I have spent 12 of those days in the hospital, have gone home three times only to wind up back in the hospital again, and although I am home at present, my life is still balancing on the head of a pin. I am still unable to eat much food and what I do eat rarely stays down. I am weak, I am skin and bones and I am unable to do any of the fun stuff I used to do. My vet (who has become my new best friend since I see him almost every day) has given me, at best, a 50/50 chance but I think he is exaggerating to make my parents feel better. Although I was a rescue dog, I am now a $3000 Jack Russell and before this ordeal is over, should I survive, I will probably be a $5000 Jack Russell. My parents say they do not care about the money if I can only resemble the fabulous dog I once was. I am going to have to work hard to make that happen as I am not sure how much longer I can deal with all of this.
Please spread the word that SAGO PALMS ARE BAD! I really don’t think most dogs would mess with a full-grown plant, however, two healthy labs died at my emergency vet because they dug up the little off-sets and ate them just for something to do. Please use maximum caution when you are transplanting, cutting or propagating. It might be best to just choose another plant altogether. And if any one of your furry friends ingests any part of a Sago Palm, rush them to the vet immediately. Every minute you waste makes losing your loved one more likely. Even if we are taken to the vet in a timely fashion, the chance of survival is very small. Search the web for Sago Palm Poisoning to read about the many horror stories associated with this plant. If you are not familiar with Sago Palms, check out this website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycas_revoluta for pictures and information. I love little children as much as I do balls, so please educate your young children about Sago Palms as well. The seeds are colorful and a very small child might decide to put them in his or her mouth. The toxicity can be just as fatal for humans as it is for animals. Please wish me luck in the weeks to come. Kisses, Beanie Bennett

[~Andeelyn~]

Awwww Beanie we will keep you in our prayers! You just keep up that little jack russell strength! Keep us posted on your condition and we hope you get better soon.

[Debbie Bennett]

Thank you. You are very sweet. I will keep posting her progress. Peace, Deb

[Christy]

I hope every thing turned out well for Beanie. I wish I had seen your post sooner. Our 2 yr old rescued Rat Terrier, Grace, chewed up a sago palm seed yesterday and began vomitting 2 hours later. Luckily my husband saw her do it and immediately knew something was wrong. We spent the night in the ER and she's home today and looks much better. She's not vomitting and is taking water, however, she's not eating. I am optimistic, but after reading your post I am more worried about her not eating. If it is convenient, please let me know how Beanie is doing. Grace is a fighter and looks pretty spunky today, but I just hope she got treatment soon enough.

[Debbie Bennett]

Tips I found out that might be helpful:
Make sure you keep her liver values checked. If they are out of range, she will probably not eat and be lethargic. If left unchecked, they can be fatal and it doesn't seem to take that long. The vet immediately put Beanie on Denamarin (morning) and Ursodiol (night) and she is still on them. Her liver values are almost back to normal but it has been slightly over two months. They can also put them on IV to fluid their bodies a time or two and that seemed to help too. They just put a bag of fluids through them. Rest seemed to be the big cure for Beanie and IT WAS HARD. I literally had to lay down with her or get my husband to or get a friend to - whoever was available with time on their hands to keep her REALLY down. It was only then that she began to improve. Any activity was a setback. I tried all the right pet foods they recommended and canned cat food worked best but I did not want to keep her on it for long. I finally just stopped them all and coaxed her with scrambled eggs, plain yogurt and canned natural pumpkin. She loved that - I had to feed it by hand - but as soon as she started eating and staying down a lot, she began to improve. It can take a good long time to see results. But, once again, even though I know you probably have, make sure her liver values are correct. Please feel free to write me and if you want to talk or need more advice, leave me your phone number and I will call you. I really worked at saving this dog's life and I think she probably would have died have many of the things I learned not been done - and in a timely fashion. My vet was also wonderful. Bless you and your baby and I hope things get better soon. I know the stress and sadness so please know that someone feels what you are feeling.

[Alyx]

Hi, My male (of course) cocker spaniel ate a bunch of sago babies Tuesday night. He's been on IV since 12:30 Wed. His electrolytes were way out of this world but liver emzymes were good till today. So the bood they took at about 43 hrs has one emzyme elevated at 293 and one low. I can't recall which is which but I think they are ALT and ALP. She said the one that was less specific to the liver was the elvated one. We are really scared. He is coming home today but it sounds like it won't be for long. He's coming home because he is eating and drinking. Everything I read yesterday gave me the impression after 48 hrs he was out of the woods. But everything I am reading today implies that's just the beginning. How is Beanie doing today? And what about the other dog that also ate the sago's? Any help is appreciated. Alyx

[Debbie Bennett]

Beanie is still on liver meds but doing GREAT. Keep the faith. Her ALT was WAY above the norm and her ALKP was also WAY above the norm. She has been on Denamarin and Ursodial (I may be spelling both a little off) since November 16th. The ALT is now 103 and the top of the normal range is 100. The ALKP is now completely in the normal range. We are keeping her on Denamarin only for another month to see if she gets into normal range with the ALT. I don't know what helped Beanie survive other than time and the meds but I can tell you the diet might have helped but I just can't say for sure. She was eating rice, boiled chicken, yogurt and canned organic pumpkin. I would also keep the water that I boiled the chicken in and water down that mess even a little more so that she was taking in LOTS of liquid. I fed her this 4 times per day in small amounts as that is better for the liver than large feeds of once or twice per day. Just boil a couple boneless, skinless chicken breast in lots of water and then keep both in frig to use several times. I also made her rest much more than normal which was hard since she is a Jack Russell. I mean, I REALLY MADE HER REST. Everytime she had hardly any exercise, she got a setback. She only seemed to get better after I resigned myself to being a couch potato with her any moment I could. I even took her to my office so I could keep her down during the day. Please feel free to ask me anything you like as I would love to help. My best to you and I hope things are going as well as they can with this episode. Believe me, I feel your pain. Debbie

