Yucca Research Paper

Words: 850
Pages: 4

Yucca Poisoning in Dogs

Veterinary Definition of Yucca Poisoning: There are more than 10,00 species of yucca common in southwestern parts of the United States, and all parts of the yucca are poisonous to dogs in raw form. Most symptoms are mild and include diarrhea and vomiting, but more severe reactions occur.

Yucca poisoning in dogs can be mild or severe depending on how much of the plant is ingested and which species of plant. All parts of the yucca plant are poisonous to dogs according the ASPCA Poison Control Center.[1] The leaves are more harmful than the roots, which are usually the part that people cook. Saponins are the most common toxin, but some species of yucca contain linamarin, which can convert to cyanide when ingested raw.
…show more content…
- Map where your dog goes, plays and interacts with people.
- Find out when yucca is most likely to cause problems and whether that time coincides with your pet's symptoms.
- Look for gateway symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.

Unlike grazing animals, dogs don't usually eat a lot of yucca, so their symptoms tend to be mild. However, some dogs experience extreme vomiting, weakness, drooling, dilated pupils and signs of poor coordination. Secondary symptoms include sensitivity to light and liver disease. If you suspect that your pet suffers from yucca poisoning, the best diagnostic strategy is to contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 or your local vet.[5]

Treatment for Yucca Poisoning

The symptoms for yucca poisoning in dogs are usually mild because pets don't usually eat too many plants, so the UC Davis Vetmed Center recommends prevention as the best treatment.
[4] Identifying where you dog ingests yucca can help you remove the opportunities for further poisoning. If your dog becomes severely comatose or convulses, wrap it in a blanket and take it to a veterinary hospital or local vet practice. If you're sure that you dog has ingested yucca, the following treatment steps can prove
…show more content…
- If the dog doesn't vomit on its own, you can induce vomiting with 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide for each 20 pounds of weight every 10 minutes until the dog vomits.

- Prevent the dog from eating what it regurgitates.

- Call your vet for further instructions.

Recovery and Management of Poisoned Pets

The most critical step of managing recovery is preventing your pet from further ingesting the yucca plant. Although mild, some cases can cause death, convulsions or other extreme symptoms. The USDA.gov werbsite recommends researching travel locations for toxic plants like yucca before you travel.[6] Altrernatve herbal remedies and medicines can also contain yucca or saponins, so it's critical to keep all medicines away from pets because human medicines are the top sourece of pet poisonings.[7]

Resources:

1. ASPCA: Common Foods That Are Harmful Or Even Fatal to Dogs https://justonemorepet.wordpress.com/tag/aspca-animal-poison-control-center/ 2. HealthyPets.mercola.com: You Wouldn't Feed This to Your Pet If You Could "See" This Additive