A one-year-old Chihuahua mix named Poppy nearly died in late August after a piece of a common Florida landscaping plant lodged in her intestine, her owner said. The dog needed emergency surgery at VEG ER for Pets in Boynton Beach.
Owner Samantha Cutler said Poppy, a normally healthy dog, began vomiting bile on a Friday night. The symptoms eased briefly, then returned Saturday. An initial emergency visit that included X-rays, an ultrasound and intravenous fluids did not find the cause. By Monday morning, Poppy was barely moving, and her regular veterinarian referred her to the Boynton Beach hospital.
Emergency veterinarian Dr. Lauren Krone ordered another ultrasound, which showed a foreign object two to three inches long in the small intestine. After fluids to stabilize her, Poppy went into surgery. The object looked like a miniature corn cob and was identified as a piece of Zamia furfuracea, also called a cardboard plant or cardboard palm, an ornamental cycad widely used in Florida yards.
Krone said Zamia species are toxic to dogs and can cause serious stomach illness and liver damage. She also said organic material can look like normal digestive contents on imaging, especially when a blockage is partial.
Poppy stayed overnight and went home the next day. About two months later, Cutler said, the dog had recovered well.
Krone advises owners to check yards for fallen seeds, plant debris and toxic plants. Repeated vomiting, lethargy or abdominal discomfort call for prompt veterinary care, she said, and owners whose pets do not improve after inconclusive tests should ask about repeat imaging or a second opinion.
VEG operates emergency hospitals in Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Pinecrest and Pembroke Pines, and plans to open a Boca Raton location in 2027.
