Many home improvement stores are selling a houseplant that can cause serious poisoning in pets and children. The SAGO PALM plant is used in outdoor landscaping in the Southern States, but can only survive as a houseplant in the North. All of this plant, including the seeds and root ball are toxic.

Signs of illness first appear about 12 hours after ingestion and include gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. The toxins in the plant lead to severe liver failure with progressive weakness, jaundice, bruising, bleeding and other signs of liver failure that lead to death. It is estimated that 75%-80% of animals ingesting even small amounts of this plant will die in spite of aggressive medical treatment.

If you have one of these plants in your home you will want to be sure and keep it away from pets and children, preferably by disposing of it safely in a covered trash can, or you can return it to the store where you purchased it, or "re-home" it with someone who does not have young children or pets in the household.