Keep pets away from poisonous plants
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:42 am
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
PLANO, Texas — Warm weather and an explosion of spring color have people flocking to local nurseries. But one Plano pet owner is urging residents to be aware of the potential dangers of certain plants.
John Henry said his once-healthy pit bull became seriously ill and then died on Friday. He suspects the dog ate parts of a sago palm plant in his backyard.
"There were pieces of it lying around," Henry said. "The obvious conclusion that I came to was that my dog had ingested the sago palm, and when I talked to my vet, she said that all the symptoms did fit that."
The seeds of the plant reportedly contain dangerous toxins. In pets, that can result in liver damage, liver failure and even death.
"We always try to tell people," said Doug Biegert, a spokesman for Calloway's nursery chain. "Some of the more toxic things—like oleanders, cherry laurels—can be quite toxic."
John Henry got his palms from a different chain store nursery.
"You've got your plant marker in there that tells you what kind of light conditions are good for the plant, what kind of soil conditions what kind of water conditions," he said. "They don't have anything that tells you about the toxicity of these plants."
While Henry loves his palms he plans to move them out of the reach of his other dog, Maximus.
He wants his experience to be a lesson to others—for the protection of their pets.
PLANO, Texas — Warm weather and an explosion of spring color have people flocking to local nurseries. But one Plano pet owner is urging residents to be aware of the potential dangers of certain plants.
John Henry said his once-healthy pit bull became seriously ill and then died on Friday. He suspects the dog ate parts of a sago palm plant in his backyard.
"There were pieces of it lying around," Henry said. "The obvious conclusion that I came to was that my dog had ingested the sago palm, and when I talked to my vet, she said that all the symptoms did fit that."
The seeds of the plant reportedly contain dangerous toxins. In pets, that can result in liver damage, liver failure and even death.
"We always try to tell people," said Doug Biegert, a spokesman for Calloway's nursery chain. "Some of the more toxic things—like oleanders, cherry laurels—can be quite toxic."
John Henry got his palms from a different chain store nursery.
"You've got your plant marker in there that tells you what kind of light conditions are good for the plant, what kind of soil conditions what kind of water conditions," he said. "They don't have anything that tells you about the toxicity of these plants."
While Henry loves his palms he plans to move them out of the reach of his other dog, Maximus.
He wants his experience to be a lesson to others—for the protection of their pets.