[Alyx]

Hi Debbie,
I got Lucky's liver panels from today and they are up. Yesterday ihs ALKP was 299 and today it is 453. So they have started him on 147 MG of Ursodiol. His AMYL (amylase) was way down yesterday and today is almost low/normal at 497 (normal range is 500 - 1500). His ALT yesterday was 47 and tosay it's 29 (normal is 10 -100). Is Beanie taking the Denamarin because of her elevated ALT? I am wondering why our vet did not give Lucky any? Our regular vet was out for 4 days after this happened so I don't know what to think.

Alyx

[Debbie Bennett]

I am so sorry I could not find the bloodwork at the office today. I didn't forget, I just couldn't find it. Yes, Beanie's ALT was very elevated so perhaps that is why she got started on Denamarin. But from what I understand, it is the usual drug for this issue since the whole Sago ordeal attacks your liver and Denamarin is a liver drug. My vets are awesome to put it mildly and our overnight hospital is just as good. I completely trust what they do and they all have seen and worked with this Sago problem before so I am guessing it is "the standard" around here. Just as Lucky's is doing, Beanie's ALKP went way up a few days later but different than Lucky's, her ALT also went way up - to 325 I think. I am shocked Lucky's is low. From what I thought they told me, ALT always goes up under these circumstances. So, maybe that is good sign for you. And, from what I thought I also understood, the ALT number was more important than the ALKP number so that would be good on your behalf as well. I still don't know what the AMYL is but I feel sure if it was out of wack, I would have known after all the bloodwork we have done in the past 3 months. I am going to find that bloodwork this weekend and I will still check out those numbers and let you know. Please keep me posted even though I know you are not going to be in reach for a week or so. Once again, I am so very sorry and I am wishing you all the best. Debbie

[Debbie Bennett]

I am wondering how your dog is going since I did not hear back from you. I am very much hoping she is OK. Debbie

[Jennifer]

Man.........I want to hear your outcome- My 1 year old dobi did the same thing- she ingested the sago bulb and thank god I was around to see what she did..not knowing what it was...and 2 hours she was vomitting everywhere and on the way to the 24 hour emergency vet here locally. She was flushed with fluids, charcoal..and all the above and her liver checked our normal from the time she got there to the time she left..which was 62..I believe, well they sent her home within 72 hours doing great and eating okay...still on the liver med's and antibiotics....I just had her seen for her check up ( 2 weeks ) and her liver enzyme jumped from 62 ...to........602..and she is feeling, acting great. They have her back on the liver med 2 times a day now, which was one a day. She was only off the liver med for 4 days, thinking maybe that may have shot up the numbers...who knows. Dr. Neal..Merlot's vet is going to look into some things from different toxicoligist and see what they suggest and she mentioned running more liver tests to see what's going on. I can't see her liver giving up now, she is soo happy and normal acting. If you have any suggestions or feedback- please share them with me. I hope your little one is doing better- keep me posted!! Jennifer

[Debbie Bennett]

Interesting. Because my Jack also showed normal liver enzymes when she left and then within 36 hours they were way high and in another week, they were, like you said, in the 600 range. I have had her on the liver meds ever since (2 months) and last check, they were almost normal but the vet said keep her on them until she is completely normal. I too think they should be perfect when she finishes this round (which will then be 3 months since ingesting sago) but for some reason I feel they won't be. She is great one day and then something is off the next. I won't have them checked until she finishes this month of meds which will still be another two weeks, give or take. Is your dog on the same meds as mine? Mine acts normal and happy as well - walks, runs, plays ball, etc. but I still think some days she acts weird and even thought I can't pinpoint it, I know I am right. I am way curious abour the next liver enzymes test. What do you feed yours? Mine is on a raw food diet and was before the sago incident". I truly think it made a huge difference in her recovery and her ability to shake it from the beginning. My vets are not that excited about it but I love it and she has been on it for more than a year as have my other dogs and all are remarkable in their health and vitality since I started it. Anyway, keep me posted on your dog. I am so sorry. I wish we could know about he other woman whose dog got poisoned but I have not heard back from her. I hope her dog is OK. Debbie

[Jennifer]

Debbie- thanks for your comments and help- I hope you lil Jack Russell shows normal signs here in the future and forever. We have had the sago's in our yard for 3 months and our Doberman never once saw interest in eating or touching them, however we didn't know it was the female..that had the red bulbs....which is what she ate.....We did remove the one female and plan to take the male palms out also, VET reccommended....
I will keep u updated and let you know how she is doing in the future-Merlot eats Nutro Max larde breed adult food. the Vet was okay with her eating that, so she didn't give any other specifications on diet etc. Yes, she is back on Demerin...( i think that is how they spell it) and she will be for sometime, I bet...I will do what I have to in order to keep her okay!
Thanks and keep in touch!!