By Dial A Vet Veterinary Team
Hearts of palm are the pale, tender cores cut from the growing tips of certain palms, most often peach palm or coconut. Most Australians buy them in tins or jars, packed in salty brine, for salads and low-carb "palm pasta". Plain hearts of palm are not toxic to dogs, and a small, rinsed piece is fine for most. The brine, the dressing and the palms in your own backyard are what to think about.
Key takeaways
- Plain hearts of palm are not toxic to dogs.
- Tinned and jarred hearts of palm are packed in salty brine. Rinse well before sharing.
- Cut them into small pieces, as firm cylinders can be a choking risk for dogs who gulp.
- Palm salads and dressings often contain garlic, onion and oil.
- Sago palm, common in Australian gardens, is highly toxic and is not a true palm.
- Related: sago palm toxicity, artichoke hearts, choking in dogs.
What hearts of palm offer
Hearts of palm are mostly water and fibre, low in fat and calories, with small amounts of minerals such as potassium. That makes them a reasonable low-calorie treat for some dogs, but not a superfood. A complete and balanced dog food already supplies what your dog needs, and an extra piece of vegetable is simply a treat.
Tinned and jarred: the brine issue
Brine is salt water, sometimes with citric acid. A dog who eats a few rinsed pieces will take in very little salt. A dog who drinks the brine or eats a whole tin straight from the can can take in enough salt to cause thirst, vomiting and diarrhoea, and in small dogs, more serious salt toxicosis. Rinse the hearts under running water and pat them dry before sharing.
Chunk size and choking
Hearts of palm come as firm cylinders, a little like a thick, soft-ish carrot. Dogs who swallow food without chewing can choke on a whole piece, or lodge it in the throat. Slice into thin rounds or small pieces suited to your dog's size. Learn the basics of what to do if a dog chokes in our guide to the dog Heimlich manoeuvre.
Salads, dressings and palm pasta
Hearts of palm salads often include vinaigrettes with garlic, red onion, chives or shallots, all of which can damage a dog's red blood cells. Creamy dressings add fat. Palm pasta and noodles sold in packets are usually just hearts of palm in brine, but ready-meal versions may come with garlicky sauces. Share only plain, rinsed pieces set aside before seasoning.
Garden palms: a different risk
Australian backyards are full of ornamental palms and palm-like plants. Two points matter:
Sago palm is extremely toxic. Cycas revoluta, sold as sago palm, is a cycad, not a true palm. All parts are poisonous, with the seeds being the most dangerous. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, liver failure and death. If your dog has chewed any part of a sago palm, call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 immediately, even if your dog seems well.
Dropped palm fruits and seeds. Many true palms drop clusters of fruits or hard seeds. Some, such as fishtail palm fruit, contain irritant crystals that can make a dog drool and paw at its mouth. Others are hard and can cause choking, broken teeth or a blockage if a dog eats a lot. Rake up fallen fruit regularly, particularly if you have a puppy or a dog who scavenges.
Do not try to harvest hearts of palm from garden palms. Cutting the growing tip kills most palms, and identifying safe species is not straightforward.
What to do if your dog ate hearts of palm
- Work out what was eaten: plain hearts, brine, a dressed salad or a garden palm part.
- Plain pieces: no action needed. Watch for soft stools.
- A whole tin with brine, especially for a small dog: offer water in small amounts and call your vet.
- A garlic or onion dressing in a meaningful amount: call your vet.
- Any sago palm exposure: call your vet or the Animal Poisons Helpline now.
- Do not try to make your dog vomit at home unless a vet tells you to.
When it is an emergency
Seek urgent care if your dog has chewed sago palm, is choking or struggling to breathe, vomits repeatedly, is wobbly or trembling, has a painful belly, or becomes weak or yellow-tinged in the days after eating a garden plant.
How vets help
For a choking or blockage concern, your vet may examine the throat and take X-rays. For salt exposure, they will monitor blood sodium and manage fluids carefully. Sago palm exposure usually needs prompt decontamination in the clinic and close liver monitoring for several days.
FAQ
Can dogs eat raw hearts of palm?
Fresh hearts of palm are rare in Australia. If you find them, plain, small pieces are fine. Tinned versions are already cooked.
Are hearts of palm like artichoke hearts?
They look similar in salads, but they are different plants. Plain versions of both are low risk in small amounts.
Is coconut safe for dogs?
Small amounts of plain coconut flesh are fine for most dogs. It is high in fat, so keep it occasional.
Talk with a vet
If your dog has eaten something from a palm, a tin or a salad bowl and you are unsure how worried to be, a Dial A Vet veterinarian can help you decide what to do next. Book a Dial A Vet consult.
References
- Ferguson D, Crowe M, McLaughlin L, Gaschen F. Survival and prognostic indicators for cycad intoxication in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2011;25(4):831-837.
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Toxic and non-toxic plants: sago palm (Cycas revoluta).
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Salt toxicosis in animals.
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Garlic and onion (Allium spp) toxicosis in animals.
Disclaimer: Educational only. This page does not replace an examination or advice from your own veterinarian. If you are worried about your pet right now, contact your local vet or nearest emergency animal hospital.
