cycad palm seeds - beware

by Tracy Allen
(Perth WA)

I was aware that the common bush palm commonly know as the Zamia palm ( Cycas ) was toxic to cows and horses but wasn't aware that these palms dropped large hard seeds that are even more toxic.,

My 2 1/2 year old staffy (Black Betty) decided that they would be good to munch on. I took it out of her mouth thinking this cant be good if the plant is toxic. I had no idea just how deadly it would be. After an exhausting 5 days at the vet she went into liver failure and sadly lost her battle on Sunday 13th June.

We think the same seeds were responsible for our other staffy who lost his battle with liver failure 3 weeks earlier. We had thought his vomiting was due to a bone being stuck in his high intestine.